Hey,
This week, The GAS Principle for Leaders: Giving A Sh*t – Managing Workplace Apathy!
Your workplace has a mix of personalities, attitudes, & levels of engagement right? Some deeply care about their work, while others seem indifferent, disengaged, or just cruising along. This gap in enthusiasm is something I have previously found very frustrating & have been guilty of letting it drain my motivation & mood. But I realised it’s essential to understand, manage, & even influence the situation.
So welcome to my GAS Principle: Giving A Sh*t—a mindset frame-work that may help you navigate your way through workplace apathy effectively.
The Why: Understand Workplace Apathy. Not everyone will match your level of passion, & that’s okay. People can be disengaged for various reasons:
1. Burnout: They’ve cared too much for too long & are exhausted.
2. Lack of Purpose: They don’t see the bigger picture or their role in it.
3. Poor Leadership: They’ve never been inspired, mentored, or valued.
4. Job Mismatch: They’re simply in the wrong role & are going through the motions.
5. Personal Struggles: Outside life impacts their professional drive.
The How: Manage Your Frustration, Before trying to change others, start with yourself. Here’s how I stay motivated when others don’t seem to care:
1. Control What You Can: You can’t force others to care, but you can choose your response.
2. Don’t Take It Personally: Their disengagement isn’t a reflection of my efforts.
3. Pick Your Battles: Some issues aren’t worth the stress—focus on what truly matters.
4. Adjust Expectations: Accept that people have different motivations and work styles.
The next steps:
Influencing Others to Care More – the positive actions Rather than resenting those who seem indifferent, try these strategies to ignite some engagement:
Lead by Example: Enthusiasm is contagious. Show commitment without forcing it.
Find Their ‘Why’: Understand what motivates them—career growth, recognition, flexibility—and align tasks accordingly.
Make It Personal: People care more when they feel seen & valued. Offer appreciation & encouragement.
Create Ownership: Give them responsibility in areas where they might thrive.
Communicate Impact: Connect daily tasks to a bigger goal to make work feel meaningful.
Engage Collaboratively: Turn solo tasks into team efforts, so they feel more involved.
My Final Thought: Keep Your GAS in Check, Caring too much in an apathetic environment can lead to burnout. Be mindful of how much ‘GAS’ you give—balance passion with practicality.
Set Boundaries: Don’t let others’ disengagement drag you down. Some people will never match your energy, and that’s okay. Influence where you can, manage where you must, and above all, protect your own motivation.
Thanks for reading, please pass this onto an aspiring or inspirational leader or teammate you think might like this.
Remember it’s all about Progress over Perfection!
Rich x
