Everyone Knows Me But You by Chris Peterson

She’d been transferred to another department and despite her personal challenges, she showed up to work and gave it her full attention and effort.

She had lost a close family member and had also been coping with some health issues of her own. Recently I spoke with a woman who had been going through a tough time. Or the conversations they do have leave them feeling like a hard-working ‘widget’ yet under-appreciated as a human being. They work hard but aren’t getting enough meaningful time or dialogue with their boss or others at work. Often their discontent is connected to a relationship dynamic at work – or lack thereof. I have a lot of conversations with people about their work. It’s not just the workload – it’s the people factor that can make or break one’s work-life experience People need to connect, to be understood, to be appreciated - to thrive and bring their best to their work. But equally salient, are the relationships, the conversations, and the overall dynamics people experience at work. Of course, heavy workloads, escalating change, disruption and uncertainty all contribute to stress. It’s no secret that Canadians are stressed. A study by staffing firm Accountemps indicated that 58 per cent of Canadians say they are stressed every day at work. Appreciating, connecting, and relating well with others is foundational to our personal, professional and organizational wellbeing. It’s a mindset, a stance, and a way of being. “Other people matter” is far more than a slogan. What does this have to do with work? Everything.

These three words were foundational to his vast body of work and what he stood for and inspired in others. While his loss was immense, he left behind an extraordinary legacy to the study and practise of wellbeing that touches nearly every aspect of one’s life – including the landscape of career and work.Ĭhris’s trademark phrase was: “Other People Matter”. A year later, Chris passed away quite suddenly. Chris (Christopher) Peterson, one of the founding pioneers of the positivity movement and a well-respected professor of psychology at the University of Michigan.

Some years ago, I had the opportunity to take a course with Dr. Note: A version of this article has also been published at the Globe and Mail.

Everyone Knows Me But You by Chris Peterson