Lessons From A 9-5

If you look around at the world today, you'll see there's been a significant shift in the culture. It seems now, more than ever people are leaving their "stable and steady" 9-5 positions, to embrace the risky world of entrepreneurship. While many people leave for many reasons, more and more we see the corporate world is no longer the only norm. 

While many people are running to leave their day job, they are not allowing themselves appropriate time to grasp the lessons a 9-5 teaches. Going to a job every day is much more than punching in on a clock, it is an opportunity to learn lessons for your personal growth and development. The lessons you learn allow you to develop the skills that you can apply toward the fulfillment of your future goals.

Each life lessons is a stepping stone towards personal growth and development. During my journey, I have learned to embrace the 9-5 season. Instead of that looking at it as a burden, I have learned to take note of what is going on around me. Today I want to share with you three lessons I have learned, and my hope is you too will learn to look past the day to day of a 9-5 and look at it as a training ground for your future. Let's dig in!
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1.) Communication-It Matters!

During my working years, I have seen both good and bad communication! I have learned it is essential to be mindful of how you communicate in any capacity. It does not matter if you work in the mailroom or if you are the CEO of a company, you are required to communicate with somebody. Communication is one of the critical components to a companies success. It is more than just getting the point across; it is how you get the point across.

Good communication requires you to be clear and effective. It is crucial to learn to explain things in an easy to understand manner and to allow it to be something that produces change. When you communicate better, you develop better internal and external relationships. 

Excellent customer communication may bring a happy customer back, good conversation with a vendor may lead to a great deal/partnership, proper employer/employee communication may make it easier to retain the employee. Proper communication is essential to drive success and positive results.
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2.) Adaptability-There Is Always Change!

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” ― Albert Einstein
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Adaptability is not something that can be taught. When we learn to adapt, we learn to respond better to change, and when we can better respond to change, we are more likely to succeed. Life is full of change, and that change is evident in companies. Even when a company is doing good, there is always an opportunity to do and be better. It is important to realize that you can not settle in where you are now (no matter how safe it feels) as you must learn to get in position for a shift.

All businesses and companies go through good seasons and bad season. And while the good seasons allow us to ride on the high, there is always an opportunity to do better. Difficult seasons teach lessons to enable a company to reexamine current processes and procedures while considering a new plan of action. 
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Whether you are the employer or the employee, be prepared for change. There is ALWAYS change. I know that change can create chaos, but how we respond to change is up to us. Being prepared and understanding change promotes success.
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3.) Being A Boss Does Not​ Make You A Leader

I used to think that the title boss and leader were interchangeable! When I delved into the 9-5 world, I quickly learned they were not. Being boss focused is typically an individual who is self-absorbed and focused on results. They can be critical and often blame others as the cause of issues. A leader focuses on how to help grow, develop, and maximize their team. They find their focus on assisting you to become the best you that you can be. 

A title does not make someone a leader! I think we often get that confused! "Leadership" roles within a company provide fantastic learning and growing opportunities however many see it as an opportunity to be demanding. Most employees want someone who can help them grow, rather than someone who has no empathy and is only result driven. 

Having excellent leadership opens the opportunity for employees to grow to their highest potential. Being a leader is not about a title/position, it is about how you carry yourself as a person and how you respond to others. 

​Going to a job every day can seem like a task, but today I encourage you to pay attention to what is going on around you in your current corporation, the good, the bad and the ugly! Allow what you see not to be a distraction but a lesson to push you in the right direction. I wish you the best in your daily ventures! Until next time!

Tamika

PS. Share below some things that working at a 9-5 has taught you!