Have you ever wondered how much your partner influences your career? Surely, this influence is much greater than you imagine. And I’m not just referring to their moral support; I mean that your partner can be a fundamental pillar that can propel your growth or, in the worst case, become a burden.
Regarding the emotional sphere of your work life: how do you think having a solid emotional foundation at home affects your performance and professional well-being? Americans use the FISK concept, which means a person is fun, interesting, intelligent, and kind. These qualities, which we often take for granted in our personal lives, are a true superpower in the professional world. If you have a partner who meets these criteria, you can consider yourself very lucky. They are a vital, though undervalued, asset that makes your work life easier instead of making it difficult.
WOULD YOU INVITE YOUR PARTNER TO THE COMPANY DINNER?
Imagine this scene: your boss invites you to a company party and tells you to “come with your partner.” Is your first reaction one of relief and confidence, knowing that your colleague will shine and enhance your image? Or, on the contrary, do you panic and look for the perfect excuse to decline the invitation, fearing that your partner will embarrass you and subtly sabotage your career?
If you answered “yes” to the first question, congratulations! Having a partner who, far from being an obstacle, is a facilitator in your professional life is a gift. If you answered “no,” you have a problem.
HAVING A PARTNER WITH A HIGH CAPACITY FOR EMOTIONAL REGULATION CAN BOOST YOUR RESILIENCE, YOUR CONFIDENCE, AND YOUR OVERALL ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE WORKPLACE. In fact, one study showed that employees with emotionally competent spouses exhibited up to 26% more of the characteristics valued by bosses. And here’s the key: if spouses are overburdened by family demands, these skills are impaired. This means that both employees and companies benefit from the flexibility to share household chores.
It seems obvious that A HAPPY FAMILY LIFE TRANSLATES INTO A HAPPIER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE WORK LIFE. However, in many companies, home life is considered, at best, irrelevant, and at worst, an annoying distraction. An archaic thought that prevents us from moving forward.
YOUR PARTNER, YOUR GREAT PROFESSIONAL ALLY
Ultimately, this is not a trivial matter. It is crucial to invest time and effort into finding a partner who best suits your needs and ambitions. And, of course, it is also desirable to look for a job that offers you the flexibility necessary for this mutual support to flourish.
Because, at the end of the day, your partner is not just your life partner, but a vital asset that can catapult your career. What do you think? Do you think your partner has been a key factor in your professional development?
As Sheryl Sandberg, formerly COO at Facebook says,
“Everyone knows that marriage is the most important personal decision a person makes in their life, but it is also the most important professional decision a person can make.”