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self-respect

The Foundation of Success

January 25, 2015 By Michele Woodward 3 Comments

 

IMG_3571What do you call it when someone takes pride in the things they do? When they’re not just phoning it in or checking off a box? When they really care about where they sign their name?

And what do you call it when that same person takes responsibility for everything they do – the big mistakes as well as the little wins?

What happens when you add in a healthy and solid self-respect? I’m talking about the healthy ego kind of self-respect that’s grounded in integrity and honesty. The kind of self-respect that, for instance, allows for difficult conversations to happen before situations get to a crisis point.

Know what this set of attributes creates?

In my book, it creates professionalism.

And professionalism is the foundation of success.

Imagine what it would be like to experience a real professional in, oh, let’s say, house painting.

You’d have a clear estimate of the work to be done.

The painter would show up on time, ready to work.

He’d have all his tools and supplies in good working order.

He’d work smart and thoroughly.

There would be no paint splatters or wobbly corners.

He’d finish when he said he would, and the fees would be as expected.

If there was some blemish, some something that you weren’t too happy with, he’d come back, accept responsibility and make it right.

And you’d hire that guy over and over again.

Now, imagine that same professionalism in your office, or in your home.

(Some of you are having a good laugh right now, huh?)

Seems to me that we live in a time when there are a lot of factors stacked against professionalism. In our go-go, get it done, check-it-off-the-list sort of world, sometimes bosses and organizations make it nearly impossible to take pride in our work. Or maybe we touch such a wee little bitty part of a massive project that our contribution isn’t that noteworthy.

Yet, you all tell me you want something different. You tell me you’re hungry for meaning and that you’re dying for connection.

You want what you do to matter.

You want to make a difference.

Easier said than done, I know. Last summer, I led a webinar for The Harvard Business Review on bullies and toxic people in the workplace. It became their most popular webinar ever and during the live session there were so many questions that the Q&A platform stopped working three times.

It’s really hard to have self-respect, pride in your work and personal accountability when you work in a toxic environment.

You may find that to be as fully professional as you want to be, you have to take the leap – to a new job. Which is easier today than it’s been in years – depending on what you do and where you live, of course – due to expanding employment.

This expansion means, too, that organizations will need to change and stop seeing employees as disposable widgets. Where there were once 400 people in line for a single job, now candidates will have to be sourced and wooed as demand outstrips supply. And, when attrition becomes a critical issue, toxic leaders and bullying work environments will finally have to be addressed and fixed.

That can be done by amping up our individual commitment to professionalism and for organizations to let go of those who refuse to step up their own.

Remember, it’s these three things: Take pride in your work; Be responsible for your actions; Respect yourself.

Everything else you want stems directly from these foundational pieces.

Whether you’re ten or ninety, you can do it. In your office, or your home, or at school, you need nobody’s permission, no certificate, no degree to be professional.

Now’s the time to start.

 

Filed Under: Authenticity, Blog, Career Coaching, Happier Living, Managing Change, Uncategorized Tagged With: accountability, bullies, Harvard Business Review, pride in your work, professionalism, self-respect, toxic people

Open The Door

January 18, 2015 By Michele Woodward 5 Comments

 

I’ll bet there are times during your day, or week, or even year, when you feel like no one sees who you really are.

That there are moments, maybe, when you feel bullied. As if you have a toxic boss. A very difficult situation.

You don’t know how you’re going to make it through.

Or even if it’s worth it.

You feel like there’s so little you control, so little you can do to turn it all around and get back to… something good.

Tell me the truth – you’ve felt this way, haven’t you?

Maybe you even feel that way today.

So, watch this video and then come right back and we’ll talk.

Inspiring, huh?

One kid decided one day to do one thing.

One thing that he could do.

That he could take pride in. That he could be responsible for, totally in alignment with his values and his aspirations.

And it made all the difference.

I’m here to tell you – you can be that kid.

You can find that one thing. Just one thing you can do to make the quality of your life, and the lives of others, better.

To bring things back to the good, happy, meaningful place you seek.

You can. I know you can.

Go ahead – it’s time to open a door.

 

Filed Under: Authenticity, Blog, Career Coaching, Clarity, Getting Unstuck, Happier Living, Managing Change, Uncategorized, WiseWork Tagged With: bullies, change, creating change, happiness, intentions, self-respect, values, YouTube

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