What is Success?

I was one of those people who left University to start a job which I felt would lead to greater things and aspired to making money. I avoided a lower paid job in one of my key areas of interest citing it as a hobby and therefore not a job. It had no long term financial growth, so I dismissed it.

As I’ve aged, I have realised that following your passion can lead to unexpected doors opening and, more importantly, a happier lifestyle.

It’s frustrating that wisdom comes to many so late in life, and we don’t always listen to the wise when we are young!

So my question to you is - How do you define success?

When I left University, success meant successful job, with opportunities for growth and ultimately money.

When my daughter was born, success was being a good father, having a job with flexibility so that I could enjoy watching and helping her grow.

Now she is an adult, whilst some of my focus is still on her wellbeing and happiness, and I am pleased to see her follow her interests professionally, even though she could make a lot more money elsewhere, my own view of success is driven by happiness and flexibility in my work, rather than maximising financial return.

Success has a different meaning to everyone, and I am not advocating any of my definitions above as the right one for anyone else, but it is important to think about the question and find your own definition.

Starting a new year is a great time to assess whether your previous view of success still applies to your current life. Is your workplace satisfying this? Are you in a workplace where you feel comfortable in being yourself? Is this important to you?

Everybody should be safe to raise issues and have an opinion which is listened to. Nobody should work in a place where they fear their colleagues or leaders and therefore dread coming to work.

If you are a leader, take time out to understand what success means to your team members. It will help you get the most out of them.

Check out the InteChange website for more on the Leadership Toolkit, and for more on making your workplace a psychosocially safe environment and how this will deliver better KPI results and service performance.