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Are you or someone you know a creature of habit?

Want to know one of the many things that makes people get bored of their jobs?

Predictability. Not just in terms of the work itself, but the people who surround us in the workplace.

I work with an older gentleman who is the epitome of routine. Let's call him Andy. I thought I was a creature of habit until I met this guy.

I can tell you exactly how Andy goes about his day: He goes to the cafeteria to get coffee at 9 a.m., grabs his lunch at 11:30 a.m. and eats at his desk, goes on his actual break at 12:30 p.m., makes some more coffee at 3 p.m., eats an apple at 3:30 p.m., and then bolts out of the office at 5:30 p.m. sharp. He does this every day, without fail. What's worse, he makes a pastime out of hurling the same tired jokes over and over again.

We spend more time with co-workers than we do friends and family. Is it any wonder we grow tired of seeing the same people 40+ hours a week?

It'd be nice if we rotated cubicles every so often and got to know different people within our companies. Employers need to do a better job of finding out what keeps their employees motivated and adding a hint of variety to the work environment -- whether in the form of games, employee recognition programs, and so on. Without a doubt, too much predictability stifles inhibits engagement.

For their part, people should make an effort to talk about different topics every so often. I understand we all embrace routine to a certain extent, but let's not go overboard!  Variety is the spice of life.

Are you a creature of habit?  If not, do you work with someone who is?

For prior entries, please click here: How to Understand People

Some of my most popular posts include:

Is indifference the worst kind of punishment?

YOU are your own best friend -- not anyone else

How to Understand People: Different personalities
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