Surrender and catch: thriving in our unpredictable workplaces.
If I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep, I sometimes turn on the radio to distract my monkey brain from focusing on things I want to leave rest. The other morning, as I drifted back to sleep to the conversation on the radio, I heard the phrase surrender and catch. And it immediately spoke to me. I intuitively understood what it meant - or at least what I thought it meant. And I had to listen more and take note of it on my phone - knowing how easily ideas can slip away at any time, but especially at 3 am.
Surrender and catch is a way of letting go of your usual thoughts or worries and fully giving yourself to the experience. It’s also interpreted as accepting our limits and making peace with the fact that life is short, and we can’t do or control everything.
Imagine you're listening to music, reading a story, or watching a movie. Sometimes, without even trying, you get completely caught up in it. You might feel happy, sad, or excited because you're so into what you're experiencing. You are surrendered.
The catch part happens when, after you're fully into the experience, something from it "catches" your attention or imagination. It could be an idea, a feeling, or a new way of seeing things that leaves a profound and potentially lasting impact on you. So, your catch is the meaningful experiences or moments of clarity from surrender.
I was a little entranced by how embracing this idea could be a boon in the workplace. I recognised it was already there in different ways, but this expression gave me a refreshed perspective on positive, healthy, and inclusive workplaces.
At work, we must accept uncertainty and recognise that some things are out of our hands. This acceptance reduces stress and allows us to focus on what we can influence rather than wasting energy trying to control everything.
When we surrender rigid expectations or set ways of thinking, there is more space for innovative ideas and unexpected solutions. The catch comes when you’re open enough to notice opportunities and insights that they might otherwise miss.
Surrendering can also mean trusting others. In a team, it’s crucial to let go of micromanagement and control so that colleagues feel empowered to contribute, which realises stronger relationships, shared ownership, and better teamwork.
When things go wrong, surrendering to the reality of the situation (instead of fighting it or panicking) helps us stay calm and allows solutions to emerge, fostering resilience and turning setbacks into learning opportunities.
But it’s important to remember that the concept of surrender and catch in the workplace is NOT the following:
Passive or Lazy: Surrendering doesn’t mean giving up or being complacent. It’s not about avoiding responsibility or doing less work. It’s about letting go of the need to control everything while still being actively engaged in meaningful tasks.
Lacking Accountability: Surrendering is not about avoiding accountability or ignoring deadlines. It’s about being adaptable, focusing on what can be controlled, and still taking ownership of your role and responsibilities.
Resignation or Defeat: Surrendering isn’t the same as giving up in frustration. It’s more about accepting the limitations of control while still being hopeful and committed to the outcome. It’s a form of strategic letting go, not defeat.
Overly Idealistic: This isn’t about expecting every experience to lead to a profound insight or catch. It’s practical in that it acknowledges that sometimes things just won’t go as planned, but valuable lessons or unexpected results can still emerge.
Avoiding Conflict or Challenges: Surrendering doesn’t mean avoiding tough conversations, problems, or challenges. It’s about being present in those situations and letting the most important aspects surface rather than trying to force a specific outcome.
Lack of Direction: It doesn’t mean drifting without goals or direction. Surrendering allows individuals and organisations to focus on the most important goals while being flexible about the path to achieving them.
For me, this little phrase, surrender and catch, that caught my attention in the middle of a sleepless night, is best seen as an approach to a positive mindset and engagement, not a reason to relax standards, lose accountability, or avoid the tough realities of work. It is about allowing yourself to fully experience something (surrender) to better notice what you take away from it (catch).