Is Work Broken? Cultivating Change from Within

“The most profound transformations begin not with escape but with a decision to create.”

Is work broken? I have spoken to countless people who believe it is, and they are not alone. According to a 2023 Gallup survey, only 23% of employees globally feel engaged. This widespread disengagement reflects a deep dissatisfaction in many workplaces, leading some to think that leaving is the only solution. But quitting doesn't necessarily solve the problem. One of my past clients, Sophie, a VP of product design, left her toxic job only to encounter similar challenges in her new role. The grass wasn’t greener; the issues were just different.

Leaving might provide a temporary reprieve, but escaping one work environment often leads to facing similar or new obstacles. So, what can we do? Instead of running from these challenges, the real solution lies in influencing and reshaping our environment. If we want a better work culture, we need to create it.

Think of your workplace as a garden. You don't abandon it if it's overrun with weeds or underperforming. Instead, you cultivate it, assessing what’s not working and sowing seeds for positive change. This mindset shift, from reaction to creation, is essential for meaningful change in any work environment.

How to Influence and Improve Your Workplace:

Cultivate Self-Awareness: Change begins from within. Take time to understand your values, strengths, and boundaries. Knowing what drives you will help you focus on what truly matters and give you the confidence to influence your environment with intention.

Start Small, Act Consistently: Small, deliberate actions make all the difference, much like tending to a garden. These small steps can set off positive ripple effects, whether it's suggesting a team-building activity, changing the tone in meetings, or advocating for better work-life balance.

Foster Open Dialogue: Real change thrives on honest communication. Are you comfortable discussing stress, mental health, or creative challenges with your colleagues? Opening up conversations – especially those that may feel uncomfortable – allows you to influence the company culture by promoting an atmosphere where feedback and innovative ideas flow freely.

Embrace Resilience: Change isn’t always immediate or easy. There will be obstacles and resistance. But resilience is key. Just as a gardener returns to prune, water, and nurture plants even after setbacks, the same persistence is required in transforming the workplace. Stay focused on the long-term vision, even if progress is slow.

Acknowledge Collective Responsibility: The burden of change doesn’t solely rest on leadership. Employees at every level have the power to influence their environment. Whether you initiate a discussion about workload distribution, offer to mentor a junior colleague, or simply provide constructive feedback, you're contributing to the larger ecosystem.

After experiencing burnout, Arianna Huffington realized the corporate culture in her workplace needed a shift. So, she transformed the conversation around workplace wellness by founding Thrive Global, an organization dedicated to reducing stress and improving well-being. She didn’t quit her career – she reshaped the environment around her, fostering a culture prioritizing health over hustle. Arianna’s story illustrates the power of making proactive choices within an existing structure. We don’t always need to leave or start over; sometimes, the most profound impact comes from reshaping the systems we are part of.

The Bigger Picture

When we take control of our influence, no matter how small it seems, we move from reaction to creation. Instead of feeling like passive participants in a dysfunctional work system, we become active contributors to its evolution. This approach fosters a sense of ownership, purpose, and empowerment. It’s about recognizing that even in imperfect systems, we have the power to make a difference, one conversation, one suggestion, and one action at a time.

Is work broken? Perhaps. But instead of accepting what is or running away from it, let’s commit to changing it from the inside out. By cultivating awareness, fostering dialogue, and staying resilient, we can reshape our workplaces into environments that nurture well-being, creativity, and fulfillment. Let’s be the ones to plant those seeds and tend to the garden.