Original Air Date:
Friday, April 18, 2008
Unhappiness in the Workplace:
Oprah and Marcus began the show by discussing how 84% or 4 out of every 5 people in the United States are unhappy with their job, a study that was conducted by careerbuilder.com. Markus shared that while the saying goes not to take your personal life to work, it's worse to do the opposite - take work home with you and negatively affect the people you love. Markus' plan to get people to enjoy their job or find a job they enjoy involves putting your strengths to work for you, something only 1 out of 10 people say that they do.
Markus Buckingham's Workshop:
6 months ago, Markus conducted a workshop for Oprah and 30 other women who had been selected to take the course to help them find their strengths and put them to work. 4 women were on the show to describe life before and after the workshop - Ayesha, Rachael, Beth and Vanessa. In the workshop, Markus described the way the women were living was like playing the secretary version of their life and they needed to find life within their own life. To do this, they needed to stop spending so much time trying to fix their weaknesses, and instead focus on what made them feel strong.
To show the women that they are their own best teacher about themselves and their strengths, Markus had them pay attention to a week at work and write down their strengths on a green card, what made them feel strong, and their weaknesses on a red card, what made them feel depleted.
Markus and Oprah discussed how it is such a waste of time and a waste of your life to be stuck in a job that you hate. The purpose of working is to contribute and perform, according to Markus, so take the strengths inside of you and express them - if not, you will become depleted and burnt out.
Ayesha's Before and After Workshop Story:
Ayesha, 34, is a work at home consultant and mother who says the mornings drained her and that there was really no beginning or end to her day - constantly moving between work and home all day long.
During the workshop, Ayesha realized that her red cards describing her weaknesses created her existing job description. Markus had to help Ayesha realize that her current job was not her calling and learn how to find her green cards since she had buried her dreams as a girl - Ayesha was playing a role and lost herself in the process.
Markus' advice for Ayesha was to build a bridge towards the job she should be doing while maintaining her current job because that is what was needed for her family. Since the workshop, Ayesha had started writing a blog and had contacted a family friend in the journalism field to help her experience aspects of web production, moving toward the career she dreams of.
Rachael's Before and After Workshop Story:
Rachael, 29, is an elementary school teacher who felt overwhelmed by her endless responsibilities that flowed into the nights and weekends.
During the workshop, Rachael realized that she needed to find a balance. She explained that she always wanted to teach but that she got to the point that she didn't enjoy being in a classroom anymore and she wanted to get that feeling back. Markus helped Rachael see that she was overcommitted and it was affecting her entire life including her relationship with her soon to be husband. Markus recommended Rachael start doing the things she enjoyed.
Rachael had been worried about the students well-being and if they would be let down by someone neglecting to take on the responsibility, so she would do it herself, even if she didn't enjoy it. Since the workshop, Rachael has worked on rediscovering her emotions in the classroom and finding time for herself in her own life.
Beth's Before and After Workshop Story:
Beth, 42, was working as the accountant in the engineering firm she and her husband own - the problem being that she hates money and is not good at finances.
During the workshop Beth revealed that she has no passion for business and no real training, explaining that her husband took her biggest weakness and made it her priority. Markus listened as Beth expressed being fearful of losing her business and her marriage if she were to back out of the job. Leaving the job is exactly what Markus recommended Beth do, starting by talking with her husband.
Before Beth had a chance to talk to her husband, the physical and mental stress she was under landed her in the hospital. From that day Beth's husband recognized what was happening and she no longer is responsible for the finances of the company.
Vanessa's Before and After Workshop Story
Vanessa, 34, is a pharmaceutical sales rep who described herself as a yes person. Being the breadwinner of the family while her husband completes his residency and taking care of their daughter put horrible pressure on Vanessa causing her to lose her passion.
While talking to Markus, Vanessa revealed that she didn't have it in her to wait the 18 months for her husband to finish his residency and she didn't know what she was going to do. Markus was able to turn Vanessa's desire to please and use it as her strength - instead of working the way her boss expected her to, she did it her way.
Vanessa described her life after the workshop as completely different, having more time for her daughter and embracing her strengths. She is now contributing more and says that saying no feels good.
