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Prisoners of
be, we always have the ultimate freedom
to choose our attitude.
At Work: Choosing a positive atti-
tude during stressful times, such as
working with a difficult supervisor or
co-workers, dealing with a budget
our Thoughts
reduction or job lay-off, and meeting
rigorous quality standards not only
directly and positively influences our
performance but also our health and
well-being. Likewise, a negative attitude
may serve to accentuate our stress and,
in effect, result in a self-fulfilling
prophecy. To be sure, we can’t always
control what happens to us but, in any
particular moment, we do have a choice
Viktor Frankl’s Principles at Work to respond in a positive or negative way.
And, importantly, this is OUR choice.
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When one considers the amount of time this connection, comprise something creativity, then we must find a way for
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that people spend “at work” during their that is relevant to most people over the our work and workplace to offer oppor-
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lifetime, it should be expected that the course of their lives. tunities for creative expression. We are
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search for meaning at work is an impor- all unique individuals, so our values and
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tant concern. However, when the ques- Core Principles goals will be unique. It is our responsi-
tion of personal meaning arises, work bility to clarify our values and goals and
Drawing upon Viktor Frankl’s System of find ways to actualize them in our work
and the workplace are viewed only
Logotherapy, as well as my experience and everyday lives.
superficially as legitimate sources of
working in mental health, business, and
meaning. For many people, it is as if
government, I have derived seven “Core
authentic meaning only happens outside
Principles” that can be used to open up Detect the meaning of life’s
of the work environment! moments
new opportunities for finding personal
It is time to bring meaning to work;
meaning at work and for living an The third principle pertains to the
that is, to do for the domain of work
authentic life. Let me briefly introduce Meaning of Life, which requires that we
what Dr. Frankl was able to do for psy-
these principles and demonstrate how see both the trees and the forest of our
chotherapy. Work, in this broadly-
they may be applied to work-related sit- work/lives. Importantly, only we can
defined context, applies to volunteers as
uations. answer for our own life by detecting the
well as to paid workers, to people work-
ing in all sectors and industries, to peo- meaning at any given moment and
Exercise the freedom to assuming responsibility for weaving our
ple who are self-employed, such as oper-
ating home-based businesses or serving
choose your attitude unique tapestry of existence.
as independent consultants, and to those This first principle pertains to our At Work: Ultimately, we alone are
who are in some kind of job/career Freedom of Will, a cornerstone of Dr. responsible for our personal job, career,
“transition.” Work and the workplace, in Frankl’s philosophy and perhaps the or work path and therefore for detecting
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on monitoring and controlling the benefit from focusing on the opportuni- prisoners of our thoughts.
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actions of others, there is increasing risk ties, rather than only the “problems”,
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that worker performance will be that confront them. Alex Pattakos, Ph.D., is the founder
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adversely effected. The same thing often of the Center for Personal Meaning,
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happens with workers who become fix- Extend beyond yourself based in Santa Fe, New Mexico USA
ated on receiving some kind of recogni- (www.prisonersofourthoughts.com)
tion, such as a raise or promotion. The The seventh principle pertains to the and a principal of The Innovation
more they obsess and strive for their concept of Self-Transcendence. Simply Group (www.seedsofinnovation.com).
objective, the less likely they are able to put, self-transcendence allows us to He has served as an adjunct professor
achieve it. manifest the human spirit at work by at the University of Toronto and is a
relating and being directed to something past president of Renaissance Business
more than ourself. Associates, a nonprofit, international
Look at yourself from association of people committed to
At Work: Ideally, there is more to
a distance integrity in business and elevating the
our work than simply a paycheck. To
The fifth principle pertains to Frankl’s make work meaningful, most of us want human spirit in the workplace. This
concept of Self-Detachment. Dr. Frankl, to make a difference in some way. In article is based on his new book,
many cases, the larger purpose of the Prisoners of Our Thoughts: Viktor
in this regard, underscored that only
work that we do is clear. In others, it Frankl’s Principles at Work (Berrett-
human beings possess the capacity to
Koehler Publishers, 2004). Dr. Pattakos
look at themselves out of some perspec- requires that we look at our jobs or work
can be reached by phone at
tive or distance. This capability, it should in a larger context in order to see that it
505-820-0254; or by e-mail at
be noted, includes the uniquely human brings value beyond our personal needs alex@prisonersofourthoughts.com.
trait known as our “sense of humor.” or desires. We need to ask ourselves,
At Work: Even when we closely “how is my work contributing to our Pattakos, A. 2004. Prisoners of Our
identify ourselves with our jobs, it is customers, others within our organiza- Thoughts: Viktor Frankl’s Principles
important to remember that we are not tion, and society in general?” The more at Work. San Francisco, California:
our jobs, nor are our jobs really us. that we can see our work from such a Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Being able to laugh at ourselves, even at “self-transcendent” perspective, the more
work, is an effective way to “free” our- likely we will detect its ultimate mean-
selves from our jobs, gain perspective, ing in our lives. All work contains the
and see more clearly the real situation seeds of self-transcendence. In the final
that is confronting us. Maintaining a analysis, it is up to the people doing the
sense of humor, even during hard times, work to determine if such a quality
helps to unfreeze us for action. Viewing exists for them.
ourselvesæand our circumstancesæfrom