After IV
BONUS EPISODE: Dr. Louis Tay & Well-Being at Work

Musical Interlude

Interview

Jon Steele  0:06  
One of the things we talked about and the more that we talked, the more I'm realizing that we could we could dig into so many different places in our lives. And I mean, this could be like a season long conversation that we have here for the podcast, but we're doing our best with with these things. But as we do think about work, you said this is one of the places that we spend so many of our waking hours, as you think about promoting well being in the workplace, whether you've been somewhere for a long time, or like for many of our young alumni, they're stepping into a brand new work experience. What are some things you can do to pursue well being in your workplace?

Louis Tay  0:47  
Yeah, just continuing the theme of relationships. I think it's important to find your sense of belonging and place in your company and your workplace. One advice I would have for that is really to pursue others whom you respect. That could pour and could mentor you at work, figuring out what are the areas of expertise you need, you know, what are the opportunities available? How can you better serve with your giftings and your interests? I think that's important, I think also kind of along the lines of pro social giving. It's also I think, important to figure out ways even as a young person to be able to give to others and maybe even think about how can I eventually serve as a mentor to others as well because that becomes very meaningful. And furthermore, one of the advice I received as a young faculty member is, you know, if you want to learn something, well teach it that actually has a great function in really helping you understand whether it's a product or whether it's, you know, what you need to do at work really well because if you have to explain it to somebody else, you kind of have to kind of synthesize all of that knowledge, and it really makes you as well, a valuable person in wherever you're at so I think that's one aspect kind of along the lines of relationship and relationship building. And I think the other aspect is really kind of in the work itself. is kind of the work that you're doing something aligned with your interests. your values, your abilities, personality, and having a good fit is important. So I think that's something that sometimes it's not, you're not able to tell right away, but I think you kind of need to revisit it from time to time and also be able to hopefully allow work or pursue certain challenges at work as well, because I think we do need a sense of challenge to be able to grow. Otherwise it becomes very mundane. As you're not being stretched. You're not being you're not being challenged in a good way, and not not being overwhelmed, but certainly being able to challenge so that you can be quote unquote, in the flow state as it were, where you're kind of meeting the challenge with your ability and capacity.

Jon Steele  3:26  
Yes. So, so building relationship again, this is this is this is another one of those threads that flows through each of these areas. And, and, you know, when we talk about relationship, it feels very easy to say well find, find out who your best friends at work are. And in the end like that, that could be that could be something that happens that you develop friendships at work, but it's maybe something that feels more accessible and more related to your work is find somebody who is better at what you're doing than you are that can mentor you in how to keep growing as, you know, as a as a quality employee and as somebody who contributes to the work that's being done, but that can be one sort of contextualized relationship building. aspect of relationship building that can happen and then there's opportunities for giving again could that be then you investing in other people and, and finding something that fits your values a job that fits your values, which we recognize, that may not be that may not always be possible? Right out of the gate? That may be something that you find down the road, but that's something that you can be in pursuit of, is what does it look like to do work that is aligned with your values and that that excites you? And and the challenge is you that was the other thing work that is challenging as well? Is there is there research around just the benefit of investing in your own ability to get better at your job? And some of you may be some of that comes naturally by coming across challenges and figuring out how to overcome them and like, but is there something to say for people who become better and better at their work? Is that something that improves wellbeing?

Louis Tay  5:11  
Yes, certainly, I think sense of achievement and sense of achievement at work is related to a greater sense of happiness. So I think, because in some ways you are are just a simple way of kind of looking at it, you're kind of bringing the best of yourself to a situation. Right? And being able to kind of perform and do well in that I think gives somebody a certain sense of joy. Pride in a good way. Oh, wow, this is work well done. Look, I've done good work here doesn't necessarily need to be, quote unquote, you know, being the top person in the world doing something. Right. It can just be Wow, this was a challenging task. But you know, look I managed to do a good job of putting something together. And so there's this a certain level of pride in the work that we do, and I certainly think that, you know, that is meant to, that's also a Genesis story right where God placed people in the garden to care for the garden to kind of Yes, grow the place and to be a good steward. And I think that's something about work, that if we are doing it, well, we will experience you know, a deep sense of joy.

Jon Steele  6:34  
Yes, there's a reason that that's so early in the creation story is that work was given and that it was the it was part of it was a good part of life there. It wasn't until after it wasn't till after the fall that work had any sort of negative association attached to it. 

Louis Tay  6:53  
Yeah. And I think God also, you know, again, wants us to emulate him and imitate him. Right. And so, he's in the job of creating nature. Yeah. And I think that's that's also in us to to create to maintain to kind of develop, and I think there's something very rewarding intrinsically about that.

Podcast Outro – (Upbeat acoustic guitar music)

Hey, thanks so much for joining us today, Alumni. If there was anything that you learned, really enjoyed, or that encouraged you from today's episode, would you send us a DM or tag us in a story? We'd love to hear about it. You can find us @afterivpod on Instagram and Facebook. And if you haven't already, take just a second to unlock your phone and subscribe to the podcast. If your platform lets you, leave us a rating and a review. And if you like what we're doing here, share us with your InterVarsity or other post-graduation friends. Thanks again for listening. And I will see you in the after, Alumni.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai