Hello, it’s Siri. Welcome to my weekly newsletter on managing your energy, time and head space for work that matters to you. I am an ICF Certified Coach, with more than 450 hours of client coaching. My coaching sessions are “advice-free zones” unless the client specifically asks for advice. So I offer my best insights, reflections, advice here, in this newsletter which is published every Sunday.
In this edition, we’ll continue exploring GRACE, a reflective framework for work and life and our focus is on Alignment.
“When we reflect deeply, we realise our greatest contribution is not what we do, but how we do it.”
Unknown
A Demotion That Seemed Like a Setback
Many years ago, I was “demoted” to a rather minor role in a project. I was used to leading high-stakes projects, and this felt like a blow. The role involved coordinating testing for a legacy data warehouse – a task I’d done as a fresher. To be assigned this as a senior project manager was disheartening.
I was in charge of a team of young freshers, straight out of IIT (India’s top engineering college). They had expected to work on groundbreaking data science projects, not write test cases or test a legacy data product nearing obsolescence. Like me, they were frustrated. We both believed we were meant for “better things” than this seemingly meaningless task. But the work had to get done.
I wrestled with how to motivate myself and my team when the work itself seemed devoid of meaning. How could I inspire others when I struggled to find purpose in what we were doing? That’s when I first thought about contribution. How can I contribute when my work is meaningless?
While thinking about how to approach this challenge, I came across a Zen story that profoundly impacted me.
How to Cut the Meat?
In the small mountain village in Japan where he lived, Yoshira was renowned not just for his meat but also for the peace and contentment he radiated while he did his work. His reputation spread far and wide, and people came to watch him at work.
One traveller, hearing of Yoshiro’s reputation, visited the shop. He watched Yoshiro as he held the animal gently in his hands, radiating love and compassion. He tenderly spoke to the animal, who didn’t struggle under the butcher’s knife. He very calmly killed the animal, and his knife sliced through the meat without meeting any resistance.
Intrigued, the traveller approached Yoshiro and asked him, “Master, how do you cut with so much ease and peace? Neither you, the animal or the knife seems to meet any resistance.”
Yoshiro put his knife down, cleaned his hands and turned to the traveller with a smile. “The secret,” he said, “is not in the cutting but in understanding the nature of what I cut. When I look at a piece of meat, I see more than flesh. I see the spaces, the natural lines where the meat falls apart under the slightest pressure. The knife does not cut; it follows the paths that are already there, set by nature.”
Yoshiro continued, “This is not just about cutting meat. It is about life itself. When we force our way against the world, we meet resistance. But when we understand the nature of things, when we learn to see the paths laid out for us by the universe, our journey through life becomes effortless. We find contentment, joy and peace in even the simplest tasks.”
It made me think deeply about how I showed up to work, even if it wasn’t the work I wanted to do. How can I flow with what’s happening instead of resisting? How can I find meaning in the work that I was doing?
The Perspective Shift
The story made me reflect on how I was approaching the situation. It made me realise that work was not just what we were doing, but also how we were doing. Instead of resisting what was happenign, could I flow with it? Could I find meaning not just in the tasks but in how I showed up for my team?
I decided to focus on my team members as individuals. I got to know their goals and challenges. I coached them on what they wanted to acheive in their lives, acknowledged their frustrations, encouraged them to take steps towards the work and the life they wanted. They took this project as an opportunity to learn and excel.
An Unexpected Outcome
By the end of the assignment, I was surprised to learn that my name had been put forward for a promotion – a pleasant and unexpected outcome.
Reflecting on the experience, I realised I could have spent the time complaining and resenting the work and my manager. Instead, by showing up with intention, I built meaningful relationships and discovered new ways to find purpose, even in less-than-ideal circumstances.
What Contribution Really Means
Contribution isn’t just about the work we do. It is also about how we do it – how we show up for ourselves, for others, and for the broader community.
Work isn’t confined to our jobs. It’s raising children, nurturing a garden, caring for loved ones or even picking up litter on the street. It’s the way we choose to contribute to the world through our actions, big or small.
Meaningful contributions can provide a sense of purpose and act as a buffer during challenging times. It helps us build resilience and navigate difficult times. When we view our work as a reflection of how we live, even mundane tasks can carry meaning and create impact.
Reflection on Contribution
As we continue reflecting through the GRACE (Growth, Relationships, Alignment, Contribution, Energy) framework, this week focus is on Contribution. Use these prompts to guide your journaling or introspection.
Focus Areas:
- Personal Impact
- Impact on Others
- Wider Community, Society and Environment
1. Personal Impact
- How did I show up for myself this year, and how did it influence my ability to contribute meaningfully?
- In what ways did my actions or mindset create a positive ripple effect in my immediate environment?
- How did I honour my values and integrity in the way I approached my work and responsibilities?
- What habits or choices strengthened my resilience and allowed me to contribute more fully?
2. Impact on Others
- How did my presence or actions support or uplift the people around me this year?
- Were there moments when I truly listened or connected with someone in a way that made a difference?
- How have I contributed to fostering trust, collaboration, or care in my relationships or community?
- What feedback or gratitude have I received from others, and what does it reveal about my impact?
3. Wider Community, Society, and Environment
- How did I contribute to causes, initiatives, or actions that matter to me?
- In what ways did I show care for the environment or for the broader systems I’m a part of?
- How have I aligned my daily choices with the greater good of the community or world?
- What opportunities exist for me to expand my contribution and show up more intentionally next year?
If I were to encapsulate the theme of my contribution this year in one word, it would be _________.
If I were to set an intention for my contribution in the coming year, it would be ____________.
Your Turn
Take some time to reflect. Choose the questions that resonate with you most and journal your thoughts. Next week we will look at Energy.
