Please, Mind the Gap

The last few weeks have surfaced a nagging inner voice. Signs have been coming from all directions that the early work is dredging up too much about our deficits. More kryptonite moments – not enough super hero sightings.

While all this was swirling in my head, I received the final wake-up call this morning from Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology, which is the foundation for much of this work. In this video, he reminds me of the power of understanding and focusing on what we do right, and why this is counterintuitive to many of us. Instead, we focus on the gaps, without the counterbalance of our strengths and virtues.

In the last few weeks, I’ve allowed my group and myself to be lured back into darkness of the gap – what needs to be fixed. I don’t know why I’m surprised. In so many ways, we have the propensity to be a gap-focused society. When I think about many work environments, policies are created to erect boundaries for the 10% who need to be wrangled in, our time is focused on underperformers, and our efforts are disproportionately focused on how to keep employees from the brink of dissatisfaction, while the real secrets of fulfillment in the workplace are relegated to the backseat.

Research tells us (Herzberg and Thomas) what creates satisfaction in the workplace is very different from what causes dissatisfaction. Disengagement comes from unfriendly company policies, bad supervisors & poor working conditions, but when they are working well - it is not enough to get folks excited on Monday morning. But that doesn't stop many business environments from focusing on the avoidance of dissatisfaction, without placing equal emphasis on what gets folks jazzed about work. To Seligman’s point, we’ve spent more time investigating how to avoid dysfunction, while missing the opportunity to create more high-functioning and happy folks.

This changes the focus and chapter review for our next meeting. I know people are motivated by meaningful work that leverages our strengths & competence. Choice and progress are critical as we move closer to achievement and success - as defined by us. So, this month I’ll move our strengths inventory to the front of the line so we can uncover how to bring more purpose and meaning to our work. Then, we'll politely say, “Please, Mind the Gap”.