Are You a Renter or an Owner of Your Career?

Are you a renter or an owner? The question is generally asked about living space or maybe an office. Today, I ‘m asking about it with regards to your job and/or career.

Think about it. A renter generally has a defined time commitment, a lease. They may have an exit plan from the get go “we’ll stay here until we save a down payment for a house,” “rent first and see if we want to stay,” or maybe “not sure I want the hassle of owning, so I rent.” Because of these factors, and many more (such as restrictions placed on you by the landlord), many people treat their space, neighbors, and commitment, as temporary because “I’m not an owner, JUST a renter.”

Many employees see it the same way with their work. They join a company, especially in a challenging job market, not because they want to be there but because they need the paycheck, the benefits, or fear a gap on the resume. From day one, they are planning their escape, never fully engage. Their work area is sterile, relationships superficial or distant but most important, their commitment to the organization and their work team is limited and half-hearted.

On the other hand, most owners (aka people who want the job and career) try very hard to clean up and personalize their space, make it comfortable and efficient. It gives off the vibes “I’m here to stay, welcome to my space.” Because their environment is customized, it is more conducive to work and they become more productive and less stressed. There is a certain pride and sense of belonging. Others see them as belonging.

Expand this thought to your membership on a team. When I say team, I am referring to a work group; department, project, or any other collection of people brought together to meets goals or generate ideas. For teams to really succeed for and in a company, there must be a commitment not just to self, but more importantly, to the other members and the organization. Without commitment, people make nice and rarely argue or disagree about important points. They look for short-term solutions and easy fixes. Without commitment, members are self-focused, their ideas and efforts having everything to do with them and nothing to do with the big picture or the group. These are people who “work for or report to” rather than with a manager, “sit” versus belong in a department and “collect” rather than earn a paycheck. Owners collaborate with others, belong to a team(s), and deliver for the team while investing in their careers.

Don’t get me wrong, there is competitiveness in teams, not for the sake of winning, but toward excellence and contribution.

When A-Rod (Alex Rodriquez) first came to the Yankees, he was not seen as a team player. “Only out for himself.” “He’s here for the money” was the cry of the press and fans. The superstar was often compared to the lifelong Yankee, and team captain, Derek Jeter who rarely said “I” and appeared to be fully committed to the success of the team over his personal achievements. Who had a better year—Jeter of course. How did the team do with a high-profile renter in the lineup? Not as well as they had and more importantly not as well as they would once A-Rod became a genuine and accepted member of the team.

Ask yourself—am I permanent or a temp? What would the people I manage say? How does my boss see me? Am I in a department or a member of a team? What have I done that demonstrates my commitment to others and the organization? Paying rent or investing in owning your career?

Not sure of the answers to these and many other workplace/career questions? This is one of the many reason people engage an executive career coach such as me. Coaching helps you sort out your ambivalence, ask the right questions, and draw a road map and create a timetable for achieving.

You wouldn’t try to set your broken arm, learn to drive a car, settle a legal matter, or put a roof on your house without the help of a trained professional. So why is it that so many people try (sometimes) to manage their careers and workplace issues themselves?

Why don’t you have a coach?

(c) Jane Cranston.