Leadership Expert Reveals Worst Career Advice: 'Loyalty to Your Job Isn't Always Beneficial'

In 2022, Kalifa Oliver She was on top of the world. Recently, she had received a promotion to a vice-presidential role within her organization and organized a Zoom meeting with relatives to share the wonderful news.

After four months, she got let go from her job.

Before her sudden and unforeseen dismissal, she referred to herself as a die-hard career woman. For her, work defined her existence. Her professional endeavors were both her ultimate joy and a key source of her sense of worth.

Oliver, who is 41 years old and also an author, mentions that losing her job assisted in altering her perspective. executive advisor And currently, she serves as the global director for employee experience at Ford, residing in South Carolina. She earned her Ph.D. in organizational psychology from Clemson University back in 2012.

Actually, the poorest professional guidance she has ever encountered, she now acknowledges, was the notion that "work should consume my entire life and I should remain devoted."

"Loyalty is something I receive from my marriage," she states, "and from my relationships in general." However, it’s not something she feels obligated to unconditionally provide to or anticipate receiving from her workplace.

Being let go from her position threw Oliver into a crisis she hadn’t anticipated. “I was unable to leave my bed for days. Eventually, I needed to embark on an entire retreat,” I needed to understand that my identity revolved around my work. And someone took my identity away," she states. "I had a session with my therapist, who asked me, 'Who are you without your job?' and I was unable to respond to her question.

Now, Oliver acknowledges that she extends beyond just a label; she’s a mother, a companion, a child, and somewhat of a humorist herself. Despite her satisfaction with her present position as a leader, Oliver keeps her identity separate from her profession and prioritizes her personal contentment and health above corporate matters.

It’s misleading to claim that your team is like family when the focus is really on business operations.

Many U.S.-based employees share a perspective akin to what Oliver used to hold. Approximately four out of every ten non-self-employed workers believe that their occupation or professional path holds significant importance for their personal identity, as reported by a study. 2023 report According to Pew Research Center, this figure rises to 53% for those with postgraduate degrees.

This way of thinking might cause you to draw too much of your happiness and satisfaction from your 9-to-5 Oliver suggests not exhausting yourself for the benefit of the company or neglecting your personal interests, aspirations, and requirements.

Oliver points out that the so-called "family" atmosphere that certain companies boast about can exacerbate this issue. Even though you might have a strong bond with your supervisor or rely on your colleagues for assistance, they are not truly your relatives.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky and Shake Shack founderDanny Meyer encounteredthis challenge personally. Duringthe necessity forCovid-related layoffs, Chesky shared insights fromAdam Grant's " ReThinking In May 2024, during his podcast, he penned an article note to employees He said, "I carry a profound sense of love for each one of you." He would later admit that he could have phrased it more effectively.

“I penned that letter rather swiftly,” Chesky said to Grant. “I expressed my genuine feelings, and those were exactly how I felt.” Nowadays, however, Chesky might articulate his sentiment otherwise. While the term "love" often brings to mind one’s most intimate connections, such as with siblings, offspring, or partners, he points out that you wouldn’t dismiss members of your own family.

As he admitted to Grant, "A company isn’t like a family. Actually, we needed to make that shift."

Meyer initially took pride in his companies' "family values," he stated during a keynote address at the Qualtrics X4 Summit On May 19, he was then compelled to reassess his situation.

“Occasionally, companies need to let go of employees. How recently did you terminate a relative?” he asked. In essence, “it’s misleading to claim that your team is like family when you’re truly running a business. That approach isn’t fair.”

Looking to make additional income on the side? Enroll in GudangMovies21's latest online course now. Ways to Begin a Secondary Business To pick up advice for beginning and tactics for achieving success from leading side hustle professionals, sign up now and apply the promo code EARLYBIRD to receive a 30% discount off the $97 price (+ taxes and fees) until April 1, 2025.

Plus, subscribe to GudangMovies21Make It's mailing list To acquire advice and strategies for achieving success at your job, managing finances, and navigating everyday life.