Honoring the Worker and Nurturing Cultures of Care
Musuem-goers take in the five story high exhibit at the American Mural Project.
The pandemic amplified the conversation around mental health and the need to honor the worker and foster more compassionate work cultures. The current wars and strife in the world require this now, more than ever. The world is in turmoil, and yet our lives and work must carry on – but how? What role can you, as a leader play? How, and why, do you nurture cultures of care?
This week, we celebrate a holiday in the United States – depending upon your perspective, some call it Thanksgiving and some call it a Day of Mourning. Clearly, we, as people, have a lot to heal and reconcile. What are ways in which you can both respect, honor and be thankful for those people who work for, and with you, to create the kind of life and work you enjoy?
For those who feel marginalized in the workplace, how can you find your voice? For those who are more privileged and in positions of power, what can you do to foster more cultures of care and inclusion, honoring all workers and all work?
At Sage, our work has always been about developing leaders who create the kind of cultures that demonstrate care and respect for their people. This is how a wise leader will get the most from their people – everyone feeling seen, heard, and validated – and that they, and their work matters. Connected, supportive environments set the conditions to increase the likelihood that you will get the best from your people.
There is a ton of research that says that people who feel valued and a sense of belonging, will bring more of themselves to work, and go the extra mile for their manager. They won’t just go through the motions, but use more of their discretionary effort and take pride in their work. But do we really need all this research to validate what we intuitively, as humans, know to be true? We are social creatures and everyone needs to feel like they matter – what they do matters. Knowing this, isn’t the issue. It’s how do we, as leaders behave in ways, every day, that show people they matter – that demonstrate to people that you really value them and what they do?
Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Amy Wynn, the Executive Director of the American Mural Project. This is a museum that houses a multi-year art project that celebrates all workers. This huge mural (120 feet long and five stories high) is a three-dimensional, multi-media depiction of real people, with real stories, doing their jobs. The artist Ellen Griesedieck, doesn’t just interview her subjects, she trails them for a period of time – watching and understanding what they do and how they do it.
Ellen describes herself as a worker, curious about other workers and painting them in a such a way that she amplifies and honors them in, the sometimes mundaneness of, their jobs. She has created these figures much larger than life, so they are loud and can’t be ignored.
Over the last twenty years, Ellen has involved hundreds of children, of all ages, to co-create some aspects of this mural. Her intention is to expose children to all kinds of vocations – and the pride that could be given to jobs, in all sectors and all walks of life. This helps children dream and aspire to, and honor these jobs. She highlights surgeons, factory workers, policemen, a woman firefighter. You also get the names and stories of these mural subjects, so they are real people who come to life for the viewers. In this creative work, there is no job hierarchy, but a sense of the whole of work, workers and work teams.
In today’s busy, pressure-filled world and workplace, we can lose sight of the importance of doing “everyday” jobs, and doing them well. At the beginning of the pandemic, suddenly everyone was appreciative of the cashier at the grocery store. Did we go back to sleep? How can we, ongoingly acknowledge and honor all jobs, and not take some jobs, and people doing them, for granted?
Reflection Questions
As a leader, what are you doing to create and reinforce a culture of care amongst your people?
How do you honor and respect the people who do the work you need done, not just think of them as “resources”?
Are you clear on the moments that matter – for you, your team and your organization?
Suze Shaner is an executive coach and leadership & organization effectiveness consultant. She also teaches yoga and meditation – tools to keep one sane in uncertain times. She helps professionals step up to their fullest leadership, life and growth potential. At times this means getting out of their own way in getting important stuff accomplished. www.sagelead.com.