The Silent Rise of the New Work Pioneer

by Christine on February 5, 2010

iStock_000001731048XSmallDid you see Get Ready to be a Change Maker by Bill Drayton and Valeria Budinich over at the Harvard Business Review this week? The article talks about recent economic history, how we’ve cycled through agricultural, industrial and technological revolutions and are now on the cusp of another change again. In their words:

“We are transitioning from a world in which a small elite runs everything to a world in which everyone needs to be a player.”

Whilst it’s good to see this being recognised and articulated, and thought given to what leadership needs to look like now, I think that academics and business leaders alike are vastly underestimating the effects of a movement that’s been afoot for years already.

For, whilst they’ve been clinging to their status quo world, a not so small tribe of people has been making things different for themselves, without any need for institutional guidance or direction.

I call this tribe The New Work Pioneers.

They may not yet recognise themselves by this term, but, just as surely as the disenchanted Europeans set sail for the New World all these centuries ago, this group of individuals have already left the old world of work for real or metaphoric pastures new.

The tribe’s membership includes those who have ditched traditional workplaces to create their own lifestyles; those – including freelancers and artists – who saw early on that work as we currently know it wasn’t for them; and those who are taking a different kind of consciousness into employment with the aim of giving themselves a more liveable corporate experience.

The thing that has prompted each individual’s initiation to the tribe has been different. Sometimes it has been a personal change, like the loss of a relationship; the birth of a child; a serious physical illness, either of one’s own or of a close relation; or a mental breakdown.

Sometimes it has been a change prompted by an employer: an experience of harassment or bullying; a redundancy or its threat.

Whatever the catalyst, tribe members get to a point where they ask themselves serious questions about their work and its role in their lives. “Does life really have to be like this?” is not an uncommon one. Once voiced, New Work Pioneers accept the challenge of creating a different kind of work for themselves. In this they set themselves apart from the millions who might hear the questions, but be unable or unwilling to answer them.

New Work Pioneers have much in common:

  • They value themselves as people and have a real sense of the choices in their lives. They’ve stopped to think about whose lives they’re living: their own or their families and friends. They’ve chosen the former.
  • They appreciate the fundamental role work plays in their lives, not only as a source of income, but also as a way of bringing who they uniquely are to the world. They take their own talents, beliefs and values seriously.
  • They’re committed to find the way to do what they love and to love what they do.
  • Their value of themselves extends to their partners, families and people around them, and to experiences beyond work that enriches them. They know that work and life are not opposing forces, but part of the whole picture of who they are.
  • They see the importance of relationship in their lives and take the time to nurture positive connections with people around them.
  • They have a readiness to challenge the status quo of work and to rewrite some of the bizarre rules that are in play around it.
  • They are committed to their personal growth and development and they see work as a vital aspect within that. They know that as they change, their work changes too, and vice versa.

So, some questions for you: do you recognise yourself in this description? What kick-started your journey into doing and looking at work differently? And what other things do you think New Work Pioneers have in common?

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How to make sure you never get ahead

by Christine on January 29, 2010

iStock_000002702547XSmallIf you’ve been surfing the web you’ll have seen there are a number of blogs and bloggers around that want to make you believe you can be successful on your own terms at work. Here’s how to avoid their pernicious influence:

  • Remember what your parents told you about work being a necessary evil. They were right. And life’s about suffering, isn’t it?
  • When you share your wildest dreams for a different kind of work with your partner and friends and they say, “You must be kidding”, agree with them.
  • Know that it’s nigh-on impossible to change direction once you’re in an established career. Some people have done it, but they’re the exception, and clearly money wasn’t an issue for them.
  • Keep applying for more of the same jobs. The next one’s bound to be better.
  • Write your CV exactly like the job sites tell you. There’s a formula for what good looks like. Might not be how you’d write it. But remember this isn’t about you.
  • Stick to the traditional job search methods. At least you know they work, which is more than can be said for social and other networking. And, for what it’s worth,LinkedIn and BrazenCareerist are completely off the wall fads.
  • Learn the rules of interviewing. Particularly the ones about misrepresenting your experience. After all, you do want to make out you’re a good fit, don’t you?
  • Figure the work wear uniform for your profession, level and location. You know there is one. Black suit? High heels? Chinos and polo shirts? Get with the programme, buddy!
  • Be permanently attached to your BlackBerry, iPhone or laptop. Oh, and that includes when you’re on holiday. Your family will just have to understand. Too bad for them if they don’t.
  • Attend every meeting you’re invited to. Even if the subject has nothing to do with you and bores you rigid, you can’t take the risk of not being there.
  • Stay in the office longer than you really need to if you want to show your loyalty. It’ll reap benefits come pay review time.
  • Engage in heroic activities in the name of work. Walk for miles in transport strikes. Drive your car in the snow and ice when the road authorities advise staying at home. Always remember how indispensable you are.
  • Learn the rules of office politics and play them. Game playing at work is just one of those things, and you want to be a winner, yeah?
  • Shut up and put up. Learn your place in the hierarchy and defer to those above you. If you see anything unethical going on, turn a blind eye. You don’t want to risk your next bonus.
  • If you ever find yourself saying, “there’s got to be more to life,” understand that disillusion is a natural part of adult life. Accept it.
  • If the stress of work makes you feel ill, see a doctor. There’s some pretty good medication they can give you these days. Your company might even have an occupational health department that can teach you some ways to cope with your workload better.
  • Do whatever training you’re sent on. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking it’s a load of old bollocks. Your company is paying a lot of money for it on your behalf, and you’ll want to make sure to please the trainer so they give HR good feedback about you.
  • If something goes wrong, find someone to blame. You played no part in it and if you’re smart, you’ll avoid any shit landing in your direction.
  • Oh, and finally, stop reading this blog. And blogs by people who are really kicking the status quo of work in the ass. In particular avoid Chris Guillebeau, Jonathan Fields, and Pam Slim. There’s a lot of insanity out there. You don’t want it to brush off on you!

I know there’s more – what advice would you add to help people ensure they achieve the status quo?

{ 40 comments }

10+1 steps to make coaching work for you

January 25, 2010

I spent some time this weekend revamping my coaching page. It made me think that it’s all very well for me to write about what coaching is from the my perspective. But if you’re someone who’s forking out for coaching, how do you make sure that it does what it says on the tin?

Make sure [...]

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3 lessons on work and life from walking 10 miles in the snow

January 22, 2010

Even if you live outside the UK you cannot have missed us Brits Twittering on about the clobbering our little island took recently from the snow. It’s been a bit of a shock to city-turned-country girl here to wake up to the fact that outside of London snow is not some slushy thing that [...]

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Don’t button your lip on the most depressing day of the year

January 18, 2010

I spent most of yesterday trying unsuccessfully to fix an Apple Time Capsule that all of a sudden doesn’t want to talk to my Mac. Mid-afternoon, I came up for air and, realising I was losing a beautiful day of sunshine, persuaded Steve to come out for a walk with me. We ended up popping [...]

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Lost heart with your current job? Don’t rush to escape

January 15, 2010

I‘ve read recently that as many as 60% of workers intend to leave their jobs this year. Assuming that there’s some economic upturn to enable it, that’s going to be one heck of a lot of people circling the job market. At least the recruiters will be happy!
It’s no wonder things are this way. In [...]

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Unhappy at work? An alternative look at this week’s job satisfaction statistics

January 8, 2010

Did you see that this Tuesday The Associate Press reported on The Conference Board’s survey findings on work satisfaction. In a nutshell:

Only 45% of Americans are satisfied with their work.
This is the lowest level recorded in 22 years of this survey
Only 51% of people find their jobs interesting
Of the under 25s, 64% of workers say [...]

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Upping the ante in 2010

January 5, 2010

Happy New Year everyone! How were your Holidays?
I hadn’t planned to be off-air for almost two weeks, but that’s how it has worked out and, boy, did I have a ball. One of the most amazing things about living in the heart of the English countryside is, well, the countryside. Yes, it’s been freezing cold, [...]

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How to not pretend you’re working when it’s the holidays

December 22, 2009

Here at the A Different Kind of Work office (aka my kitchen table whilst waiting for an office desk to arrive), I’ve been thinking about some wise words I could write this holiday week. But the truth is that I’m a little distracted with things like going to parties (or not, because of the snow), [...]

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The hazards of creating a location independent lifestyle – and how to navigate them

December 14, 2009

This morning I’ve come to my local coffee shop, treated myself to a large gingerbread latte (well, it IS Christmas!), and sat down to take stock of the last two months.
As you’ll recall from my earlier posts, as well as writing about how you can reinvent work in the context of your whole life, I’m [...]

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