Work Philosophy
This was one of two major projects for my senior capstone. Instead of a traditional textbook, my professor assigned us a book titled Make Your Job a Calling by Bryan Dik and Ryan Duffy. The purpose of the read was to encourage the students to truly think about what work meant to them, as well as to provide methods to evaluate the values that define them. This essay is the result of finishing that book, along with some research I performed on my own. I hope you find this to be an informative read.
Communication is the most important skill in this world. It improves all aspects of life, from personal relationships to professional endeavors. Words and expressions have the power to move people emotionally, impart knowledge, tell stories, and so much more. I aim to use my expertise in communicating to inform and better those I direct my messages towards. In doing so, I deepen my understanding of the world and develop a more diverse perspective. As I progress and improve within the world, I can further enrich the lives of those I communicate with. I strive to apply these beliefs to my work in a constant effort to grow with the communities we serve.
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​When I start the planning process for a project, after deciding what the goal should be, the first step in my plan is to conduct research. Before I even sat down to write this statement, I took the time to research numerous public figures and their views on communications and work philosophies. I gathered information from research papers and articles alike to refine my understanding of the beliefs I listed in my intro statement. One key concept I found was championed in nearly every source, which was the ability to organize and convey one’s thoughts.
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An article from Haiilo reports that, on average, knowledge workers spend roughly two and a half hours a day searching for information alone to properly perform their jobs. I can attest to this with the research I conducted to compose this statement. Organizing and evaluating research takes time and expertise to properly develop a strategy to impart the information. When there’s a lack of organization, the information isn’t communicated effectively and people are more likely to disregard the message, or in the case of interpersonal collaboration within an organization, schedule meetings in search of clarification. This wastes valuable time, both for the people conveying the information, but also for the people on the receiving end.
On the flip side, according to an article by McKinsey & Company, improved communications and internal collaborations can raise the productivity of workers by 20 to 25 percent. From a practical perspective alone, it makes complete sense to practice organizing and conveying our thoughts, not to mention the personal benefits that come with learning to express and articulate our emotions and ideas.
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For work to be fulfilling to me, it must challenge me to further improve my skill sets and learn from my shortcomings. Failing is a key part of the path to success but shouldn’t be repeated when the same hurdle presents itself multiple times. Failure is the method by which we gauge success. This is commonplace with communication, as content is often published to see what sticks and resonates with an audience, and what should be avoided in the future.
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Without communication, the world around you would begin to fall apart. Relationships would fail, work would become a challenge at best, and as humans are social creatures in nature, our entire way of life would be disrupted.
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I’ll send off with a quote from a popular modern psychologist and academic that I believe speaks volumes to my values and the values of all communicators.
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"If you're guided by the spirit of honest inquiry, and every word you say is reflective of what you believe to be the truth, then the pathway that you walk on is a golden pathway to success." - Jordan Peterson