Unlocking Job Happiness & Self-Motivation
Joana Fonseca Orvalho
Career Clarity Coach | Helping Corporate Women Gain Career Clarity and Confidently Advance Toward Success | Professional Facilitator | Bestselling Author
For determined women navigating the corporate world, career satisfaction can often feel difficult to achieve. The pressures of climbing the corporate ladder, balancing personal and professional responsibilities, and breaking through systemic barriers can make it seem out of reach.
But here’s the truth: finding joy in your work is not just possible - it’s essential. It’s the foundation of your emotional well-being, the key to unlocking your professional growth, and the pathway to personal fulfillment.
Whether you’re considering a career shift or looking for more satisfaction in your current role, understanding the emotional impact of job happiness is the first step in revamping your career and improving your overall quality of life.
When you love what you do, motivation comes naturally. It’s the difference between being excited to do your best work and simply forcing yourself to meet expectations out of pride - which, let’s be honest, is exhausting.
Do you remember that feeling of excitement and happiness you once had every morning before heading to work? The pride you felt as you got dressed, ready to tackle the day? You couldn't wait to sit at your desk and dive into the work that made you feel alive.
That’s exactly what I’m talking about - finding that joy again, and making it a regular part of your career journey.
Let's explore the impact that job satisfaction has directly on your career ????
1. Increased Emotional Resilience and Empowerment
Women in corporate environments often face unique challenges, from breaking through glass ceilings to navigating bias in the workplace.
Being happy in your job doesn’t remove these challenges but strengthens your emotional resilience to handle them.
When you enjoy your work, you’re more likely to approach obstacles with a solutions-oriented mindset and bounce back from setbacks more quickly. This resilience improves your performance and helps you maintain your mental and emotional well-being in the face of adversity.
Similarly, if you're in a job that doesn't bring you joy, it can feel like you're stuck. Happiness in your career, however, can inspire you to seek growth and new opportunities.
Job satisfaction is empowering, reminding you that you have control over your career path.
2. Boost in Confidence and Self-Worth
Many women struggle with imposter syndrome or feelings of inadequacy in the workplace, particularly in male-dominated industries/ areas.
However, when you're happy in your job, it often means you feel aligned with your strengths and see the value in your contributions.
This increases self-confidence and can empower you to pursue leadership roles, ask for promotions, or take bold steps in your career.
Job happiness is a powerful antidote to self-doubt, helping you advocate for yourself with conviction.
Let's use my client Nicole as an example: she was a high-performing MD at an investment bank, but with time, her confidence was crashed by a new manager.
He came in and, due to his insecurities, started to micro-manage her and question all of her decisions and she started to not only hate her job but doubt herself and her career choices.
After working together, she was 100% clear on her value: how much she brings to a role! Not only that, but she knew exactly what her passion was and how to use her skill set to pivot into a different business area where she now feels way happier and valued.
3. Mental Health Benefits and Reducing Burnout
Workplace stress is a leading contributor to mental health struggles like anxiety, depression, and burnout.
For women balancing both professional and personal responsibilities, this stress can be amplified.
Being happy in your job helps mitigate these effects.
When you feel fulfilled in your work, you're less likely to experience chronic stress or emotional exhaustion, making it easier to maintain mental clarity and emotional balance.
This is especially important for women who feel the pressure to "do it all" and often neglect their well-being in the process.
4. Reduced Stress and Anxiety from Greater Career Clarity
The uncertainty of not knowing if you’re in the right job or career can lead to heightened stress and anxiety.
Career clarity - knowing that you’re in a role that fits your talents and goals - reduces this mental burden.
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By being happy in your job, you feel more in control of your professional destiny, alleviating the constant worry of whether you should be doing something else. For women revamping their careers, finding this clarity can be life-changing.
Take my client Lorraine as an example: she was working on a sales role, and despite being good at it, she was constantly worried about the fact that she wanted to do more with her professional life... that she was not being seen as the expert she wanted to be!
After working together, she realized that she wanted to move internally to a consultancy role, where she could use all her skills, develop her technical knowledge, and finally enjoy a career that she felt she was meant to have!
BUT...
Increased job happiness doesn't just have a direct impact on your career, it will lead to a happier life all around:
????Stronger Relationships, Both at Work and at Home
When you're fulfilled at work, the emotional benefits spill over into your relationships.
Job dissatisfaction can lead to frustration, irritability, or emotional withdrawal, which affects how you connect with your loved ones.
On the flip side, career satisfaction helps you stay emotionally present and more positive, making you a better partner, friend, or parent.
Additionally, positive workplace relationships often stem from genuine job satisfaction, leading to better collaboration and camaraderie with colleagues.
I still remember how much of a 'moaner' I became at work and home, and even when hanging out with friends when I was unhappy with my banking career! God, could I go on and on about how sh1tty I was feeling and how bad was the office, and so on...
And no one wants to be listening to a person who is complaining all of the time! People hang out to have a good time!
?? A Renewed Sense of Purpose
For many women, corporate careers can feel draining when there’s a lack of alignment between their work and personal values.
However, when you find a role that aligns with your strengths and passions, it provides a profound sense of purpose.
Whether you’re leading a team, advocating for change, or building something meaningful, a job that brings you happiness fuels a deeper sense of direction.
This clarity of purpose not only enhances your professional performance but enriches your personal life as well.
????♀? Reduced Stress and Anxiety from Greater Career Clarity
The uncertainty of not knowing if you’re in the right job or career can lead to heightened stress and anxiety.
Career clarity - knowing that you’re in a role that fits your talents and goals - reduces this mental burden. By being happy in your job, you feel more in control of your professional destiny, alleviating the constant worry of whether you should be doing something else.
Finding this clarity can be life-changing.
Conclusion
For women in the corporate world, job satisfaction isn’t just about having a good day at work - it’s about empowering yourself to create a career that aligns with your values, passions, and strengths.
The emotional impact of being happy in your job touches every part of your life, from your mental health and resilience to your relationships and self-confidence.
Whether you’re looking to revamp your career or find greater fulfilment in your current role, prioritizing your happiness at work is essential to living a balanced and emotionally healthy life.
?? If you are struggling with job satisfaction, don't despair! My 90-day career coaching program is exactly what you need: a clear and simple framework of mixed coaching and self-reflection exercises, that will support you in gaining the answers you are desperately trying to gain!
How would you feel if you had your sense of purpose and direction back in just 3 months from now?! Let's chat! ??
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The newsletter will be monthly, from October 2024, published on the last Tuesday of every month.