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Changing Perspectives
Rutendo Gwatidzo
WE are in a season where a significant number of people in the workplace have been awarded for outstanding performances.
I have been privileged to be one of those who was acknowledged and recognised this past week for outstanding human resources (HR) consultancy and inspirational leadership. Being recognised can be good or bad depending on how one views it.
On the same day that I was acknowledged, I witnessed individuals who received awards, but got angry, some got discouraged and others were on top of the moon. Across different industries, sectors and organisations, many received awards in the form of a 13th cheque, holiday packages and/or grocery allowances.
Today, I bring advice to both award winners and those who did not receive anything.
Advice to winners
It is the attitude towards success that ultimately determines its worth and value. We can only see the beauty of our achievements when we refrain from comparing ourselves to others. Celebrating victory does not mean we should stop working towards more achievements. Receiving an award does not mean that you have arrived; No!
The reason many organisations have new individuals receiving awards each year is that a significant number of people tend to relax once they land accolades, instead of engaging the next gear because, in the actual sense, it will be the beginning of a new chapter.
We need to maintain our hard work. The sky should not be your limit; it has to be your dwelling place. Always remember that you are still on a journey full of challenges and you have more goals to achieve. Yes, you can break limitations and, yes, it is possible to dwell in the skies and soar on wings like eagles.
Advice to future winners
The secret behind celebrating the victory of others is that in doing so, we open up the door to receiving the same grace that powered them to achieve victory. You were probably inspired by seeing others doing it. Take note, real success or victory should not be about proving a point to anyone. Just focus on achieving goals that will impact your life and those around you positively. Continue making the impact until it distinguishes you.
Many people spend time competing negatively with others because they do not know their purpose. Take time to understand your reason for existence.
Organisational status
A significant number of teams do not know their roles, responsibilities or functions in the organisations they work for. They just go to work without a clear purpose. That is why it is easy for some of them to spend the whole quarter or year without being productive and they do not get bothered. Some will even expect the company to give them a 13th cheque, and you wonder where it should come from.
Many teams find comfort in discussing challenges and problems more than solutions. They can go for years discussing issue after issue, yet do nothing about it.
High labour turnover is something that many organisations are experiencing, especially start-ups and small to medium enterprises, because many employees expect to reap what they did not sow. Most of them are interested in joining organisations which have proper structures and systems that require less effort to manage.
If organisations have teams that are willing to make a difference, instead of reaping only, businesses in our nation will improve.
The difference between a winner and the next person is probably an inch away. If you find yourself being recognised for being the winner, do not use this to judge others because they can win, too.
If a rerun was to be done, you will probably find yourself not winning because by the time the rerun takes place, someone would have overtaken you, because you are probably just an inch apart.
Winning and victory are not experienced in the working place only.
Even in your own personal life; you can meet your goals and you can award yourself, too. Before you get recognised by other people, you need to be in a position where you award yourself first and other people later. If you find yourself not able to award yourself, then there must be something wrong. Redo the equation until you see it balancing.
It is possible to make a difference; willingness is the first most important step. Once a seed is planted, it requires watering and constant checking to remove weeds so that it develops fruit that will produce a harvest. In other words, once you join an organisation, go through the necessary training processes and strive to meet your targets and, eventually, things like promotion and winning may follow.
It is possible for anyone to achieve greatness. Just focus on meeting your goals and let winning be an added advantage.
Rutendo Gwatidzo is a culture and change management strategist. She is an HR consultant, speaker, mentor and author of the books “Born to Fight” and “Breaking the Silence”. She was on the IOCDZ List of the 40 Influential Leaders in Zimbabwe 2022. Contact detail: 0714575805/ [email protected]/ Rutendo Gwatidzo official fb public page.
Online Reporter