Editorial January 24, 1994 Issue

Better moments at work

Russ Gerber

We were talking about each other's typical workday. My friend told me about the demands on her, and I in turn explained some of my responsibilities. She then told me about someone in her office who, as she described it, "hits the ground running." She works for two managers in the company and can barely keep up with the demands. Working overtime is not the exception. She does a fine job, I was told, and she does make it through the day—but just barely.

When things at work seem to push us to the edge, we might wonder if it isn't time for a major change. Maybe we should look for work elsewhere. Perhaps new management, a new location, a whole new career will make things better. In cases that might be true. Yet, whether or not a change of job is the best step to take, one thing to consider is just how much can change in our present line of work in a single moment.

It might seem unrealistic to think that what needs to change can change in that short a time. What about the constant stream of letters to be written, the supervisor who can't supervise, the boredom, the pressing demands—is all that somehow going to suddenly be different? No, probably not in a moment. But the way we approach the tasks and challenges at hand can change that fast, and can make all the difference.

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