Donna's Blog

Don’t quit your job. Just do it better.

I was channel surfing the TV recently and found the film “City Slickers” was just about to finish leaving me with the final scenes. I love this film for a number of reasons and I think the biggest one is the idea that, for all of us, we need to find that ONE thing that makes us who we are or defines what we need in life.

 

If you haven't seen the film, the plot in a nutshell is that of three friends who were unhappy with elements of their lives sign up for a ranch style holiday where they lead a herd of cattle across a couple of states with the idea that they rediscover themselves along the way. 

 

They each have their own epiphanies and the character played by Billy Crystal does find his ONE thing.  On his return, his wife asks him, "Now that you have found yourself, are you going to quit your job?"  He replies, "No, I'm not going to quit my job, I'm just going to do it better."

 
Jack Palance City Slickers
 
Earlier that day, I had been reflecting on employee engagement and how much money organisations spend on trying to do this.  It made me wonder if there was another answer to engagement surveys, engagement strategies, etc.
 
For example, what if we simply decide to show up engaged rather than wait for the organisation to engage us.  I think it was JFK that said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
 
If you feel under valued in the organisation, what are you doing to be valuable?
If you feel untrusted, how can you be more trustworthy?
If you want more responsibility, are you demonstrating how responsible you are?
 
If you want to change how you are treated, you need to change how you show up.

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