Debate: Excellence and Engagement
Many factors pertain to both individual and shared values about work. What are the standards by which quality is measured? How is success achieved? What are the organization’s responsibilities to its stakeholders? To its employees? Perhaps a less obvious factor involves whether or not the individuals doing the work are engaged in what they do. In this activity, collaborators think through individual and shared values for work.
1. Divide into groups, each taking one of two positions:
-You must enjoy your work to be able to do it well.
-Whether you enjoy your work has nothing to do with how well you do it.
2. Come up with an argument to support your position. Consider what your opponent’s argument might be and try to disprove it. Consider the following questions as you formulate your opinion.
-Is passion for work the same thing as enjoyment of work?
-Are there any dangers to being truly passionate about your work? If so, what are they?
-What are the factors that determine the quality of someone’s work? What makes some individuals “good workers,” others average workers, and still others poor workers?
-Think of a collaboration that you enjoyed. Do you believe the end result was of a higher or lesser quality as a result of how you felt about the work?
-Think of a collaboration that you disliked. How was the quality of your work affected by your feelings about the process?