On #GenZ work culture - as you are making choices, others, including organizations are making choices too. For every action there is a reaction. So as you are doing you, please respect other people's right to do them too. Namaste. 🙏🏾
That said, kindness and respect are human values. They are non-negotiable at work and at home. So are hardwork, commitment, discipline and responsibility.
I think the problem in many workplaces is communication and understanding. Set clear expectations. If you need to shift the goal post in the event of business emergencies, don't take the sacrifice for granted or assume it. Ask.
Also be aware that each generation has shifting priorities. Some value money. Others value time, family, meaning or appreciation. HR has changed. You need to know what motivates people if you want an effective team. One size doesn't fit all.
Finally, from a personal perspective, it is very important for Gen Z to build real relationships and real family OUTSIDE work. Don't assume every boss wants to be a mentor or parent figure. Each boss is unique too, just as each staff is unique.
As an additional thought - the capacity for multiple streams of income is a privilege. Entrepreneurship is not a mass ability. Making digital money is a skill. The choice to fall back on family shelter, food and resources is uncommon in poor country.
Those who stay in uncomfortable work environments should never be ridiculed. They are not fools. They are biding their time and doing what they must until they can have what they prefer. They CHOOSE not to give it to their employers as e dey hot.
Others want the work experience or the skills they are currently learning. And they have the mental fortitude to deal with the challenges. Others may not and choose to move on. That is okay. Everyone has a right to their journey and health.
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Religion is a fascinating merger of the spiritual, cultural and social. It has the power to destroy or transform lives, and its destructive side is often cultural. This is because people interpret scripture ideologically.
Abstraction is difficult for humans. We understand things relative to other things - family upbringing, societal norms, what we've been taught etc. Learning does not take place in a vacuum.
You will meet very few people who grasp knowledge outside existing frameworks. We tag them geniuses. An example is Einstein who intuitively discerned the equation, E=MC².
If you struggle with impatience like me, the following may be helpful when speaking to others:
1. Don't say the first thing that comes to mind. Refine it until it is kind. 2. Genuinely listen. Take an active interest even if you're not interested at first or have heard it before
3. Look for what is good first and commend that. 4. Talk less and talk later. 5. Practice the habit of sleeping over things or taking a walk before responding.
These are short-term fixes. Ultimately, what you really need to work on is respect. Respect for others, no matter their station.
Whenever I start missing home even when I'm at home, I know I'm deeply distressed. This happened to me a few days ago.
Over the years, it took a while to identify the feeling. To understand that what I was really missing was the family home in Magodo where my parents used to live. So, I was indirectly missing my parents (now deceased).
I was longing for my mom to ask if I had eaten and then give instructions for food to be served. I was wishing for my dad to ask about my work, career and travel plans in obvious pride. And, I was remembering the prayers my mom would say just as I was leaving.
You need a home. There might be a Russia-Ukraine war, and a pandemic may be raging. Nigeria may not have light and diesel prices may have doubled in days. But, when you get home, there is quietness.
Your business partners may be shafting you. Regulators may be unpredictable and unbearable. But when you return home, you experience a haven of order, values, honour and comfort.
If you married the wrong person; if a loved one is struggling with a debilitating chronic condition, going home may be difficult.
If you're barely trying to get by and you live in a rough part of town, the concept of home may be far from you.
There are four stages of career growth: Skills, Expertise, Structure and Legacy.
Skills: At this stage, you're aggressively developing your knowledge and abilities. You typically don't have much disposable income. This is because after meeting your basic expenses, if you're wise, you spend what's left on additional certifications, degrees & cultural exposure.
Expertise: Now you're a high earning professional. You've parlayed your skills into a great paying role or business and you are in demand. Your focus is maximizing your productive years and reaping the fruit of earlier investments in self-development.
In relationships, conversations matter. Deep, probing, uncomfortable discussions. This is because they provide context and elicit understanding.
A few years ago, I met someone who was brash and blunt. Because of his abrasive nature, I was tempted to cut him off.
One day, while conversing, he described his childhood. He grew up in a polygamous home where he was the runt of the litter. He competed for everything and learned to be vocal at a very young age.