A Beautiful Day at Work?

Lessons from Mr. Rogers to improve the way we are working together.

There is a reason so many people celebrate the teachings of Mr. Rogers. Whether we are aware or not, every one of us is starving for the kind of connection and acceptance Fred Rogers provided in his life and as a leader.

“The Mister Rogers No One Saw” by Jeanne Marie Laskas dips behind the scenes. as Fred Rogers brilliantly created paths of acceptance for children and adults. “Fred honors all of their feelings in response to their given circumstances. He was able to somehow disappear in the most beautiful way while encouraging others to flourish."

Mr. Rogers was a true collaborator, allowing the unique gifts of others to shine as his ideas and programs came to life.

Those who worked closely with Fred Rogers over the years describe a place where I would like to work. And more importantly, the kind of person I like to work with.

Each one of us deserves to be valued for the talents we uniquely bring to the table and for being exactly who we are.

In my experience, very few people feel genuinely valued in their work, which is a key reason that Gallup shows employee engagement hovering near 30% year after year. How have we as employers allowed this to become an acceptable and normal way of doing business?

We have the power to change. It begins with compassion and curiosity about what motivates another person. If you observe Fred Roger's style, you see that his kindness and acceptance of human nature lifted others up and had a significant impact on those he worked with. His approach didn't require additional funding or time. He knew that giving people space to be human and to acknowledge their gifts allowed people to thrive and do their best work.

A growing body of evidence proves that businesses do thrive when we focus on improving the human experience in our interactions. The conscious capitalism movement was born partly from the findings of Raj Sisodia, David Wolfe, and Jag Sheth, published in Firms of Endearment. Since then, evidence continues to mount that companies are far more profitable when they expand their attention from bottom line “outcomes” to “how” the work is done.

As a leader, the work begins with the way we treat ourselves and each other. It’s understanding that the “being” is as important as the “doing.”

Imagine if the words from the simple song by Fred Rogers described our human experience with managers and coworkers:

"It's you I like.

It's not the things you wear.

It's not the way you do your hair.

But it's you I like.

The way you are right now.

The way down deep inside you, not the things that hide you.

Not your degrees. They are just beside you.

But it's you I like.

Every part of you.

Your skin, your eyes, your feelings, whether old or new.

I hope that you'll remember, even when you're feeling blue. It's you I like.

It's you yourself.

It's you.

It's you I like."

This may sound elementary, yet a profound shift is happening as we change the way business is conducted. If you provide a working environment that encourages people to be comfortable by simply being who they are, imagine who they could become and how your business could evolve to newer heights.

If you are ready to uncover new ways to evolve your relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, community, and the planet, let’s talk.