Age Quod Agis

“He who fails in present duty breaks a thread on the loom and will find the defect when he may have forgotten its cause.” -Henry Ward Beecher

I remember a Latin phrase that we were taught in elementary school: Age quod agis. In essence, the phrase means “do what you do and do it with all your being”. When we do what we do with our whole being, it means working from our center, our core, that is, our heart and soul (not just from the neck up).

When we work from the heart and soul, we are not talking about an ethereal, new-age, “soft,” religious, theological, or subversive approach to work. However, we are talking about a deeper approach to work.

This deeper approach to work focuses on excellence, ethics and fairness. This deeper approach to the work raises questions, some very difficult questions, such as:

How can companies promote sustainability and the environment?

What is a fair and equitable salary, compensation package or bonus?

When are outsourcing efforts, downsizing and layoffs justified?

How does the company promote the family?

How can I find my true calling?

Is there an “enlightened” economy?

How can we restore trust in the workplace?

Can our workplaces be more ethical and humane?

Does work have to be boring, boring, routine and meaningless?

Can there be “anti-Dilbert” in the workplace?

Is the separation of spirituality and the boardroom a fact?

Can people do “the right thing” without “management control”?

Why do so many, when they reach the top of the ladder, find it leaning against the wrong building?

How do we respond to unethical conduct?

How do we make money and sense?

How do we resist the “kickback and bribery” way of doing business?

How do we avoid gossip and bullying and show humility and respect?

What will I do with the rest of my life after retirement?

Warren Buffet said, “I’ve seen a lot of not-so-good human beings succeed in business; I wish it were otherwise.” Now, there are probably plenty of Warren Buffet-type thinkers among us who would agree. Also, with the downturn in the economy, many people are discovering that they not only do well with less and are happier, but are now wondering why they needed more in the first place.

Age quod agis is about integrating spirituality with business, an integration that many are finding to be long overdue due to the economic and financial crisis we are currently experiencing. There is no doubt that people are becoming more introspective about who they are and how they are at work given the cataclysmic storm of unethical, immoral and illegal shenanigans we read and hear about on a daily basis.

Given the unhealthy, unhappy, fear-based and worrying work environments that many people find themselves in, creative energy flowing from the heart and soul could be a catalyst that can transform today’s workplace into a better one. healthier, more attractive and more ethical place. spend most of your waking hours.

What we do with our “whole” selves

“Being yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest achievement.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Research and self-reports show that more and more workers seek calm and well-being in the midst of the storm by “going within” and re-evaluating their values ​​and motivations and discovering that when they come to work (and life) from a deeper place , non-egoic, they experience a greater sense of meaning, fulfillment, and well-being than they previously experienced when driven by ego-based needs and desires, driven by greed and speed. Many are discovering that spiritual and humanistic assets are becoming greater desires than wealth and material gain and serve as greater psycho-emotional supports than holding an “image” or “persona.”

Coming to work with our whole being means focusing on “who you really are”, your being and your character within your team, your group, your organization and in your civic and social community.

Coming to work with our whole being means consciously and proactively dealing with the “tension” between spirituality and spiritual values, and work.

Going to work with our whole selves means choosing to take the time to look up from our spreadsheets to consciously focus on people and values, to speak up for what is right, and to make an effort to act with compassion.

personal discontent

In today’s workplace, constant competition, fear, surveillance, gossip, bullying and stress lead to personal unhappiness, dissatisfaction and discomfort, which is not a very productive way to live life at work. Going to work with oneself fosters calm and provides a perspective that gives one an edge that is a genuine resource for overcoming distress, agitation, anxiety, and aggression. Coming to work with a heart, soul, and mind driven approach provides mental, emotional, physical, and psychological balance and harmony, a balance that supports a workplace characterized by “we” rather than “me” vs. “you,” and engenders a strong ethic of personal responsibility and self-management of “who I am” and “how I am” at work.

Discernment

Getting to work with oneself encourages a spiritual practice known as “insight” – a way of quieting the mind and turning away from constant noise and chatter – internal and external – and allows for the wisdom of the “unknown” (intuitive “right knowing” , “right understanding” and “right action”) come from within instead of always forcing our “logical-comparative” mind to answer questions and find solutions that are often quick, simple and…wrong.

dealing with people

The most intangible and complex element in any business equation is people. Age quod act means dealing with people by dealing with yourself first; as Socrates suggests, “Know thyself.” Having a firm understanding of one’s core values, inner motivations, and purpose for being on the planet, coupled with emotional maturity, is what allows one to appear whole, authentic, and real. Age quod agis, when combined with effective leadership and management thinking, creates a high-performance workplace where ethical behavior, trust and honesty, respect and meaning inform actions and being from day to day. day.

Age quod agis means acting with wisdom, discernment, integrity, empathy, and compassion, qualities that emanate from a deeper self, qualities that are not co-opted by greed or speed. Age quod agis means doing the right thing, from moment to moment, with your whole being.

So, some questions for self-reflection are:

Do you check your heart, soul, and values ​​at the door when you show up for work?

Do you deal with the “whole person” in your relationships with others at work (and at home and at play)?

Do you ever take time during your working day to be quiet (walk mindfully, reflect, meditate…)?

Are greed and speed the two main driving forces in your workplace?

Do you feel that others see you at work as a “whole” person or simply as a “function” (what about at home)?

Do you believe that decisions in the workplace are generally ethical and fair? What about your decisions and choices in the workplace?

Are there “anti-Dilberts” in your workplace?

Does your organization pay attention to social and civic concerns?

Do people often do “the right thing” even when no one is looking?

Does your organization take your family into account in any way, shape or form? If not, how does that make you feel?

Does your organization strive to reduce boredom and routine and add meaning to work? You?

Are “Not Very Good Human Beings” Succeeding in Your Workplace? How is that?

Can you imagine a workplace where Age quod agis’ approach to work is “business as usual”?