What Kids Can Teach Us about Work and Play
By Sandy Schroeder
Denise Fournier, PhD, suggests in Psychology Today that children may make great role models for life and work. She gives us some quick examples of how they approach things and why it usually works, pointing out how they do things differently, and sometimes more effectively.
Children are honest – Too many times we take great pains to screen our comments or tell ourselves no, when a straight-on assessment might work better. Children are usually very direct, which can lead to clearer observations. Think about the projects where you did your best work. When I do that I remember the ones where I kept everything simple and direct, and found others responded the same way.
Children are naturally present – Often we have to make an effort to stay focused on one subject, letting everything else drop away. Children seldom have that trouble. They zero right in on the topic at hand, what it is or how it works. If we could recapture that natural curiosity and directness, we might save a lot of time, and come up with better results. We might not even need mindfulness classes to key in on the issues at hand.
Children know how to play – Many of us have forgotten how to play, or feel that it’s really a luxury. Actually, psychologists say engaging in play can reduce stress, result in clearer thinking, and create better, more lasting relationships. At first it may seem awkward, but play may turn out to be a great way to break the ice and spark new ideas. Try it the next time you are looking for a creative breakthrough. You may be surprised how much quicker new ideas show up.
Children are always real – Kids never present false fronts. They just show up and jump right in. When we can do the same, we may find it much easier to get to know people and create new relationships. Authentic always comes through, and proves to be the best way to do business. The best projects that I have ever worked on were done with people who were totally real. They just cut to the chase and tackled the subject at hand.
Children ask for help – We may feel like we have failed when we have to ask for help, but actually that may be the best way to get to know people and understand the work involved.
We may all learn from watcing our children. They keep it simple, direct and fun, and that's not all bad.
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