You Have More Power Than You Think!

The working world can be harsh.

Sometimes we feel like we have little to no power in our jobs and careers. When we get hired into a job, we have to do what our manager tells us to do.

We have to follow policies we may disagree with. We don’t make all (or even most) of the decisions that affect us at work.

It’s easy to feel as though we are dancing to someone else’s tune.

I was an HR leader for a thousand years. In manager’s meetings and behind closed doors in my office, I often thought, “I wish our employees (and every employee and job candidate everywhere) could hear the conversation I’m having now.

“If they did, they’d know they have more power than they think!”

When someone tells their manager they’re unhappy, they may feel like their manager doesn’t listen or doesn’t care.

However, your manager may care a lot.

They don’t want to lose you, but it can be hard for them to show you their vulnerable side.

So they will often say, “I will try to get you what you want (more money, a better title, meatier projects, etc.) but it isn’t up to me.”

It’s hard for a manager to say, “I don’t have as much power as you think I have.”

Employers worry about keeping employees happy – especially now that 75% or more of working people report that they’d take a better job offer if they got one.

You have power in your career.

Here are five ways to use it:

·??????Speak up when you have an idea for a better way to do something, or when you need something from your employer.

·??????Keep one eye on the job market outside your company walls so that if you wanted or needed to change jobs, you could. (When you know you’re marketable, it’s also easier to find your voice at work.)

·??????Change your perspective from, “What’s important about me is my certifications, skills, and years of experience,” to, “I am valuable because of who I am and how I operate in the world.” Other people don’t confer value on you. When you feel your power, your value increases!

·??????Capture your stories – the specific stories about times when you made a positive difference at work, and your overarching career story about how you started your career and how you’ve traveled along your path since then to arrive where you stand right now. Your story is brilliant, and unique – no one who has ever lived had your story and no one in the future will ever have it.

·??????Surround yourself with people who remind you how amazing you are. This is an important form of self-care, and you deserve it!

Step Into Your Power As A Career Coach

A great way to step into your power is to start your own business on the side, either part-time or full-time.

I’m teaching a small group of awesome people how to become career coaches, launch and grow their own coaching businesses and teach my powerful, non-traditional Human Workplace curriculum.

If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a Human Workplace career coach with my help, complete our Career Coaching Questionnaire at this link:

Career Coaching Questionnaire

When you submit your completed questionnaire you’ll be prompted to schedule a call with our Operations Manager, Michael, to talk about becoming a career coach.

Here’s to you!

Work Related Podcast

In Episode Eight of the Work Related Podcast with Liz Ryan, Liz talks about how to tell stories in your resume and your job search, and tackles these questions:

1)????What do I do when two managers are fighting over one candidate?

2)????Is an annual Employee Engagement survey a good way to learn about a manager’s misconduct?

Here’s to your growing flame –

Liz Ryan and the Human Workplace team

Got A Question For Liz?

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