Work Addiction
Has work become your whole identity?
In coaching sessions, clients often talk about how much they invest in their work. Sometimes it seems like it’s their whole identity and if they tried to change jobs or do something different, the very core of their personal being would crumble. It’s a dangerous place to be when what you do becomes intertwined with who you think you are.
As a recent Refinery29 article noted, this could partly be why burnout has become such a huge problem for many workers. They believe that work has to be their passion; their whole identity. It’s almost as though some people replace religious dedication with their commitment to a job.
Conscious leaders understand that while work is a wonderful activity that can elevate the economic and social wellbeing of our teams and other stakeholders, it can also become a dangerous addiction for those who believe it is the only thing that matters in life.
If you’re dealing with an addiction to work, it’s time to step back and reevaluate your core beliefs. You can start by asking yourself some of the following thought-provoking questions:
Have I allowed my ego to tell me that what I do, how much I earn, or how big my company grows is a direct reflection of my self-worth?
What intrinsic value do I have as a human being outside of work?
At the end of my life, what impact or experiences do I want to have had—things that truly matter?
What can I do outside of my work that brings me joy and potentially benefits those around me?
How can I view work in its appropriate role in my life, and not as my whole identity?
If you or a team member are struggling with burnout or lack of joy, it’s appropriate to ask yourself these questions and/or work with a coach to get to the root of how to have a balanced view of the work you do.
In the end, it’s the quality of your experience of life and the relationships you built that will have had the most impact. So take some time to consider what kind of life experience you want to have for the rest of the journey and the types of people with whom you want to spend your time.
Work happy. Live happy. BE happy.
Meredith
The way we work and build teams is rapidly changing. Leaders often feel unprepared to navigate the transition. As a conscious leadership coach, consultant and communicator, Meredith helps leaders and their teams create new ways of working and relating so they can prepare for the future by consciously co-creating it.
Contact her to develop your conscious leadership and transform your organization into the workplace of the future.
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