Five Loving Things You Can Do for Your Career this Month

It’s Valentine’s Day.?

But we’re not here to talk about hearts, roses, and love notes from your boo. I invite you to a different kind of love affair —the one you have with your career. The latest With a staggering 44 percent of employees worldwide feeling the weight of job-related stress, it's evident that our professional lives could use a little more love and a lot less tension.

In the spirit of Valentine's Day this week and my upcoming book, Dreaming on Purpose (due out June 2024!), today we’re talking about five ways we can choose love in our careers. From finding peace in your daily grind to fostering communities that uplift and support, let's explore how to infuse our careers with the kind of love that nurtures growth and champions well-being. Let’s unfold this love story together.

1. Peace Be With You:

Imagine a work life where peace isn't just an afterthought, but the foundation. When was the last time you mapped out your goals and peace was the center of it? Having peace at work isn’t typically something we include in our career plans but it’s everything isn’t it? If having peace and less stress at work isn’t step one in your plans for career success, it’s time to re-evaluate your strategy. Often, we're so caught up plotting the next venture -- climbing the ladder, making more money, growing our networks -- that we overlook peace as a pivotal goal. Yet, aren't relaxed shoulders and a calm mind in the day-to-day the ultimate marker of true success? Remember, it's not the quantity of work but the quality of your well-being that truly drives your career forward. Let the church say, Amen.

2. Set Boundaries Boo:

The greatest love of all is setting firm boundaries AND following them. But the second part always seems to trip us up. Boundaries teach people how to treat you by centering your own needs. But when we don’t honor our needs we end up at the whim of someone else’s. This often leads to resentment, feeling undervalued, and, ultimately, burnout. It's a cycle far too many of us know all too well.? When we articulate and stand by our boundaries, however, we communicate our value to ourselves and others. It's a form of self-respect that projects confidence and commands reciprocity. Boundaries are personal policies that foster profound self-love and respect.

3. Learning as Your Love Language:

Something tells me I don’t have to remind you to keep learning. You’re likely the type that has already taken many courses, and workshops and has a bookshelf full of books. And oh, I see you intentionally seeking to learn from other Black women. Well done. There’s nothing like advice that is both informative and relatable. I want to remind you though that learning comes in many forms. It also comes from turning within and doing the emotional work. Healing from an oppressive work culture can be a traumatizing experience. Yet it can also be a beautiful opportunity to learn something about yourself. What boundaries do you need to set? What values are non-negotiable for you? How do you define success and fulfillment? These questions aren't answered in a seminar or found in the pages of a book; they're revealed through reflection, through the emotional work of piecing yourself back together after a painful event.

4. Start a Praise Page:

Take a moment to write down all your achievements, big and small, and celebrate them. This isn't just a list; it's a narrative of progress, a collection of "I did that" moments that span from mastering a new software tool to spearheading a successful project or simply navigating a particularly tough day with grace. Acknowledging these victories is crucial. A praise page is your diary to document every victory and celebrate them. Take it a step further and start a praise page for another Black woman in your circle whom you want to lift up. Send her an email letting her know three amazing things about her. Be specific; is she a great cheerleader? Did she do something recently that inspired you? Tell her. This isn't just flattery; it's a mirror reflecting her strengths, often unseen by herself. Taking the time to acknowledge and celebrate each other's successes is not just an act of kindness; it's revolutionary.

5. Community is the Future:?

The future of work, leadership, and innovation is intrinsically linked to the strength of our communities. For Black women, community isn't just a social circle; it's a lifeline—a powerful source of support and collective empowerment. Dysfunctional office cultures that fail to cultivate communities, particularly for marginalized or underrepresented groups are inadvertently causing harm. Fostering inclusivity, building ERG groups, and starting mentoring initiatives, are just a few ways companies can intentionally nurture communities. Unfortunately, toxic company cultures that have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo and dehumanizing people will always be threatened by the potential when people come together.?When Black women come together, we create a force capable of shaping not just our own futures but the future of society.

Love in your career comes with love for yourself. I invite you to think about what love can look like in your career. Where the love you feel doesn’t come from accomplishing a goal but the person you become while accomplishing it. Having grace for it all. That’s the kind of Valentine’s love I’m talm’bout.

Over to you. In what ways does love show up in your career? What does your relationship to your career look like? Let us know in the comments!

PS: My new book Dreaming on Purpose drops on June 18, 2024. To get the first peek at pre-release announcements and a behind-the-scenes peek into the days leading up to launch, consider becoming a premium subscriber!