Loyalty = Settling?
Loyalty in personal relationships is something we seek and need, but professionally, it can easily slip into settling.
No one starts out wanting to limit or hold themselves back.
No one starts out wanting to achieve less than they are capable of.
No one starts out wanting to settle.
So what happens along the way that results in this becoming a reality?
Sometimes, we begin to settle when we become relaxed, but sometimes, we become so loyal to a company or role in our professional life that we let ourselves settle for things we usually wouldn't.
What might this look like?
I like the company I work for but feel stagnant in my growth. Am I settling? These are the kinds of questions that, if you say them out loud, you immediately hear the answer. Yes, you may be settling. Some of the best parts of our lives occur on the journey, the experience or learning, growing, or trying something new. If you like the company you are working for, look for opportunities to learn new things, work with a different team, or try a different role. If you are stagnant, you likely need to make changes to reintroduce a fresh perspective and growth into your career. Remember, you must actively drive your development and avoid waiting for someone else, including your manager, to do it for you.
I like my team and the people I work with, but I haven't been promoted or expanded in scope in years. Am I settling? You might be settling. However, not all growth and fulfillment come from promotions. It's very easy to get wrapped up in titles as external validation of our success. Spend time evaluating what really matters most to you, and if you find that some of the other aspects of your role outweigh the more prominent roles or titles, you might not be settling.
My work-life balance is good, and my job is easy. I'm comfortable and don't have to push myself too hard. Am I settling? Possibly, but similar to the above question, if this allows you to balance fulfillment in your professional life and time for the things you value outside of work, then you may be doing what you need to have the most rewarding and beneficial life. However, if you find yourself staying comfortable and not growing out of a fear of change or seeking "safety," it may be time to look at your values and goals because you might be settling. And if you need a stronger reminder, no job is really safe. You could experience a shocking and unexpected layoff, and if it happens to you, will the settling have been worth it?
I've been at my company for a long time and have invested a lot of time in my career at this company. Am I settling? Yes, you are likely settling. When we feel like we've invested so much time into one place, we often become victim to the common phenomenon known as sunk cost fallacy. This fallacy is: "the phenomenon whereby a person is reluctant to abandon a strategy or course of action because they have invested heavily in it, even when it is clear that abandonment would be more beneficial." So often, we hold ourselves back, thinking the cost is too great to change, but if we look at the potential benefits, growth, and success we can achieve if we do make the change, we can see it is worth it.
I have a great idea that keeps popping up in my mind, but I don't have time to work on it, and I'm afraid it will fail. Am I settling? Yes! Ask yourself why you are holding back. What is the real risk, and are you waiting for permission to act on an idea? Sometimes, we need to start. It won't be perfect when we start because the beginning of anything new is always messy and challenging, but you will learn a lot about yourself and may uncover a new skill or path you have yet to consider. Also, to get started, carve out small amounts of time to dedicate to your idea (think 1 hour a week from social media scrolling or watching TV). Action creates momentum, even in small amounts.
Every day looks the same, and nothing ever changes. Am I settling? Yes, you might be settling. You may need to make changes if you feel continually bored, not challenged, or stagnant in life and career. This can start with a slight shift in routine or learning a new skill. Change does not always have to equate to massive shifts in our lives. It can be subtle changes we introduce into our daily habits and routines that can help us tap into new inspiration.
I'm excited about a job on a different team, but I'm worried I'll let my current manager and team down if I leave. Am I settling? Yes! It is not your job or role in life to always make everyone else happy. I've heard this one many times, and the fear of letting people we like or care about down can be hard to overcome. Ask yourself, are you letting yourself down? You deserve a leader who will help you grow, even if that means losing you on their team. If you don't have a leader like that, this is your reminder that they exist and you deserve to work with someone like this. Don't settle for bad leadership!
I like the company I work for, and nothing horrible is happening, so I am not interviewing or networking externally. Am I settling? Maybe. The risks to not being active in interviewing and networking are that you lose sight of your value and net worth and limit yourself to potential opportunities. You need to know what's happening in the market and what you can contribute to a team to identify where to seek opportunities within your existing company or outside. Additionally, interviewing and networking far before you ever want or need a new job will make you far more comfortable with the process, more authentic in your approach, and clearer on who you are and what you want.
As you can see, the question of loyalty and where you might be settling can vary greatly. The more we get intentional about our actions and values, the better prepared we can be to look at our lives and our paths.
Do not let loyalty slip from a positive attribute to a limitation. You can be great at what you do and still seek to be valued, grow, and contribute at your highest level. You do not have to settle for "whatever you can get."
Seek more, demand more (from yourself and others), and you'll be amazed at how much more you can achieve, setting you on the path to the life you are seeking.
“Decide what kind of life you actually want, then say no to everything that isn’t that.”
Resources: These resources can be valuable in relation to this topic, and tools you can use to address areas where you may be settling:
A personal board of directors is an invaluable tool across all items discussed above. Fast Company wrote an article introducing this concept, explaining the 5 types of people you may need on your board.
In a past newsletter, we shared how change leads to adaptability and how you can start exercising this muscle.
Clarity on who you are and what you value is the first step to identifying growth, stagnation, and potential. We provided tips on how to approach this in a past newsletter.
Did you know? We now have merch on our website!
“You are the artist of your life” Journal
Journaling is a powerful leadership tool to unlock ideas, release stress and anxiety, and reflect on your past while looking to the future. This journal is a tool to remind you that you are the artist of your life.
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Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter
"Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter" is our book of the month recommendation. Liz Wiseman's insights on Multipliers reveal how to unlock your team's full potential, fostering a culture of growth and innovation for unparalleled success.
Highly recommended!
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Job Opportunities
This week saw a few more layoffs; many are still looking for jobs. You may have seen posts sharing job openings if you follow us on LinkedIn (thank you!). If you don’t follow us, here’s a snapshot of new opportunities (note we share links to posts on LinkedIn so you can leverage your network to get to know the team and hiring manager diving into a crowded pool):
Senior Director, Product - Eno & AI Assistant at Capital One
Senior Director, Consumer Marketing, Growth Initiatives at PlayStation
Contract Administrator, Business & Legal Administration at Lionsgate
Product, Lifecycle, Marketing, and Operations roles at Chief
Other Resources for Job Hunters:
Networking Event: Bungie is hosting a networking event next week to provide some insight into working in the games industry: bung.ie/3OQ6rEa
Hitmaker is a great page to follow that regularly shares tools for people looking to get into the games industry, as well as sharing fresh job openings
Amir Satvat is passionate about the games industry and provides a wide range of resources to help people get into the industry and find success.
We will share another batch of openings next week, so follow us on LinkedIn to get notified.
Consider how many different pieces of content you see in any given week. See something that resonates with you? Share it with us to feature it in our Social Media of the Week section!
This week’s feature is from Billy Samoa Saleebey, who shared 10 Leadership Lessons from Ted Lasso. The full post and list are worth a read, but here is one of our favorites:
