A Hearth-Warming Tale

The Kid, just days ago, was projecting himself into the future. He was mapping out his to-be life, career, and family. Perhaps, The Kid is no longer a kid - or is poised, teetering, on the edge of premature seriousness.

Whatever, he, affairs of the heart in order, began to contemplate real life. He wanted to know now much money I make in a month, and was disappointed to learn that independent consulting is very much like unemployment, without the government stipend.

Then came marriage, and, in his opinion, the importance of having a kid or two of his own. The rationale? "They really warm up a home, know what I mean?" I knew - and agreed.

That a self-centered pre-teen would get this is beyond the powers of my limited vocabulary to deal with. But, his perception led me to think about our workaday world. Is there someone in your organization who really warms up the place? Someone whose happiness makes everyone happy? An individual who is looking out for the others? A better question might be, "Is that person you?"

If not, why not? This is definitely not about any requirement to carry a resident goof-off as overhead. Or, to have a court jester to amuse the boss. Everyone in every organization needs to carry his or her own weight. But, any group without a leavening agent is poorer for the lack.

Life is tough enough, without having some periodic break in the drudgery, without some indication that we are human, and can laugh as well as perform miracles on-demand. In the end, it's about deliberately creating working groups with complementary skills and attitudes - and gifts that contribute to collective success, well-being, and quality of work life.

It's also about creating an environment that satisfies people's needs, and helps you keep the keepers. So, go thou and warm up the place.