Creative Deviation: A Cautionary Tale Concerning the Workplace Pyramid

It is said that men and women work or perform better when they are awarded some form of autonomy in the workplace. Indeed, individuals undoubtedly benefit from some degree of creative agency within the context of the behavioral limitations of the workplace.

Inevitably, “work” or one’s job will involve a certain script, or series of guided performances (actions) that are routinely executed. These may be affective- as in one’s common mood or psycho/social demeanor at work, or behavioral- the actual work “tasks” one repeatedly performs. The extent to which one is allowed to deviate from the pre-established (required as condition of employment) affective or behavioral routine of “work”, is the extent to which one will feel satisfied by one’s “job”.

Thus, two central points of interest emerge from these reflections on the workplace. They are, firstly, that work is not merely a physical routine, it is also a psychological or affective routine. “Work” is the story of one’s psychological or emotional response to the physical or cognitive tasks one is repeatedly required to perform. Unfortunately, but quite naturally, “work” is often the story of one’s frustration with the tasks one must accomplish to sustain a certain financial security. “Work” involves an adopted set of cognitive schemas and, if they are too rigid or algorithmic as opposed to heuristic, these schemas can limit or at worst, inhibit a person’s creativity.

This observation introduces our second point of interest, the notion of creative deviation. Creative deviation involves the learned capacity to deviate from one’s pre-established routine in order to creatively solve a workplace challenge. In the context of the workplace, creative deviation could involve the permission or decision to suddenly step back and re-evaluate one’s task in relation to broader workplace goals and to creatively alter that task. Thereby, if an employee is feeling tremendous frustration about his “routine”, creative deviation would involve the learned capacity to re-invent his relation to the workplace, thereby altering his psycho/social attitude at work. Increased autonomy involves at least two generalized responses, a feeling of excitement and interest, usually coupled with a positive affective response, and/or feelings of anxiety and angst, usually coupled with a fear of inadequacy. Still more, it is not uncommon for initial feelings of angst and inadequacy to eventually give way to feelings of interest and more moderate excitement.

“Workers”, and this involves both employees and individuals who are self-employed, benefit from increased workplace autonomy, characterized by an increasing capacity for creative agency. This is manifest in the degree to which one is able to choose, “invent” or re-invent one’s task. Here is an interesting problem, however, for the individual can only be given “permission” to do so much, and at one point, the emphasis becomes one’s capacity to choose and determine for oneself how to re-imagine one’s psycho/social relationship to the workplace and the tasks or “scripts” it involves. For example, imagine a frustrated custodian who decides to learn how to read basic musical notation during his time off, and consequently begins to whistle or sing while he works. His peers may join him, if his work and talents are of the kind where he can sing and not disturb too greatly the environment where he is working, or, if his singing does present a disturbance, an authority figure might silence him. Again, imagine a similar employee who contributes to the re-imagination of the workplace by incorporating a cutting edge concern for environmental protection into his required tasks. Both can be examples of creative agency, and often the most challenging workplace problem is one’s psychological relationship to the repeated tasks “work” involves. Thus, creative agency limits the obtusely repetitive nature of “work” by allowing or furthering the evolution of that “work” and the task-system it involves.

Thus, the notion of “updating” the workplace and the job or “script” one performs becomes a necessity comparable to updating the software on one’s computer. If the workplace system is expected to operate with maximal efficiency, employees must be able to suggest and implement “updates” to their work tasks as their bio/psycho/social horizons develop, expand or evolve. This “updating” process is at least partially self-directed, and may involve altogether changing one’s job, modifying one’s hours, or ideally, manipulating the fabric of one’s “work” to make it tolerable, enjoyable and at least moderately stimulating, all without losing a reasonable standard of excellence. These are the challenges of the workplace, an integral facet of the life project, a developmental space where so much is at stake.

Reflections on the Idea of Canada

On the occasion of Canada Day, and in celebration of our country, I would like to offer some reflections on the Idea of Canada.

What is the Idea of Canada?

Evidently, the canadian cultural landscape is as broad and diverse as our nations northernly territory, stretching from the Pacific to the Atlantic, encompassing vast mountainous regions, great plains, lakes and rivers. Two values, however, best epitomize the ethos of Canada’s diverse cultures, territories and provinces. These are dignity and respect. Pressing into the heart of any Canadian, is a longing for dignity and a need for respect.

Many individuals misunderstand dignity, mistaking it for a particular set of material circumstances, official societal rank or monetary wealth. While dignity does have material correlates, and monetary wealth does provide an individual with the opportunity to cultivate it, dignity cannot be reduced to mere material circumstances. Indeed, the advent of modern conveniences: cars, stoves, Iphones and computers, have provided the modern individual with undeniable advantages. Importantly, however, these material privileges often entail undeniable disasters. The current environmental crisis, for example, is a result of the widespread implementation of modern material convenience with disastrous ecological consequences. Consequences that threaten the rights and freedoms we have struggled to cultivate, and are still cultivating today.

Dignity is not dependent upon the conceptions of convenience acclaimed by modern Western societies. It is a poise, and self-respect, itself the product of a respect for others. Still more, dignity is the product of development, not merely economic development, but psychological development as well. As psychologically healthy individuals grow, they become increasingly capable of genuine dignity and respect. Further, as a culture evolves, it becomes increasingly able to respect other cultures, and appreciate it’s own inter-cultural diversity, thereby, acquiring a certain dignity.

Naturally, dignity and respect are not solely canadian values, rather, they are integral to all human existence. When an individual begins to respect herself, and this is the product of years of psychological development- from birth through adolescence, she begins to have access to a certain dignity. As an individual acquires the cognitive capacity to take and simultaneously hold multiple-perspectives, she begins to be able to appreciate her own uniqueness and that of others. As a genuine self-confidence is cultivated, an appreciation of others, and a respect for their psychological idiosyncrasy emerges.

Thus, the idea of Canada involves the twin principles of dignity and respect. Canada ought to be a place where individuals are provided with opportunities to cultivate dignity, and to celebrate their rights and freedoms. In the quest for dignity, which is the story of human development, we must always inquire as to the cost of our moral and psychological acquisitions. Who is being left out, disrespected or degraded? Ultimately, it is my hope that despite our great diversity, or perhaps because of our great diversity, we Canadians will espouse an increasingly unified ethos of inclusion, founded on dignity and respect. I am proud to be part of a nation where such reflections as these are possible, and now travel to the Halifax waterfront where fireworks will illuminate the masses gathered in celebration there.