In this ongoing series on work ethic, I was reminded of the time I worked with Sangita. Sangita was a very capable chemist, working in a lab. She was known for her analytical skills, her ability to solve problems, and her dedication to science.

There was only one thing that Sangita was more dedicated to than the clinical trials she was working on, and that was her large extended family. Sangita’s family had emigrated to the US and she was the first in her family to go to college. They had sacrificed a great deal for her, and were very proud of her work in research. Sangita was extremely devoted to them, both financially and emotionally.

When I was hired to coach Sangita, I was told that she had a performance problem. Her manager informed me that Sangita was a smart chemist and made great contributions when she was in the lab, but that she lacked work ethic. Her colleagues often resented her because she was out of the lab so frequently, requiring them to cover during her absences.

When I met Sangita’s manager, she was frustrated. She wanted Sangita just to show up! Coaching was a final attempt to help Sangita see that she must come to work and be dependable.

Through many sessions, Sangita gradually let down her guard with me and shared her inner turmoil. She wanted to be a top performer, she liked her job, and both she and her family needed her professional income. I worked with Sangita to determine her priorities and create both long and short-term goals.

Sangita’s short-term goals included missing a few family events in order to improve her attendance. Plus, she would go to work early and stay late during weeks when she was planning to take time off to be with family. Her next step was to look for and find a job where she was able to use her considerable skills working in a job with more flexible hours which could be done remotely. She ultimately left the company to work for another organization with more remote opportunities in order to allow her more flexibility.

Throughout working with and coaching Sangita, we discussed the importance of balancing both work and personal obligations. What do you think? Do you think Sangita lacked a strong work ethic? Or, do you think the changes she made were valid and necessary for her to be both successful professionally and fulfilled personally?