Values That You Bring Into the Workplace

¶ … values that you bring into the workplace and what you can contribute because of the values you hold. Discuss from where you believe these values developed.

Early on, my parents stressed this essential truth. If you enjoy your work, and regard your work as 'play,' the labor you do will never seem tedious, and you will never dread the beeping of the alarm clock every morning. Of course, not every aspect of work is equally enjoyable. Sometimes, there is basic 'nuts and bolts' work that must be done that is not as delightful as creative work with co-workers. But if the employee believes that the values of the workplace are consistent with his or her own values, such mundane tasks seem manageable and even have a joy in them. Every step forward that realizes a higher purpose and is done for the good of others has significance.

I have come to understand that the enjoyment I derive from a task is relative to the enthusiasm to which I bring to the endeavor. If an employee shudders and views a task as 'work,' he or she is likely to find the labor unbearable. But even the simplest of tasks can be satisfying, if the employee feels that he or she gave 100% to the endeavor. Even something as simple as helping a customer find the perfect product can be significant, provided the employee has the right kind of attitude. The employee knows that he or she has brightened someone's day, and also has done something of value for the organization as a whole.

Not every employee is privileged to start at the top. But if the employee believes in the higher values of the organization, and understands his or her role is part of the larger whole, entry level work can still be instructive, challenging, and meaningful. This is where the importance of working well as a team is particularly noteworthy. Being in a workplace with positive, upbeat, hardworking people who take pride in the tasks they do also makes the hours of the day seem to 'fly by,' and hardly seem like work at all. And the employee understands that the work he or she does is for the good of the unit, not simply directives that he or she obeys as a matter of rote.

My workplace values are linked to the value my parents placed upon education. I believe that every day at work should be a 'learning experience' -- bettering my skills, keeping an open mind, and approaching every task with a fresh attitude. Everyone is a potential teacher -- managers, subordinates, and customers all provide feedback. Even mistakes can be learning experiences. Work provides structure and discipline to life. It is not something you do simply to fill up the spaces between hours of play. Work is 'the school of life' -- in the sense that school is a positive and important part of one's development as a human being.

My first job, like so many people's, was working at a popular chain store. I know that many people wondered: "why do so many employees want to work there, given that it pays the same amount as similar types of establishments?" The answer was the manager -- she made every day at work seem fun with her humor. She was fair, and constantly on-task, but she made the tasks seem fun. We felt as if we were working together, rather than being ordered to do something.