A client recently told me that her new job was a “wild ride.” Images of an amusement park immediately came to mind.
What’s the ride you’re on?
Roller Coaster: Are the ups and downs intense and thrilling or do you get a pit in your stomach?
Haunted House: Are there ghosts of past experiences, people or upcoming events such as a merger or layoffs that are impacting you and others? Is your environment frightening or scary?
Bumper Cars: Do you feel as if you’re bumping into others because you do not have clear roles, expectations or boundaries? Are you frequently bumping up against deadlines?
Ferris Wheel: How often do you get high enough off the ground from day to day activities to get a helicopter view of your organization? What is the vision and perspective from all vantage points?
Tea Cups: Are you going in circles getting dizzy covering the same issues over and over again and going nowhere?
Tunnel of Love: Are you passionate about what you do and with whom you are working? Is it exciting to be in this environment?
Theme parks are designed to create fun. They can be exhilarating and thrilling. Bringing playfulness into work sparks creativity and perspective. With increased awareness, we can choose which ride we want to take.