Tag Archives: happiness

Competence and Happiness

“A new day, a new way?” I asked.

Sophia smirked. “Yes, but this is more difficult than I thought. I mean, I thought I would like this kind of work, I thought I would be good at it.”

“Conventional wisdom,” I said. “Isn’t that the pursuit of happiness? Find something you like and you will be good at it.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I like the work, it’s interesting, but it doesn’t seem to come natural to me,” she said, shaking her head.

“It is possible you have it backwards,” I nodded. “We like activity in which we are competent, not the other way around. Just because you like something doesn’t mean you are competent. Just because you are interested and read a book about basketball does not mean you are a good 3-point shooter. On your way to becoming a good 3-point shooter, which takes practice over practice, as you become competent, you will find your happiness. Those who are competent in their pursuit will find the most satisfaction. Those who are not competent, who did not practice, will soon become disinterested and go another way.”

Not To Make People Happy

“Please don’t focus on making team members happy,” Pablo continued. “Being happy may be a byproduct, but what we want is engagement. What does it take to keep team members engaged, in the work that we do?”

“As managers, we do things instinctively to get the work done, without thinking about the longer term impact of engagement,” I replied. “Getting the work done is short term, to meet the weekly metrics. We need to think about getting the work done, getting the work done well, for the next five years. We do that best with a team we can keep together, working in sync with each other.”

“And, even if the team meets their metrics, but isn’t working in sync, where are you, as a manager?” Pablo asked.

“So, it is not enough for one team member to be engaged, but to have a team working in sync?” I answered with another question.

“That is why, in building an organization,” Pablo continued my thought, “it is not enough to have the right people in the right seats, we have to think about how the seats have to work together.”

“That sounds nice for an orchestra, but what about here, where we have to get some work done?”

Pablo smiled. “In every working relationship that we design, we have to think critically. In this working relationship, what are the accountabilities we expect? And, in this working relationship, who has the authority? Authority to make decisions and solve problems the way we would have them solved? It is the design of the structure that creates team member engagement. It doesn’t happen by itself. We have to design the structure with intention.”

Happiness

“What makes you happy?” I asked.

“Not sure anymore,” Nate replied. “When things are going well, I am happy. Lately, though, not so much. Sometimes, the world just doesn’t go my way.”

“And, it will continue to go that way, making you unhappy until you come to this realization. Happiness is not something that happens to you. Happiness is a choice. Only when you choose to be happy, will you be happy.”