For many, in today’s job market, it is a struggle to feel like you are a part of “the plan” – the plan set forth by an education, the corporate plan, or even the plan your parents had for you.
Where the macro corporate vision merges with what you consider to be your micro personal efforts, you may stop and ask yourself, “How do I achieve this? How do I become a part of the plan? How do I not only become a part of it, but a stakeholder in it?”
Let’s not ask “how,” but “why?”
The “why?” starts within us, prior to ever getting to the “how?” Psychology Today states that “job security is at an all-time low, compounding the fragility of self-esteem.” And, “the one thing that is most likely to suffer damage in today’s workplace is precisely what most of us hope to get there—self-esteem.” Becoming a stakeholder within your company starts with recognizing your own self worth and the enjoyment you get from your position. That enjoyment usually exists because of your inner creativity, the ability to reinvent yourself, and the acknowledgment you receive from your peers. After all, the collective attitude of our peers often creates the platform and the opportunity that we seek.
“Acknowledgement,” you ask? When does this occur today? If you feel this way, you’re not alone – many people feel that way in today’s accelerated and often frenzied market. “The pace of work demands is so fast that no one stops to acknowledge even excellent performance”, states Psychology Today.
In order to truly be what some consider a dormant stakeholder, many would agree that we need to start within ourselves. Take the time to find the creative elements and subtle nuances in your position. Cut back on negative thinking and, instead, proactively try to figure out how to solve even the smallest problems in order to feel fulfilled.
After all, our collective perceptions appear to be the garden from which we grow professionally. From the administrative assistant and the security officer to the CEO, each person should be actively proud of their position, because it helps mold their own self-esteem. We can then excel, not only individually, but collectively because of it. In that way, we can each carve out a stake for ourselves in the company in which we can thrive personally as well as professionally, allowing us to have our stake and eat it too!
