Are you a “get to” person or a “got to/have to” person? In my presentations, I put up a PowerPoint slide that has the words “got to” and “have to” with a line through them. Then I feature the words “get to.” I tell the audience, “One of my goals for when we leave here is for each of us to use the words ‘get to’ more than ‘have to’ or ‘got to.’” There is a sense of gratitude and enthusiasm when we work and live in a “get to” culture.
Take time to ask yourself why you do the type of work you do. In my book The Calling: Why Healthcare Is So Special, the fundamental philosophy is that people are attracted to certain types of work. I work mostly in healthcare. When I am with an organization, I will have people break into small groups and share what attracted them to their job. Yes, the people geared to clinical care will naturally work in healthcare. However, 50 percent of the individuals do not touch patients directly. People in information technology, finance, accounting, planning, marketing, and human resources could work in fields other than healthcare. So could those who work in food service, housekeeping, facilities, engineering, security, and more. People end up sharing great stories on why they chose to work in healthcare.
Try this exercise. It works in all fields. People working in construction, fishing, public service, religion, and so forth—they all have a story. Let each person share. This lays a foundation for “get to” thinking.
I sometimes ask if anyone in the room is serving out a sentence that requires them to work where they are. (Not that there’s anything wrong with community service!) My point is that in most cases, no one is forcing you to work where you are. I share that at times people drift into victim thinking. They get stuck on the island of self-pity. They act as if they must work where they do. I mention to the group that they are smart people and would not have chosen to work in a place that was not good.
My observation is that some individuals can get into the habit of talking more about what is wrong than what is right. When they come home, they are more likely to share that they were in a traffic jam and talk about what a miserable ride it was. If this is not the case, the person will not run in and say, “What a magical ride I had! I hit all green lights, and everyone was driving wonderfully.”
During these sessions, people get to share and hear many positive aspects of the department they work in. Discussion is then expanded to why the organization is a good place to work. Subconsciously we can damage our own places of work by focusing on the negatives rather than the positives. Not only does this harm our own work experience, but it can also spread to those around us. Making the “get to” mind shift can make a huge difference for the better.
A leader came up to me and said their department was short-staffed, overworked, and underappreciated. They added that no one wanted to work there. I asked if the person felt that they and others in the department share their sentiments widely. The person was silent. After a while, they said yes. I then said, “I think the problem, thus the solution, is inside the department.”
I went on to suggest: “Take time to ask those around you why they work there. Brainstorm how to make it a place others will want to work. Then produce ways to share the positives. It is important to be authentic, and sometimes changes are needed. However, you and the staff are smart. And you work in the department. Carry a positive message.”
All of this is also true for communities. We should never sugarcoat reality. If the crime rate is high, work together to support the police and neighborhoods. If public education results are lacking, make sure parents understand the importance of early brain building. Be supportive of the teachers and staff. If too many young people leave, educate yourself and others on what it takes to create a vibrant community. Rather than focusing on the negatives, we can get to work creating positives.
People read my book Building a Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change Is Reshaping America and reach out to me. These are people who want their city to be better. After listening to what can be made better, I ask them why they live there. Yes, there are problems to address. However, there is a good foundation in place, and there are passionate people who want to make a difference. We don’t have to live somewhere; we get to live there.
My suggestion is to start with yourself. Notice if you are using the words “got to” or “have to.” Substitute the words “get to.” Make this a habit. It will start the rewiring of your brain in a positive way. Your actions will follow your thoughts, and you might even see a shift in those around you.
Thank you to all the “get to” people out there who are making workplaces and communities better.
