Isolation: Why Do I Keep Voting Myself Off the Island?--How to Deal with Unfounded Anxiety About Your Status at Work

By: Thomas J. Delong

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Synopsis: Achievement-craving professionals want to believe they're in the inner circle, that they're members of the club. Successful, smart A players may seem outwardly confident, but beneath that glossy veneer lurks an inner doubt: Am I as good as everyone thinks I am? Does management see me as an indispensable member of the team? If you're like most high-need-for-achievement personalities, you are always worrying about your role in the organization. This kind of concern creates a sense of isolation--one of the three major sources of anxiety that beset even the most successful individuals and keep them from realizing their full potential. In this chapter, organizational behavior expert Thomas DeLong lays out three dimensions that determine how connected you feel to your organization: technical competence, hierarchical journey, and boundary of inclusion. He offers thoughtful questions and case examples that will help you reconnect with your organization and jump-start your personal drive for success. This chapter was originally published as Chapter 4 of "Flying Without a Net: Turn Fear of Change into Fuel for Success."