Photo by Aditya Saxena on Unsplash
Have you ever heard the phrase, “don’t let your work define you”?
Yeah, me too. But if your work is something you spend so much time on, why not let it at least define… a part of you?
Think about the work hours you put in during your lifetime or the work hours that you WILL put in during your lifetime. That’s a lot of hours! With all that time spent, why not make it count? Why not let your work create space and more importantly, AUTONOMY?
I had a candidate recently ask for my advice on working remotely. It was evident that this person was seeking a connection to an office space and colleagues they previously had. This person hadn’t yet explored the fruitful nature of a remote workplace. They weren’t yet comfortable with their autonomy. I recommended a designated office space and time to get their individual process sorted out.
Rushing to conclusions regarding your ability to work autonomously can be frightening. I originally found it odd that my commute to work was a walk down the hall in my slippers. Eventually, I started my day with a proper shower, change of clothes, coffee, and a full breakfast. This routine gave my autonomy structure. It also helped me to grow into my newfound freedom. My work may only define a part of me, but man does it feel good to do it my own way.
Remember this: autonomy is earned, not given.
Autonomy is also something that once discovered is hard to let go. A remote work environment is one step toward autonomy. Another step is managing that autonomy appropriately. Respect your work and feel free to let it define you, in a good way.
Written by: Rob Scherer, Vice President at Hunter Crown, LLC
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