When I mention the word "pride," I'm met with a good deal of mixed responses.
One side of the fence thinking of pride as a positive emotion to have, while others associate pride with hubris, or an unwarranted (perhaps inflated) sense of satisfaction that clouds judgment.
For most people, we're used to being told to stay humble and embrace humility, but that doesn't mean we have to shun pride's role in our lives entirely. It is completely possible to remain true to your values while giving yourself permission to take pride, especially pride in your work.
Which is why today, I'm here to talk about the importance of taking pride in your work, and to do that, it's critical to recognize how pride itself is neither a broadly positive or negative state. Rather, pride is imperative to developing meaning in your work, fostering genuine motivation, and sets us up for long term success. It is the kindling that keeps our fire, our passion for our work going, especially during times of hardship and challenge.
Whether you're striving for career advancement, personal growth, or simply to enjoy your daily efforts more, cultivating pride in your work is key to all of it.
Understanding the Importance of Taking Pride
Productivity goes hand in hand with the level of engagement felt by employees throughout a company, which is why it is distressing to hear that engagement is at an all-time low as of 2024 when looking at 11 years of data, according to Gallup. These statistics leave many managers scrambling for a solution that makes a lasting difference in employee engagement in the workplace, ranging from financial incentives, company retreats, and building stronger personal relationships.
While these remedies can work, I'm of the belief that desire for success has to be felt internally, and no external motivation can completely develop that deep sense of personal responsibility employees should feel towards their careers and success. That's why managers are better off putting a long term investment in creating an environment that fosters employee pride, where every team member has a vested interest in the quality, output, and integrity of their work.
When you take pride in your work, you go beyond simply performing at the level set by an external standard -- you work hard because deep down, you feel that your work represents your values, the quality of your ideas, and your passion. It's striving for excellence when no one is watching, when the only person you need to satisfy is yourself.
Building Blocks of Taking Pride In Your Work
Some people are naturally tuned to expressing pride in their work, and easily feel pride in the quality of their output on a day to day basis. Whether they know it or not, they're using the same building blocks that I'll introduce, now -- every employee deserves to feel like their work matters, and with a clear foundation, a culture of individual responsibility and pride in the workplace is on the horizon.
1. Focus
Direct your focus on the positive aspects of your job and remind yourself of your reasons for taking your position. From there, think intently about how your journey has reflected and developed your internal values.
One of the biggest factors in taking pride in your work is understanding how it aligns with your values, goals, and the bigger picture. When you see the impact of your efforts, even small tasks take on a greater meaning. This clarity brings motivation and satisfaction.
2. Identify
Articulate your reasons for working, whether it’s to provide for a family, community, or personal growth.
Identify where you derive satisfaction from your work outside of the monetary -- do you value giving back to the community, being able to produce a product you're proud of, or are you finding that you're growing as a person in your current role? Whether you're supporting a family, contributing to a cause, or mastering your craft, recognizing the "why" behind your work adds meaning.
3. Commit
Make a conscious decision to commit, agreeing doing a good job in your current situation and focus on the tasks at hand. Don’t wait for others to tell you what to do. Take initiative, seek out solutions, and offer suggestions with your fullest effort behind each choice.
When you’re proactive, you’re more engaged, which leads to better performance and greater satisfaction because you are putting your everything into the task. No matter how small the task, always commit to deliver your best -- not because someone is watching, but because committing is important to you.
4. Take ownership
Take ownership of your work and be aware of your importance in the larger picture, even if on the surface, your role doesn't appear to be as large.
Pride comes from ownership of tasks big and small —knowing that you alone are responsible for the quality and outcome of your work, including any mistakes or missteps. Taking ownership means you hold yourself accountable for the results and are proactive in ensuring success.
When you own your mistakes, you learn from them and grow. When you own your successes, you build confidence and reinforce a positive work ethic.
5. Set high standards
Taking pride assumes you perform at or above standards that you have set for yourself.
Define what “good” means for you. Set your personal quality standards higher than what’s expected of you, and be specific. Doing "okay" feels fine, but doing your best often means going the extra mile. This self-driven excellence will not only impress others but also give you greater satisfaction because above all else, you can go home each evening confident that you've achieved your best work.
Overcoming Obstacles and Staying Motivated
Pride in your work also means expressing a passion for quality and consistency even when the going gets tough. It’s easy to take pride in your work when things are going smoothly, but real pride often comes from overcoming challenges and believing that we can succeed.
One effective method I've talked about extensively on this blog is the art of cognitive reframing/cognitive restructuring, which involves taking in a situation and reappraising it from being negative to a positive.
For example, instead of viewing every setback as a failure, embrace each challenge as another opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to excellence, and ability to problem solve. We often take more pride in work that led to a solution, and you may be surprised at how far your commitment to your own standards will take you.
Conclusion
No matter what kind of preconceived notions you may hold about pride's inherent value or risks, taking reasonable pride in your work is critical to staying motivated and engaged. Taking pride in your work is not only a must, it's essential for lasting success and can have a positive impact on job satisfaction, personal growth, and career advancement.
It's about more than just completing tasks—it's about finding purpose, pursuing excellence, and continuously improving.
