I learned a few weeks ago that a recent trend for young people just entering the workforce is to view their work not as a duty or responsibility, but more like a hobby.
At my age, my initial reaction was a rather judgmental one. “If you think you have a right to expect them to pay you, then they certainly have a right to expect you to do the work they’re paying you for. Your job is not just a hobby.”
And that was an expected reaction for Tim Elmore, author of the book A New Kind of Diversity, and the presenter at an event I recently attended. But then he shared a different perspective with broader insight.
Hobbies are where people volunteer their discretionary effort. People will spend time on their hobbies not only without getting paid for it, but even when it costs them money.
I’m typing on a keyboard right now, sharing an insight I learned from Tim Elmore. Nobody is paying me to do this. But sharing thoughts on effective leadership with you is something I enjoy. In a way, it feels like a hobby to me.
Maybe I can empathize with this younger generation more than I thought I could.
When you can understand the goals and values of your team members and connect them to the outcomes that result from your team’s work within your organization, then you can capitalize on the positive side of the trend of viewing work as a hobby.
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