Be a Willing Worker not a Workaholic

The way to success by working less
A one day workshop by Gael Lindenfield and Malcolm VandenBurg

Never confuse effort with achievement or achievement with success.

The working week is being stretched by many people. Those categorised as high achievers being most at risk. ‘working hard is the way to success’, is the record they keep playing to themselves. ‘Therefore working too hard is the greater way to success’, becomes the anthem. But is that true?

There is not a doubt that this is the message passed personally to us by our workplace culture and our peer group.

But why is this? And where is the proof?

This workshop challenges this accepted ethos. Through a series of talks, individual, paired and small work group, as well as large group discussions, participants are introduced to both the scientific facts on work attitudes and long hours, and the links to performance and health. Individual and group self-awareness are stimulated so that participants reach an understanding as to why they work such long hours. Similarities between commonly accepted addictions and workaholicism are explored.

Individuals are led through a series of exercises to understand their own compulsion to work, and to find for themselves many options and quick-fix behaviour. This is to the benefit of themselves, their families and the health of both. Most surprisingly of all, for many participants is a new-found belief that actually working less will be a benefit to their work, their employees and employers, and even their bank balance.

Working less can really achieve more. More importantly, achieving the right things can bring greater success and happiness.

Programme

• Welcome and introduction. Work, work, work, isn’t that the only way?
  
  
• Hello. I’m me. I’m a workaholic. The point where self-awareness begins as you describe where you are now
  
  
• Lengthening the working week increases the working weak
  - the link between excessive work drive and health explained
  
  
• What are the benefits of working hard, and what happens when you don’t work hard?
  - a group exercise
  
  
• The facts about burn-out
  
  
• I need to work hard because
  - exploring your own motivation to work the hours you do
  
  
• I am not a workaholic, I am an achiever
  - individual exercise
  
  
• The similarities between workaholicism and addictive behaviours
  
  
• Exploring three steps to less work
  
  
• Three steps to achievement
  
  
• My own pathway to success through less
  - your time to construct your personal 5 do’s and don’t for the future