To Everything - Turn, Turn, Turn
~5 min read
The changing of the seasons – the undeniable evidence of the march of time.
As the song goes: There is a season, turn, turn, turn.
Some people notice the change of season when the first leaves yield their green to amber and crimson. Others notice the change when a crisp breeze chases away the haze of humidity. I experience a slightly different yearly omen foretelling the end of summer. I don't have a great track record with lawnmowers. I notice the change of season by the severity of belching smoke and grinding metal of my lawnmower’s death rattle.
Tomayto/tomahto, right? Either way, seasonal change is upon us.
If you live in a part of the world that experiences the glorious and dramatic changing of the seasons, you’ll know what I mean by that accompanying shift in the air – the definitive end of one thing and the start of another.
Those End-of-Summer Blues
Remember that end-of-summer feeling when we were kids? That sense of running out of fun? The apprehension of change and challenges ahead. And if you were me, it was the anxiety of those dismal blue chairs waiting for me outside the principal’s office.
It turns out, this same seismic seasonal shift still happens to us as adults. Research shows you can even observe this seasonal shift in the workplace. It’s that same sense of running out of summer, the anxiety of an increased shift in work tempo, the apprehension of change and challenges that lie ahead. How do we mitigate this? According to research, support and recognition are the most significant factors in how we fare through seasonal changes and challenges.
The effect of support and recognition within any environment (whether work, social, or family) is a significant facet of the human condition. We’ve all felt this on some level, particularly when support and appreciation are lacking.
Are we surviving or thriving?
Let’s talk about work. Most people give at least 40 hours of their lives each week to their workplaces. Work holds significant power and influence in our lives, and in the lives of our families (as we often bring our days home with us). This is a stark reminder to business leaders everywhere that the culture of your workplace is in your hands. Have you built a culture of appreciation to support your people through the unstoppable changes and challenges of life (and business)?
When employees trust that support and recognition are integral to their workplace culture, they are 91% more likely to thrive at work, according to the 2022 Gallup study of 12,000 employees. With an eyeroll to the obvious, support and recognition are foundational to a thriving workplace. In fact, they are foundational to the success of any human group. In particular, a workforce that trusts this foundation of support and recognition isn't built on shifting sands is 91% more likely to thrive through changes and personal challenges.
Workplaces undeniably shape our wellbeing every single day, whether for better or for worse. It’s a stark reminder of just how much power and influence work has over our personal and professional lives. Again, whether for better or worse.
However, this isn’t just about work. Families and social circles are also powerful forces that make the difference between surviving and truly thriving. I don’t believe we’re here on this planet against all odds to simply survive to the end of our days. We’re here to thrive within our communities by embracing the one thing we have in common: the vast and stunning mosaic of the human condition. Several telling universal traits underpin our human condition, including the need for a sense of worth and belonging within your group.
Effective recognition costs nothing. It doesn’t require grand gestures, trinkets, or prizes. It’s simply frequent, genuine, heartfelt, and specific thanks. Compliments, kudos, and credit where it’s due. A hand-written note, even. Words of affirmation that contribute to this sense of worth and belonging within the group. You never know who might need to hear it. Cultivating community through belonging and appreciation can make the difference between surviving and truly thriving.
