Looks Can Deceive

I saw a cartoon on a bulletin board depicting a boss leaning over into his subordinate's cubicle and saying, "I see you're smiling. Does that mean that your work load isn't totally crushing?" It seems funny but in fact some workplaces have a culture that regards signs of enjoyment with suspicion. If you're having fun, it can't be work, and work is what you're here for, right?

Appearances are sometimes regarded as more important than actual accomplishments. One sign of an extremely appearance-oriented workplace is the "look busy" rule. The funny thing is that sometimes the act of looking busy diverts people from real work.

I've experienced this at various jobs. Years ago I took a zen meditation/mindfulness workshop. One of the exercises we were given required that we pause for a moment every hour (on the hour, if possible), take a few slow breaths and remind ourselves "Be here now." I tried this at work the next day. As I paused at a workroom counter for a moment, a supervisor came running up and anxiously inquired whether I was looking for something to do. I'd stopped for less than 15 seconds and she was already nervous!

"Look busy" is especially pervasive in a stagnant economy, when the people who run workplaces feel pressure to justify every penny spent on staff. So how can you stay productive and sane during those times?

Keeping track of your accomplishments helps; you'll have evidence of your own productivity. If you're able to prove that you can do what needs to be done without rushing around, your supervisor may eventually realize that maybe appearances aren't everything.

I've also found that once I'd been practicing mindfulness for awhile, it became easier to keep a certain detachment even while doing busywork. It grew easier to actually do the "look busy" stuff without feeling frantic.

You might not be able to change the outward situation much, but in a pinch you might be surprised at how quickly you can change your inner picture.