When I was a baby in my career, I used to wonder why people couldn’t “focus on the work,” and “leave their emotions at home.”
It didn’t take me long to learn that was neither logical nor possible.
We’re human beings, everywhere. Even at work.
Because wherever we go, there we are.
That is why it’s so critical for us to prioritize personal development.
Being triggered obstructs our career progress.
We’ve all seen the hilarious memes about professional passive-aggressiveness, but being “petty bill/petty betty” at work only prevents us from the success we’re seeking.
We might think they’re unrelated, but being
irritable,
short,
annoyed,
dismissive,
skeptical,
insecure, or
combative,
destroys our relationships (which are a key part of success in any area of life).
These traits also tank our chances for promotion, higher incomes, more funders, clients, and customers.
Research from Harvard University shows that 85% of job success comes from soft skills and only 15% from technical skills.
Soft skills are non-technical skills that relate to how you work. They include how you interact with colleagues, how you solve problems, and how you manage your work.
If you’re stuck in your career or pay, you may have considered more education. However, obtaining a degree in management isn’t the same as being a leader.
Before spending money on (yet another) degree, my encouragement would be to spend some of your money developing your soft skills.
Take some courses in how to manage your stress in a healthy way.
Read a book on boundaries and apply your lessons learned.
Take some personality tests so you can learn about yourself and how you function best. Channel what you’ve learned into your interactions with other people.
Go to therapy. If you have trust issues, work them out.
Go skiing or race care driving or bungee jumping.
Do anything fun that helps you take better care of your body.
Here’s the jist: Make showing yourself some love a priority. Take really, really good care of yourself. When you do that, others benefit from the loving overflow.
Yes, at work. 😊
It’s okay to love people. It’s okay to treat them well.
Whether you’re in the wrong job, perfect career, or running your own company, it’s your soft skills that will make or break your progress.
Spend some time improving them and you’ll be unstoppable.✨