| I am one of those people who has always sought to | | | | of change. I am constantly looking for ways to be |
| understand the purpose of things, to understand why | | | | more effective, to add more hours to my day, to |
| they were originally created. There is no use in | | | | impact the bottom line. I believe that the minute we |
| approaching something and asking what its purpose | | | | stop thinking and taking time with our work, we start |
| is, one needs to go to the original creator to | | | | moving back-wards. Soon work will feel like a black |
| understand fully. This article was written by Rachel | | | | hole with little to no inspiration or enjoyment. |
| van Doorene, Founder and Editor of Women Inc. | | | | Testing Your Work |
| Magazine as a contribution to Estienne's book | | | | It is true that all work must be tested. The quality |
| "Boosting Your Career – Tips from Top | | | | and excellence of our work will make place for us in |
| Executives". | | | | the workplace. When our work ethic starts slipping |
| The key to my development in the workplace has | | | | and we allow for small indiscretions, we start losing |
| been to understand clearly the purpose of work. I | | | | ground. In the workplace, our ability to handle |
| needed to deal with my preconceived ideas about | | | | criticism and our responses affect our future. |
| work, some of which were… – Work is a | | | | When I respond aggressively to criticism, looking for |
| necessary evil, a burden we have to carry till | | | | another to blame, there is no way forward. |
| retirement. – Work is something I have to do | | | | However, when I take responsibility, considering and |
| to please my parents / spouse / peers. – | | | | presenting an alternative or replacement for the |
| Work happens between the hours of 8am and | | | | work, I have found favour with my superiors and |
| 5pm,Monday to Friday. – The terms 'work' and | | | | opportunities for the future. |
| 'fun' are mutually exclusive. – One day I will | | | | Most of Us Have Difficulty Knowing Who We Are |
| retire and never have to work again. | | | | There is a common mantra: I do, I have, I am. I don't |
| Do any of these sound familiar? | | | | believe this is true. I believe that who we are should |
| I had to understand that work was integral to our | | | | define what we do and this results in what we have. |
| lives. That we were created to work. That our lives | | | | This is tough. Most of us have difficulty knowing who |
| are better because of the work we do. That our | | | | we are. We feel safe defining ourselves by our work. |
| work is to take up time and thought. That our work | | | | "Hi, I am Sally, an engineer", |
| will and should be tested. That my work doesn't | | | | "Nomsa, the doctor", "Pieter, the |
| define me, but is an outlet for who I am and that I | | | | consultant." I believe that if we take the time |
| need to rest from my work. These lessons have not | | | | to get to know ourselves a little better, to know our |
| come easily but have come through challenges, | | | | passions, our strengths and weaknesses, we would |
| obstacles, successes and opportunities. | | | | be better equipped to steer ourselves into the work |
| When did it happen that work became synonymous | | | | we should be doing. |
| with tiredness? I have had many occasions where | | | | Secondly, our ability to produce does not define our |
| work has exhilarated me; it has brought a twinkle to | | | | value. There are seasons in one's life where we are |
| my eye and a lightness to my step. I have also had | | | | unable to produce in the same way as before. We |
| occasions where work became labour, toil, frustrating | | | | may experience changes in our health, aging, life |
| and full of anxiety. What was the difference? | | | | stages and personal or family crises that result in our |
| Well, the positive emotions linked to the work | | | | inability to produce as much at work. When I operate |
| occurred when I was doing what came naturally to | | | | from the prior understanding about work, I get |
| me. It utilised my natural skills and abilities, as well as | | | | desperate, fearful and anxious. However, when I |
| tapped into my passions, and in the end I believe, I | | | | operate from the under-standing that I am valuable, |
| was fulfilling my purpose. Some of these occasions | | | | no matter what, I give my-self space to redirect and |
| were within an entrepreneurial environment, but | | | | establish my time and thoughts so as to ensure that |
| many of these occasions were within corporate and | | | | I ultimately become effective again – either in |
| NGO environments. I believe that our purposes can | | | | a new working environment or within my current |
| be fulfilled within any environment. We just need to | | | | context. |
| know ourselves and our abilities and to find work | | | | Take Time To Rest |
| that provides expression for these things. | | | | This is my weakest area. I love to innovate! I love to |
| It was in the environments where I was trying to be | | | | strategise! New ideas and change are life blood to |
| someone else, constantly comparing myself to others | | | | me! However, this make-up can very soon become a |
| and their abilities, that I struggled. When I realised | | | | recipe for burnout. I have learnt the hard way that if |
| that I could determine my own working environment | | | | you fail to rest, you will ultimately fail (or fall). |
| and responsibilities through an excellence and | | | | When overly tired, I become unable to make wise |
| commitment to the objectives of the organisation, | | | | and prudent decisions, missing the full implications of |
| that I was free to be me. | | | | the process or impact to the system. I lose |
| Better Because We Work | | | | perspective and the anxiety levels heighten until work |
| There is no doubt in my mind that work brings a | | | | holds no pleasure and I feel like I need to run away. I |
| sense of fulfillment. I love the feeling of a job well | | | | make silly mistakes! It is amazing to me how a little |
| done, of a task completed. I love the sense of | | | | rest can bring wisdom, clarity and understanding. Our |
| seeing a product on a shelf, or a service objective | | | | bodies are incredibly designed to sustain work and to |
| achieved. I love learning and understanding new | | | | produce – but I have learnt that it is critical to |
| things. | | | | take care of our bodies through rest, nutrition and |
| In 2005 I undertook a five month sabbatical – | | | | exercise. |
| not entirely voluntary, but very necessary. These | | | | In this article I have tried to stir in you the |
| five months were a critical time of rest and | | | | awareness of three primary things. Firstly, that work |
| re-evaluation. One unwavering fact is that I am | | | | is not something out of your control, but rather that |
| better when I work! The focus it gives to each day, | | | | you have the opportunity to define your working |
| the opportunity for creativity and the sense of | | | | environment and responsibilities. Secondly, that |
| accomplishment is huge. | | | | success in the workplace comes with excellence, a |
| Our Work is to Take Up Time and Thought | | | | strong work ethic and a commitment of time and |
| This is fascinating to me. I know so many people | | | | thought. Finally, but most importantly, I would hope |
| who step into autopilot as they go to work. I know | | | | that you recognise the importance of knowing |
| that I have been a challenge to numerous managers | | | | yourself. In knowing yourself, you set your direction |
| over the years because of my innovation and love | | | | and create the support systems for effectiveness. |