Would You Fire Yourself?

We are our own worst critics! Wait, this is deja vu all over again.
“person covering face with hands outdoors” by Abigail Keenan on Unsplash
As you grow throughout your career you realize the things that you didn’t know, the things that you should have known but you didn’t, yet you made a decision that had possibly a negative outcome. Or you were possibly doing something as a younger self that makes you shake your head and you think…

Man, I should have fired myself.

We have done things during her career that we think back on and giggle about it nervously. Or you think about those major faux pas that you made, either interpersonal remarks or actions that you would consider very questionable now that you’re further along in your career?

Are you ready to fire yourself?

As you sit there reading during working hours, not getting your important work completed, are you able to mentally (or externally) justify that distracting action? The one wasteful action you are doing right now that doesn’t move the agenda forward for the organization?

Think of all the distractions that are available to us today. The internet, social media, online shopping, blogs like this one, and the amount of time that we waste just following the rabbit hole. Yet, with the amount of time that we spend at work, it is invariably possible that you are going to end up doing something that is not directly related to work, but more related to personal business. Finding the balance is key. If you find yourself wasting more during work, would you care personally? Professionally? It is justifiable (in your mind) — you need to get the personal chore complete to keep the happy.

Should you fire yourself?

Now if you saw one of your employees, a direct report, doing the same thing, How would/do you react?

Would you fire him or her?

Try walking around in another worldview. Recognize that today’s business and the economy is always on. More people are plugged in throughout the day, yourself included. Many of us are engaged with work more hours per day than our grandparents. Not necessarily working, but definitely keeping the pulse with what is happening at work. Does this new view change your filter?

Remember, it is a different world than when you were a green employee. Take that into consideration when you provide feedback to change behavior.

Go forth and be brilliant.

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