Work like it’s your last day every day
I have been throwing around an idea of working everyday like it your last week of work. When you think about your last week of work, you want to tie up loose ends so that the next person who is taking your job has a smooth transition. You make sure not to burn any bridges but you also may stand in your truth more than any time before due to the politics of jobs. You show up on time everyday and when I say show up I mean mentally and physically. Depending on how long you have been at the job, you may spend time making sure that all of your financial information is in order such as retirement, paid time off, stock plan. We usually have lunch with all of the people that we have gotten to know over the years making sure that they know that our connections will continue. It is a true work week and we tend to be more or as enthusiastic as when we started the job. I know that many of you are thinking where did she work? I am running through the doors like my pants are on fire! Of course there is an aspect of trying to get out of here but for the most part professionals want to make sure that they leave a kind of legend as a great employee, manager, leader etc.
What if you made a conscious choice to work like that every week. Of course you don’t have to check your financial information every week but what is you worked like it was your last week every week? How productive could you be? Could you stand totally in your truth and tell leadership how you really feel about differing strategies employed? Could you connect with your work friends and make sure that they know you will be there for them regardless of where you work? Could you make sure that loose ends are tied up and ready for the “next employee” which is you? Imagine how great work life could be if you always started as if it your last. You would have a carefully put together workload that someone who was proud of their work legacy left for you to carry on. You would have great relationships with people who you care about. You would be honest about where you feel the organization is going and specifically how where you fit into the organization. You could take time to reflect on how to make things more effective for your team and organization.