Psst...Don't Be Like Fred!
Hi Reloveutionaries!
It has been a while since we've been in touch. Reloveution is still here and growing, and I am so humbled to be working with so many of you on transforming your leadership and/or organizational strategy with heart! We've been busy over here planning company retreats and doing in-person trainings for the first time in a over a year. But we've also been busy revamping our website (c/o Marta Gravier who is absolutely incredible at what she does), welcoming a new summer intern to our team (Hey, Erblina!), and doing interviews for Employment Law Today (watch here) and The Good Doctors of Abbey Research (release in July but you should really check out their amazing work)!
Story Time
I went to a networking event this week (yes, a real, live, in-person event!) and ran into a man at the bar. Let's call him Fred. Now, Fred and I got to talking about what we do and he shared that he manages a large team and that his employees are lazier than ever.
Bingo! I thought, I can help this person and his team!
A few seconds later, Fred very seriously shared that he thinks that miserable jobs are necessary to motivate people to do better and aspire to more.
Hmmmmmm...
In his next breath he declared that workers should be grateful for their year of sabbatical and get back to work.
Ahhhhhhh...
And before I could even get a word in, he asked with no irony whatsoever, "can you fix them for me?"
My heart sunk and I wanted to run away from this miserable, uncompassionate, and clearly oblivious person. And then I remembered...
These perspectives are not only incredibly common but actually WHY RELOVEUTION EXISTS.
The world is hungry for a more human and heart-centered approach to work that doesn't excuse misery and suffering, that doesn't gaslight employees after during a global pandemic, and that doesn't look at workers as problems to be fixed. While there are obviously some bad eggs, in 95% of situations it's leadership, culture, and systems that need fixing. They're just harder to see than the anxious, stressed, and burnt out humans in front of you. It takes work to figure out what is truly going on but it's work we can't afford NOT to do. The success of our organizations and teams depends on it.
The bottom line is that the human beings with whom we work are human beings first, employees second (maybe third, fourth, or tenth), and disposable resources NEVER. And generally, when we see or know that humans are suffering at work (in an office or in a Zoom square), we have a responsibility to compassionately respond with meaningful actions that relieve that suffering without sacrificing accountability, productivity, or results.
Yes, this is possible.
Yes, this is what we do.
Yes, we're here to help in whatever ways we can!!
If your workplace has a Fred, if you yourself are a Fred, or if you're looking for sustainable employee and workplace solutions as we enter this new season and chapter of work, we're here! And we'd be so honored to work with you!
UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
Virtual Mini Workshop: Leading in the Face of Loss
Thursday, July 1 - 9:00-10:30am ET
REGISTER HERE
With abundant gratitude today and always,
Marissa Badgley, MSW
Founder, Reloveution