Last year was my first job as a counselor; I had the fortune or misfortune of landing a one-year, long-term substitute position. It was fortunate because I could spend a year making mistakes and learning on the fly and then move on, able to take what I've learned into a new position with a fresh set of colleagues. It was decidedly unfortunate because while I arrived with an amazing amount of energy and fresh ideas, I was treated as a substitute. My ideas were initially listened to, and then suddenly less important than existing staff's ideas. I began to shrink in my role. I began to keep my ideas to myself. I stopped fighting to implement ideas that would benefit students, but cause headaches for me. I cared less about being punctual for work and dressing professionally. I stopped working through lunch. I stopped researching new and innovative ideas and stuck to the meager lessons and materials with which I'd already become familiar. I checked Facebook at work (gasp!). Why did this happen? I was still dedicated to the students and loved my face time with them in just about any capacity. I still got a rush when I could tell that I'd helped someone or when I got positive feedback from a colleague. So why? In retrospect, I believe it was because I didn't feel valued.
A similar situation in my not-too-distant past comes to mind. I was hired to work with adults with disabilities, teaching job skills and coordinating the vocational program at a local non-profit. I took the job at a pay cut from my previous position with a completely different non-profit, but arrived with much energy and enthusiasm. I was quickly appreciated, recognized, and rewarded for my efforts. I loved my work there and threw myself into it willingly. For a year or so, I found myself digging deeper, working harder, and loving just about every aspect of my job. After about a year, the "big boss" announced she was leaving. (Sidenote: I'd later learn that what was about to happen to me had already happened to her but worse; she was micromanaged into a corner and chose to bow out gracefully.) The founder returned to power and slowly began to rule like a dictator...keeping staff in the dark, making decisions without input or regard to labor laws, creating elaborate "tests" for her underlings, making decisions based on bloodlines and relationships rather than qualifications, getting rid of people that challenged her, enlisting self-interested spies to text her about day to day goings-on rather than to actually appear at work and witness for herself...I could continue, but I'll stop. Instead of being appreciated and valued for my year of stellar service, I became a target. I was initially promoted and then just a few short months later, demoted to a position less than the one I'd been hired to do. Restructuring, not personal. That's what I was told; nepotism ran rampant and I didn't carry the correct family name. I wasn't valued or appreciated. I started choosing jeans and a company t-shirt every day instead of professional attire. I stopped taking work home. I started using more vacation time. I got a second job and started looking for a way out.
What have I learned from these situations? I guess, I need to feel appreciated and valued in order to put forth my best effort. My work performance is directly tied with my perception of worth. If that's true for me, is that true for everyone? Or do I need to learn to work my hardest and give my all to any work position, no matter who my boss is or what my colleagues think? Lucky for me, I don't need to find an answer to this question immediately. I love my boss and my colleagues. I find a great deal of appreciation and support. I am energized, I am ready. I am bringing my best ideas to the table. I am researching, I am taking on extra responsibilities...I'm alive. It feels great.
A similar situation in my not-too-distant past comes to mind. I was hired to work with adults with disabilities, teaching job skills and coordinating the vocational program at a local non-profit. I took the job at a pay cut from my previous position with a completely different non-profit, but arrived with much energy and enthusiasm. I was quickly appreciated, recognized, and rewarded for my efforts. I loved my work there and threw myself into it willingly. For a year or so, I found myself digging deeper, working harder, and loving just about every aspect of my job. After about a year, the "big boss" announced she was leaving. (Sidenote: I'd later learn that what was about to happen to me had already happened to her but worse; she was micromanaged into a corner and chose to bow out gracefully.) The founder returned to power and slowly began to rule like a dictator...keeping staff in the dark, making decisions without input or regard to labor laws, creating elaborate "tests" for her underlings, making decisions based on bloodlines and relationships rather than qualifications, getting rid of people that challenged her, enlisting self-interested spies to text her about day to day goings-on rather than to actually appear at work and witness for herself...I could continue, but I'll stop. Instead of being appreciated and valued for my year of stellar service, I became a target. I was initially promoted and then just a few short months later, demoted to a position less than the one I'd been hired to do. Restructuring, not personal. That's what I was told; nepotism ran rampant and I didn't carry the correct family name. I wasn't valued or appreciated. I started choosing jeans and a company t-shirt every day instead of professional attire. I stopped taking work home. I started using more vacation time. I got a second job and started looking for a way out. 
What have I learned from these situations? I guess, I need to feel appreciated and valued in order to put forth my best effort. My work performance is directly tied with my perception of worth. If that's true for me, is that true for everyone? Or do I need to learn to work my hardest and give my all to any work position, no matter who my boss is or what my colleagues think? Lucky for me, I don't need to find an answer to this question immediately. I love my boss and my colleagues. I find a great deal of appreciation and support. I am energized, I am ready. I am bringing my best ideas to the table. I am researching, I am taking on extra responsibilities...I'm alive. It feels great.
