Observations from the Bar
Chapter Four – Ensign Gillian Green
"I didn't sign up for this Nancy!" Nancy placed the Ale down and tapped the bar with her hand to get the woman's attention. Gillian lifted her head out of her hands and looked at Nancy forlornly.
"Didn't sign up for what?"
"For being walked all over, for being stuck in the depths of this god forsaking place and being forgotten about. This isn't what I thought it'd be like, I didn't sign up for this!"
"You all have a part to play Gillian."
"Don't give me the sales pitch Nancy! I was given it at the Academy over and over again, I've grown wise to it now. No, it isn't all adventure and exploring new worlds and civilisations! It's clearing out the waste tanks and spending hours on your own being stuck in a tiny metal tube repairing a rivet that has absolutely no purpose in the first place!" Nancy sighed and gave the young woman's hand an encouraging pat.
"Gillian, just the sense or belief that we're working together with others can dramatically increase our motivation to complete difficult tasks, even when we're actually working alone. I've experienced that even subtle suggestions of being part of a team dramatically increased people's motivation and enjoyment in relation to difficult jobs, leading to greater perseverance and engagement and even higher levels of performance. It doesn't take enormous effort and change to create a feeling of togetherness." Gillian looked at her skeptically.
"What are you telling me Nancy?"
"I'm telling you to pull your head out of your arse, you're not in the Academy now! You're an Officer on board the U.S.S. Enterprise, you have a job to do and that job is as important as you make it. Good work doesn't go unnoticed around here, believe me when I tell you that. You want to make a name for yourself, rise through the ranks and be off exploring new worlds and civilisations? Quit whining and get to it." Gillian sat there a moment gob smacked. Nancy was worried she'd gone too far but she liked Gillian and didn't want to see her waste her talent by getting stuck in her own head. She'd seen it happen before.
"You're right Nancy." She breathed a sigh of relief and let her shoulders relax. "I'm going to blow them out the water!"
"That's the spirit Gillian."
"Thank you Nancy."
"Not a problem, you know where I am if you ever need to talk."
LLAP ;-) XOXO
