This Week's E-zine

The Vocational Passion Newsletter For Those in Mid-life
8-23-04

From Craig Nathanson, The Vocational Coach

The world works a little better when we do what we love

Craig Nathanson specializes in helping adults
in mid-life discover and live their vocational passion.
Visit www.thevocationalcoach.com for details.

Sent to subscribers worldwide once a month.
Please pass this on to others in your network.

By Craig Nathanson, The Vocational Coach™
Craig Nathanson, The Vocational Coach, is the author of “P Is For Perfect: Your Perfect Vocational Day,” published by Book Coach Press. He’s working on the forthcoming book, “Mid-Life Passion: How to Discover and Finally Do the Work You Love,” due in 2005. He publishes the free e-zine, “Vocational Passion in Mid-life.” Craig believes the world works a little better when we do the work we love. He helps those in mid-life carry this out. Visit his online community at www.thevocationalcoach.com

This issue is dedicated to my father, Robert Nathanson, who took his own life last week after a long bout with depression.
As I try to make sense of his death, I think of my own life’s work: helping mid-life adults gain fulfillment and meaning from their lives. This much-too-personal example is what can occur when a person lives without purpose, without fulfillment, and without meaning. So perhaps in some way, my discussing this may prevent another person’s depression from getting too far out of control. No one should lose sight of the beauty and the gift of living.
Regards,
Craig

Craig Returns from Speaking and Teaching in Russia
I’ve recently returned from a monthlong stint of speaking and teaching in Russia. It encourages me to see the potential and possibilities in people all over the world to strive for vocational passion.

Helping Mid-Life Employees Find Meaning

People work to live, but most also live to work. A U.S. study on the meaning of work conducted back in 1987 revealed a strong attachment to work as a way of life. The study found that 86% of people would continue working even if they had enough money never to work another day. There could be no better indication that work is not simply a matter of putting food on the table, but is core to the very being of most adults.

Adults in mid-life, in particular, find work as a central life component. But the sense of work comes under direct assault from a business culture that undervalues personal fulfillment as an essential driver of productivity.

I believe the next wave of workforce management for enlightened corporations will be to focus on “softer” indicators of productivity. Fulfillment, meaning, satisfaction, and the intangible sense that the job is about more than a paycheck are what will make all workers – especially those in mid-life – more productive.
Ignoring these issues will lead to high levels of attrition among mid-life workers. Some corporations take the shortsighted view that “experienced worker” is a euphemism for “highly compensated.” Businesses therefore see little reason to make an effort to retain older employees. Enlightened organizations understand that this is a penny wise and pound foolish approach.

Mid-career, mid-life employees are often among the most productive, skilled, and dedicated in an organization. And as compensation plans tend to be more variable and results-oriented than in the past, it’s a lesser concern that tenured employees earn more money simply because they have been with the organization longer.

The cost of retaining an employee is considerably lower than the cost of hiring and training their replacement.

Retention programs have tended to focus on tangible rewards like bonuses, tuition assistance, flexible working hours, concierge services, even free gourmet coffee!

What has not been central to retention strategies is the soul of the mid-life, mid-career employee. So what practical measures can corporate HR and managers take to nourish the souls of their most important employees?

Encourage Employees to Explore Their Inner Needs

Many mid-life employees are essentially satisfied with their work. They’re challenged, they’re seldom bored, and they believe they’re putting their skills to good use. Yet many may not be introspective enough to understand whether they are building the deeper level of career and life satisfaction required for true contentment. The challenge is that such employees are just one wake-up call away from questioning everything in their lives. Consider balance, introspection, and exploration of desires and interests – many of which are not work-related – as a kind of “preventive medicine” for the soul.

Provide a Safe Place to Express Personal Needs

The fear of projecting weakness is a powerful undercurrent in corporate culture. Organizations that provide a safe environment to express fear and doubt, and those that explore ways to address these concerns, will defuse many potential retention challenges. Employees may fear reprisal if they confide a desire for more work-family balance, if they take time off to pursue a personal interest, or take a new career direction. Organizations should make their employees feel comfortable to ask questions and openly confide doubts or concerns. Further, organizations need to prove they will treat these confidences appropriately and direct them toward a higher level of employee satisfaction, rather than use them as “ammunition” at the next performance review.

Make “Renewal” a Job Requirement

This may seem counter-intuitive. But try this: Force employees to take time off every so often to walk barefoot through the park. Or more substantively, strongly encourage them to pursue outside interests. Ask yourself if there’s a member of your staff that sings in cabarets on weekends. Was this information volunteered? Or did management find out by happenstance? Was management’s reaction to reserve a table at the next performance or have a hallway meeting to question whether this employee valued lounge singing more than their job?

Think of it this way: If the cabaret singer feels comfortable pursuing their avocation, they are less likely to regard work as a burden that keeps them from pursuing a personal passion. Encourage that pursuit, and it is less likely the two activities will conflict.

Taking an intangible item like personal fulfillment and turning it into a job benefit is a significant challenge. It is much easier to give time, money, or prizes. But the benefits of tangible rewards last only as long as the money, the time, or the novelty of the prize. Encouraging deeper personal satisfaction of key employees offers a bigger and longer-lasting payoff.

Testimonial

Dear Craig,
The workshop you gave to the General Motors Baltimore Women in Manufacturing Organization was well received by the attendees. In speaking with each of the women after the event, it was apparent that everyone brought something very personal away from the workshop that they hadn't considered previously. It was important for our group to actually take some time to reflect on what our vision of our perfect vocational day could be. Thank you for your time and insight!
– Kate Williams, Chair-TMIE
General Motors, Powertrain – Baltimore Operations

Get your copy of Craig's book, “P Is For Perfect: Your Perfect Vocational Day,” which provides a ten-step process to do more of what you’re passionate about. Pick up his audio CD, “How to Discover and Live Your Passion Now,’’ an uplifting talk and ten-step process based on the book “P Is For Perfect.” It will provide more ideas and exercises to move you toward action. Go online for details: www.thevocationalcoach.com/online_store.html
Do you have a story to share? Would you like to appear on thevocationalcoach.com?

I'm looking for stories of people ages 40-60 who during this period discovered the work they were passionate about and found a better alignment of their abilities and interests. They took action to do what they love! If you have a story to share or know someone who does, please let me know.

Craig Nathanson, The Vocational Coach
www.thevocationalcoach.com
822 Hartz Way, Suite 208
Danville, CA 94526
Phone (925) 855-0755; Fax (925) 855-0750

Copyright 2004. The Vocational Coach is a trademark of Craig Nathanson, All Rights Reserved. You are free to use material from this newsletter in whole or in part, as long as you include complete source info, including all web links. If you do use any material please notify me where the material will appear.

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