This morning, I had a dream experiencing another organization’s culture. This has also been a reality for me, having worked in multiple organizations prior.
The Dream
It is day two in my new organization. It’s a blur on how I got here. I am sad, heartbroken and having a melt-down. I feel lonely. I want to leave.
“What is going on? What am I missing?”, I think to myself. There is a lack of flexible work culture, no camaraderie, absence of values (integrity, hospitality), empathy and the emotional connect.
Thankfully, it was just a dream. Now, we’re back in real time, where the dream was past. It was all gone!
What did my dream mean?
As I caught my breath, I was thankful I was still with my current employer.
And, I reflected on what makes my work life so rich. It came down to three elements of Human Centric Leadership, nicely depicted in the Gartner article on Human Centric Leadership, which was on the Top five priorities for HR leaders in 2023.
Source: Gartner; Top 5 Priorities for HR Leaders in 2023
Build Power Skills: Be Authentic, Empathetic, Adaptable
In my current organization, the elements of human centric leadership are being fulfilled in most ways through organization-wide efforts. Here’s how:
Being Authentic: I can bring my true authentic self at work and speak my mind during team meetings. Leadership leads small group discussions to do a dip stick on the pulse and get feedback
Being Empathetic: My co-workers and leaders from across the world check-in on how I am doing as a new mum and often shared their experiences, which I learnt a lot from
Being Adaptive: When I became a mum, a year and half ago, there was tremendous support leaders and l co-workers around the world, adapting call timings to childcare
“If you have never tasted a bad apple, you would not appreciate a good one.”
My dream brought light to all the things that are important to me, and also reminded me of what happens when those things are amiss. What a dream!!!
What is your “dream culture”? How are you experiencing that now? What would you really miss if you found yourself somewhere else? What are you most thankful for at your current place of work?