“What’s the game?” I asked.
“It’s not a game,” Marcus assured. “We can’t promise anything about future employment, and we have to make sure all the work gets done. I can’t have someone on my team cornering all the work, looking busy, while the rest of the team sits idle.”
“What’s the game?” I repeated.
Marcus took in a deep breath. “Hiding all the work, so you look busy, while others sit idle. Meantime, project are getting behind because only one person is working.”
“But, it’s not a game?” I confirmed.
“Okay, okay, it IS a game,” Marcus relented. “But, it shouldn’t be a game. I just don’t know how to stop the vicious cycle.”
Oh boy!
Tom you have hit on a good one!
This is a game we all play games within our workplace, we are programmed to play these work games.
As the line you wrote “we cannot promise future employment” creates a counter-play when the organization plays this game. As organization plays the same game with employees the “things are not good, layoffs are happening all around you and the executives have had secret meeting at expensive resorts, and we cannot guarentee you will have a job tomorow. BUT we still want you to work hard and get the job done.”
What is one supposed to do?
Thanks Tom
Michael,
As with most things, we point to the other player and place the fault with them when the enemy is “us.” Thanks for identifying the instigator in the game. -TF