Reclaiming Your Power at Work: 5 Areas You Can Control
While policies and public discourse around work (and life in general) continue to change dramatically, many of us are frozen in wait-and-see mode. When uncertainty looms, our instinct is to grasp for control. The fears around changes can be paralyzing, even for experienced and talented professionals in secure positions.
You may not be able to influence every workplace policy, but you have tremendous agency over your own choices and boundaries. Whether you're a managing director or an independent contractor, your basic human needs matter at work. Here are five critical areas where you can take back control:
1. Safety and Support
Are you compensated fairly?
Can you set boundaries without backlash?
Do you feel respected when you share experiences and ideas?
2. Growth Trajectory
Are you building relevant skills?
Does your organization reward growth?
Can you see a path forward?
3. Purpose and Impact
How does your work create value?
Can you connect daily tasks to meaningful outcomes?
Are you building momentum toward goals that matter?
4. Work-Life Integration
Can you attend to your health?
Are you present for key relationships?
Does work leave room for life?
5. Team Connection
Do you have allies at work?
Is there shared direction with colleagues?
Can you collaborate effectively?
You have the right to answer "yes" to these questions, regardless of external circumstances. No policy or cultural norm should prevent you from advocating for these basic needs.
When you operate from a centered place rather than fear, you become a more effective force for positive change. Focus first on what's within your control - your boundaries, your growth, your impact.
From that foundation of personal power, you can better navigate whatever shifts lie ahead - at work and beyond.
Ready to explore how to build more agency and impact in your work? Let’s talk.