Holiday parties. Office parties. Get togethers. Gatherings. Looking back through my 14 years in the corporate world before I became an entrepreneur. I remember meeting families of employees that developed into friendships that have lasted for many years.
Employee dynamics, patterns and habits were one perspective of people I worked with day in and day out, traveled with, debated with, brainstormed with creative ideas were insightful, but when the mix changed to intermix families, the fun began.
Family members delighted in telling personal stories to those of us ‘employees.’ We assumed that we as employees took our ‘somebody done me wrong’ situations home to be comforted and backed up in our one-sided beliefs.
The ridicules, sarcasm and put downs, disbeliefs, and misconceptions from my point of view as the female executive often felt simply patronizing. The outdated operating narratives could be harsh in those times so long ago.
Interestingly, my curiosity led me to more education in organizational behavior and development. The experience allowed me to understand and to a broader path. Going into the same kinds of international companies as a change agent became the satisfying accomplishment I had longed for.
In the mixed corporate environments now, I wonder if all the at-home, solopreneurs, contracted service employees get to experience the fun of holiday festivities. The social dynamics are in many ways truncated. Cut off from the whole.
Even though I see the benefits of not getting stuck in the right to work paradigm of many companies, I see the growing desires of people to want the right to BE who they are at work. The rules, roles and relationships are in a state of the ‘in between’.
My hope is that lifestyles with our work will become more complimentary. The celebrations will be inclusive perhaps in ways we cannot yet see.