Many would argue that there is no freedom when you work for someone else. To an extent, they are correct. However, I believe freedom means something different to each person. For some, there is a level of freedom working in corporate America. Paychecks are guaranteed (for the most part), there is paid time off and other benefits, and the success of the company does not rely on your specific accomplishments. While I do not consider these to be the only reasons to stay with an organization, the following are some additional guarantees to ensure freedom in your position:
Be True. Be Authentically You. Don’t be afraid to use your voice. Always present [insert Your Name here], not your representative. People don’t have to know you to know when you are being fake. Presenting the person you think they want to see versus who you are creates an immediate level of distrust and displays insecurity.
Always Put Your Best Foot Forward. Mistakes happen, but don’t dwell on the issue. Address. Correct. And move on. Always be willing to learn. You may know a lot, but you do not know it all. Be comfortable with that. You should never want to be the smartest one in the room. If you are, then others are growing and gaining from your knowledge, but how are you growing? Present yourself for the role you are working towards. Not the role you currently have. Being a leader does not start with the title. You should have already been displaying the qualities of a leader before the title came. How do others see your growth or recognize your potential if you continue to show up as the person you used to be? Do you know how many positions have been created for employees because they showed up for their next and not their now???
Establish Boundaries. Do not allow stigmas or stereotypes to determine your level of success or how far you will go in your career. Do not allow others’ opinions of you to dictate what you can or cannot do or are willing to allow. It is okay to be a parent. This does not mean you are unreliable and cannot commit to getting the job done. It is okay to be single. This does not automatically nominate you to be the person who always stays late, or you are irresponsible. It is okay to be of a certain age. Senior does not mean slow, and young does not mean unreliable. Know what you want from a position. Voice what you expect from the company you work with – just like they advise or even have you sign what they expect from you as an employee. Stick with your boundaries and do not feel like you must give up on your goals because the company has created hurdles for you to reach them. Maybe you need the hurdles to excel once you are in the position. Or maybe it is time to leave that company.
These liberties may seem obvious. However, they are often hard to find and even harder for some to express in their current role either because they have an insecurity within themselves – that their organization feeds into or there is a fear of losing the freedom of their paycheck if they do not conform to organizational boundaries. Whatever your reason for staying in your current role or your current organization, I do hope you put yourself and what you need first – and not the needs of the business. While you may be great at what you do, you are not the only person that can do what you do. Make your satisfaction a priority and ensure you put these practices in place, so the organization understands and abides by these priorities as well. If they cannot respect you for respecting yourself and setting boundaries, then you need to re-evaluate your situation.
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