Mondays
As with many children, growing up, I was exposed to my parents’ view and opinion of their work. At the dinner table, my father always said “I don’t care if you dig ditches for a living, as long as you look forward to it each day, and can afford to put a roof over your head and food on the table.”
Think about that statement for a moment. How many of us really look forward to going to work each day? I wish I had a dime for every time I see the grumbling memes on social media complaining about Mondays and looking forward to Fridays. In grade school, I remember learning the acronym T.G.I.F. Thank Goodness it’s Friday for what?
Are we supposed to be more thankful for the end of the week because our working and learning experiences are so dismal? Learning is supposed to be a good thing. Having a job is supposed to be a good thing, right?
Why all of the negativity centered on Mondays? Is it because we had a fabulous weekend that we don’t want to end? Are we coming off an epic vacation? If you really want to take it up a notch, follow a teacher on social media...I love and appreciate our teachers, however, the environment in which many work draws wonder as to how much they really enjoy their important roles. I challenge you to find anyone more excited about their work coming to an end (summer break) and more trepidation and anxiety on commencing a new school year…these professionals are spending precious time influencing our children…let that sink in for a bit.
People excel when they are doing something they enjoy, so shouldn’t institutions foster a more enjoyable learning and working experience? As a society, what do we have to lose? Show me the study that supports forcing people to dress a certain way at work makes them more productive...I’ll wait.
What are the downsides of employers striving to create a work environment that their employees look forward to participating? How does a dish of higher productivity taste? How about some sides of knowledge surplus and client loyalty? How about consistent delivery of a company’s value proposition?
I’m not suggesting that work devolve into some reckless playground, but why not spend time focusing on delivering the best workplace culture that the majority of employees wish to fully participate? Give it a try. Warning! You run the risk of higher profits, enjoying customer lifetime value, and, quite possibly, spending less on recruiting.
So, when you’re at the dinner table with your loved ones, my dream is that more employers can help us show love for Mondays. Who knows, Tuesdays may want to get in on some of this too.