If you're picturing pilgrims as those black-and-white clad Puritans who came over on the Mayflower, you're not alone. That's the image that comes to mind for most of us.
But lately, I've been noticing a trend --that when we look hard enough, we're surrounded by pilgrims at work.
With pilgrim defined as "a person who journeys" and "one who embarks on a quest," I'd observe that there are more pilgrims among us in the 21st century workplace than we may realize.
Is there one at your office? Or maybe, are you one?
With heavy apologies to Jeff Foxworthy, you just might be a pilgrim if:
You seek change. Pilgrims don't play it safe. The original settlers traveling on the Mayflower risked their lives for something they strongly believed in that wasn't available where they were. In their case, it was religious freedom. With some of my clients, it's better alignment with their personal values, or more opportunity to grow and make a difference.
You create a bigger vision. Packing for the grueling New World trip in 1620, I'm sure the Pilgrims' friends told them all kinds of things so they wouldn't go. "It's so far away," one might have said. "It's dangerous." "Things will change here--just wait it out." But the Pilgrims committed to the voyage with a bigger vision for their work and life--even though they'd never experienced it before.
You struggle. History says the Mayflower traveled two miles an hour, traveling to America in about 65 days. (Today, we're annoyed when the pizza can't get here in less than 30 minutes.) They couldn't light a fire--the ship was all wood. No wonder the raw Massachusetts coast looked so good! They knew their journey would be hard, and prepared themselves body and soul to make it. Half of them died that first frigid winter--but the other half went on to make history.
You find support. While it's debatable about how willingly each party helped--or hurt--the other, it is clear that the Pilgrims could not have learned to survive without the Wampanoag people, Native American experts in farming, fishing, and hunting. Today's pilgrims actively seek out support, too, from leaders, mentors, coaches and colleagues that aligns with their vision, pushes them through the struggles, and keeps them in motion.
You celebrate. Isn't that what the American Thanksgiving holiday is all about, anyway? Like today's pilgrim, the original Pilgrims understood they needed to take time and celebrate their hard work, their successful partnerships, and their results. They called it "the harvest"--you might call it a promotion, new role, improved business, or a better life. No matter what it is, it's a reason to celebrate.
Darcy Eikenberg is an accomplished coach, consultant and business leader, with experience motivating individual and team behavior to achieve business results. Her focus is coaching and mentoring aspiring individuals and professionals/teams needing guidance and support. Before founding Coach Darcy LLC, Darcy was Principal, Internal Coach, and Senior Communication Consultant at Hewitt Associates. Darcy is VP, Marketing for the Georgia Coach Association and a graduate of Northwestern University.