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Posted by on Sep 28, 2012 in Leadership | 10 comments

I Lost My Heart at Work

Somewhere in countless, windowless meeting rooms, we lost our hearts at work.

Hearts have gone missing. Trampled upon mistaken for roaches. Many seen fleeing office buildings away from the abundant fluorescent lighting. Hearts have grown weak from a lack of use; told they aren’t needed and to make room for the brains, hands, and feet.

Drained by bureaucracy, stifling policies, overdone processes and an abundant amount of thinking and doing, passion, joy, and optimism in work has been surgically removed from corporate culture.

While we run from meeting to meeting and scarf our lunch during another conference call, the heart in our work turns cold. Satisfaction is merely part of some song’s title. Creativity is scorned. Ideas are forgotten. Relationships grow weak. Communicating becomes annoying and time consuming.

But, hey, we’re getting things done. Right?
It’s just a job. No need to get worked up about it.
We go home and totally forget about work.
It doesn’t matter that we wish our day away
hoping it were Friday, or 5 o’clock,
or one more day before vacation.

I have no idea what all this talk about passion, joy, and optimism has to do with work. There is no heart in work. Right?

Art by  Emiliano

Shawn Murphy (100 Posts)

Change Leader | Speaker | Writer Owner and principal consultant at Achieved Strategies. Co-founder of Switch and Shift. Passionately explores the space where business & humanity intersect. Promoter of workplace optimism. Believes work can be a source of joy. Top ranked on Huffington Post and HR Examiner.


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  • http://elumn8.me Scott Mabry

    Great post Shawn!! This topic is one of my passions. How do we bring the soul back into our work! Thanks for your powerful and challenging comments.

    • http://www.switchandshift.com Shawn Murphy

      Hi Scott,
      We appreciate your support and your passion is always welcomed.
      Shawn

  • http://www.kaarinadillabough.com Kaarina Dillabough

    Oh my heavens, I hope not. I’ve been self-employed all my life, so the scenario above is not familiar to me first-hand. Unfortunately, I hear about it from others in the workplace all too frequently. It makes me sad:(

    • http://www.switchandshift.com Shawn Murphy

      Hi Kaarina,
      The situation is at a fever pitch these days, however, not new. What is also sad is the number of managers who feel stuck and don’t know what to do to about things.

  • http://www.intentionalworkplace.com Louise@The Intentional Workplace

    Hi Shawn

    A very moving – and needed post. We’re suffering under the weight, not only of systems and relationships that demotivate us, but the belief that work is simply transactional.

    Given the endless stream of surveys that show how disengagement is growing and eroding our spirits, we urgently need to reimagine and transform how we work. That starts with how we think about it.

    Best
    Louise

    • http://www.switchandshift.com Shawn Murphy

      Louise,
      Indeed. We would see improvement if more managers choose to take action now to improve the work environment in which their teams work. We cannot afford to wait for executives to do something. It’s not going to happen in majority of corporations anytime soon.

  • http://www.thecaremovement.com Al Smith

    Another great post, my friend. I think we all need to CARE more. Stop being so self-absorbed and Ego driven. Don’t be selfish, be selfless. We can bring back HEART. It is up to us.

    H – Humility
    E – Enthusiasm
    A – Appreciation
    R – Respect
    T – Trust

    Continued success.

    Al

    • http://www.switchandshift.com Shawn Murphy

      We we love your enthusiasm, Al.

      Be well,
      Shawn

  • http://www.profkrg.com Kenna Griffin

    I’m wondering if this is when it’s time for change. When you no longer feel emotionally connected to the job or its purpose, perhaps it’s time to do something different?

    Great post. It certainly gives us something to think about.

    Kenna

    • http://www.switchandshift.com Shawn Murphy

      Hi Kenna,
      It is time to change jobs or chose the job again. Either way the person will be happier. So, too, will co-workers.
      Shawn