You're totally right! I often see founders expect their team to be happy just because they think their team should be cathedral builders and believe in the founder's vision. The fact is, we all need to feel safe, in a team and a sense of autonomy to be happy. I worked with a charity once, they did amazing work and their employees sacrificed home life and family to save lives, but even though their team felt extreme purpose at work they didn't feel they had control of their work and many left. We all need a balance.
Glad you countered the bricklayer story. Sometimes I think it serves leaders very nicely to get everyone being a 'cathedral builder' - more productive, easier employee, but doesn't address poor work conditions etc. Just think this on my grumpy days of course.
You're totally right! I often see founders expect their team to be happy just because they think their team should be cathedral builders and believe in the founder's vision. The fact is, we all need to feel safe, in a team and a sense of autonomy to be happy. I worked with a charity once, they did amazing work and their employees sacrificed home life and family to save lives, but even though their team felt extreme purpose at work they didn't feel they had control of their work and many left. We all need a balance.
Glad you countered the bricklayer story. Sometimes I think it serves leaders very nicely to get everyone being a 'cathedral builder' - more productive, easier employee, but doesn't address poor work conditions etc. Just think this on my grumpy days of course.