Maneuvering Within the Schoolyard

All I ever needed I learned in kindergarten. There’s a book that makes a great case for this concept and while I’m not sure I totally agree, one point is indisputable…the concept of the schoolyard.

The schoolyard is the community in which your identity is first formulated, and it’s both this identity and recognizing the identity of others that determines everything from who you will play with in the sandbox to whether you will someday be a leader or follower. Are you the football quarterback, the cheerleader, the geek, the bully, the rich kid or the kid that, to date, no one has noticed?

Ok now fast forward to the workplace and it should be more than apparent that the schoolyard cast members are alive and well in the workplace. However now there are four generations in the schoolyard, Generation X, Generation Y, Baby Boomers and Traditionalists. All generations have been raised by generations with differing values and work habits. And all must live and work together.

Are you thinking of changing jobs because you don’t like the office bully, the boss’s pet or the sneaky geek? Perhaps you need to rethink that strategy because another of whoever is bothering you will be waiting for you at the next job! Never run from anything! Run toward something better!

Comments

[Cecile Peterkin]

Fantastic article - love it.

I run a Values program for 9 to 12 years living in a "high risk" neighborhood in Toronto, I will be sharing this article with them in our next session.

Thank you for such an insightful article.

[Janice Worthington]

Hi Cecile:

Thanks so much... I'm honored! Ever been to a class reunion? It's amazing!

Janice Worthington