Till Our Stories Matter
When asked what she had hoped to see at their upcoming strategic workplan, what we heard was nothing to do with achieving business outcomes.
Almost sounding like an earnest plea from a 32 year-old young lady, Rachel, to us, ‘I really just want us to go back to where we came from… It has been almost nine months for me here and everyday feels like a battle. I know there is something else within us.’
What Rachel was essentially sharing was typical of many young people in organisations today, striving to find alignment and purpose amidst the tasks and goals the organisation had set out to achieve. She was asking to feel connected with one another, to sense each other beyond the work veil that carries them through their daily routine.
Rachel shared how she had always been on her search for a place to belong and a place where she can contribute. This wasn’t her first job, while this wasn’t perfect it was a step closer to perhaps an answer. She felt stifled at where she was and longed for freedom and to build something with a group of people with similar passion.
’廷 ah… you need to stop thinking about just yourself, it is not just about you.’
Rachel constantly met colleagues and people around her nudging her to put aside her ideals. With all good intentions, they shared that perhaps it is just about doing the work and that is all she needs to preoccupy herself with.
But Rachel knew it wasn’t about her. Her switch from a civil service job to the social service sector was her quest to find meaning and she owed it to herself having stayed in this job for over five-years to do more. And this was her attempt at more.
It wasn’t just Rachel who shared openly what mattered to her and how she had felt through this journey. Uncle Tan, William, Workshop Mama all had their own journeys and stories…For most it was an unexpected journey, no one expected themselves to be here but each of them had a deep personal quest of learning and passion that kept them through.
Putting aside KPIs, strategic directions and goals for a moment, it was with personal stories that they moved forward with a reimagined future.
‘Uncle Tan… we never knew you had such a rebel past.’
’I was with long hair, and with a huge desire to make the world a greener place, but i was like a wood, always hurting others… till i met my wife.’
’(whispers to the others) Yes, uncle tan‘s wife always come to our event ….’ and with that gentle nods of appreciation and a silent solidarity came through the room.
Bold At Work is a platform that facilitates experiences that exemplify the future of learning and the future of work. With individuals, we work on the sense of agency, purpose and mastery. With teams and groups, we look at our collective system and how we can exercise our voice within. With organisations, we journey with them to effect transformative changes. If you are keen to find out more of what we do, chat us up at hello@boldatwork.sg