A Decade at Work: Gratitude, Growth, and Lessons Learned

This month marks a milestone: it has been ten years since my full-time employment.

What was a jump headfirst is now a journey which created a ton of valuable worklife insights that I’d like to share and perhaps read yours.

Self-Reflection: Uncover, Grow, Thrive

It is often that we start fast and figure ourselves out along the way. However, one does already carry enough life experience when hitting the job market.

Ancient Slavs have a ritual?before starting a journey: they “Sit on the path” and think about the things they will take with them and the ones they leave behind. This ritual prevents back and forth and allows the traveller to focus on the goal once started.

So, “sit on your path” and ask yourself:

• Who am I at my core?
• What I believe in?
• How I learn from challenging situations?
• When was I great?
• How others see me?

Self-reflection is uncomfortable, it requires honest introspection and facing aspects of ourselves, we may prefer to ignore. Nevertheless, if your goal is to become a better version of yourself, embrace the discomfort and vulnerability. In the end, you will reap the long-term benefits of self-discovery.

Vision: Dreams drive, plans propel

Remember the: "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”. Pitching wildly ambitious goals, whether they are truly yours or not, never facing the “How do you plan to achieve them?” follow up.

I did have dreams then and I still have them, but now I also have roadmaps to reach them. These roadmaps are high resolution for the immediate future and they get blurry in the distance. Roadmaps can be created in isolation, but the best ones are co-created.

Pacing: Assessing Priorities and Reacting Wisely

In the race of life, everyone believes their needs should take precedence. Yet, often overlooked is the realisation that what's urgent for one person may be at the bottom of someone else's list.

Nevertheless, there will always be those who scream and demand immediate attention (much like a toddler). To maintain your sanity and avoid losing sight of your own path, it becomes your responsibility to evaluate the requests demanding for your attention. It's crucial to adjust your response speed accordingly: from fast to faster, and in some cases, even to the fastest.

Cognitive Biases: Unleashing the Power Within

Deeply ingrained in our minds, cognitive biases serve as mental shortcuts, aiding us in manoeuvring through our daily lives. Yet, they can lead us astray, causing us to make wrong decisions or behave in undesirable ways.

To combat their influence, I urge you to understand cognitive biases. A great starting point is Daniel Kahneman's "Thinking, Fast and Slow". Educate yourself, reflect on your own experiences, and identify the biases that frequently trip you up. By catching them in action before they wreak havoc, you can cultivate new mechanisms to not only evade their pernicious effects but also harness these biases to your advantage. It is time to unlock the power of your mind, transcend cognitive biases, and wield them as tools for personal growth and success.

Behavioural Triggers: Rewiring Reactions for Empowered Choices

Within the depths of our personalities and life experiences lie various trigger points that have the potential to drive us to irrational actions. They are part of our habits and can unleash behaviours we don’t want.

The triggers cannot be changed, but what you have control over is how you respond to them. The books to get inspired by are “Power of Habit” and “Atomic Habits”.

The Power of Connection: Choosing Your Pack Wisely

A lone wolf wandering without a pack is always at risk. Select your companions based on shared interests, ambitions, values, or beliefs. Together, you can forge a path forward. Countless intriguing opportunities await, often accessible only through the right connections at the right time.

Yet, this is not an invitation to befriend everyone just for potential advantages in the future. Authenticity must remain at the core of your interactions. You don't want relationships that merely shine on the surface but clash with your true self.

Find your pack, but stay true to yourself. Seek connections that align with your values, nurture genuine bonds, and surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you. Together, you'll navigate the challenges ahead and unlock remarkable possibilities.

The Power of "No": Embracing Boundaries and Making Informed Choices

The current working culture invites us to play the “Yes, and…” technique in anything we do. Well, this can easily become too much of a good thing. Learning and having the courage to also say no is extremely powerful. However, don’t say no just because you can. Have your rational and coherent arguments lined up to support your decision, be open to hear the counterarguments and then choose the right path.

Saying no does not apply only to big decisions, but also to smaller ones, e.g. how many active tasks/responsibilities to have on your table simultaneously. If your leader is constantly pushing more work on you, learn to ask for clear prioritisation and how the list will change given the new tasks. If the answer is to find a way to deliver everything at the same time, bravely say no, unless you personally see this as an acceptable extra-effort for reaching a personal ambition.

Continuous Learning: Curiosity as the Catalyst

Whether your career trajectory moves upward or takes a lateral shift, one thing remains constant: the need to continuously challenge and update your knowledge. It's not about knowing everything, but rather staying aware of the latest developments in your desired area of expertise, so that you can bring valuable insights to the table when the need arises.

The moment you lose your sense of curiosity and become resistant to learning, you run the risk of becoming stagnant and obsolete. The world around us evolves at a rapid pace, and embracing a mindset of continuous learning is the key to staying relevant and adaptable.

Embrace the joy of exploration, seek out new knowledge, engage in professional development opportunities, and foster a mindset of lifelong learning. By doing so, you'll not only enrich your own personal and professional growth but also ensure your ongoing relevance and value in an ever-changing world.

Hidden Depths: Going Beneath the Surface

"What you see is what you get", in the workplace, does not always hold true. This applies to everything, from individuals to processes. “Why?” is the friend that will help you look beyond the superficial layer, but nothing beats shadowing people in their work. Watching others offers valuable insights and it almost feel like stealing. By peeling back the layers, asking probing questions, and staying resilient through trial and error, you'll develop the skills to navigate the complexities of the workplace and achieve your goals more effectively.

Diverse Perspectives: Celebrating Individuality and Thought Diversity

In today's workplaces, diversity is rightfully emphasized as a crucial aspect. I firmly believe in fostering an environment where employees can bring their authentic selves to work. However, it's important to recognize that our true selves are intricately linked to our professional identities. While active and respectful listening should be a cornerstone of collaboration, it should never lead to a demand for uniformity or the promotion of only one set of ideas. Sadly, the concept of diversity can be misused to create a sense of homogeneity.

Simultaneously, embracing diversity of thought is pivotal in discovering innovative solutions for any challenge at hand. When a diverse group of individuals comes together, each equipped with a wide range of abilities and knowledge, they possess the collective power to overcome the unimaginable. Therefore, seek out environments where diversity of thought is actively encouraged and nurtured. Look for organisations and teams that appreciate the value of diverse perspectives, where differing viewpoints are welcomed, and where a culture of inclusivity thrives. By celebrating individuality and fostering a climate that encourages the free exchange of ideas, you will unlock the transformative potential that comes from embracing and leveraging the rich tapestry of diverse?thought.

For these lessons and many more I’m truly grateful to all the people I met on the way who I learned from?(and with),?challenged me while encouraging me to explore the world of possibilities outside my bubble and opened new roads for me to adventure on.???