Seeking approval has a factor of letting go of some of your own discretion. If you are always seeking positive feedback, you are working on a tight leash.
Our aversion to rejection still runs deep. Sometimes, we have trouble thinking we’re successful or good enough unless we receive validation from others—and that’s especially true at work.
However, constantly seeking approval in the office can seriously derail your professional development in the long run. But trying to please your boss, clients, or co-workers—by working long hours or striving for nonstop perfection—can lead to burnout and unhappiness at work and in your personal life.
Nobody likes a kiss ass. Even your boss knows if you are trying to hide incompetence under the garb of sycophancy. So, stick up for your opinion or idea if you are confident about it. There is no need to downplay your suggestions to impress your boss.
If you rise above the need for approval, a lot of room opens up for innovative and critical thinking. Mark Zuckerberg is a classic case of a man holding his own to become the billionaire co-founder of Facebook.
When you prioritize learning and constant improvement, you free yourself from needing approval from others. Psychologist Carol Dweck found that individuals who viewed skill and ability as something to be developed over time , rather than innate and unchangeable, were most likely to achieve their full potential. They don’t seek approval at every stage because they recognise that long term targets are more important.
When you focus too narrowly on one singular result, such as getting a promotion or raise, you attach your self-worth to external standards—which may be outside of your control.
At the end of the day, seeking targets and achieving goals is more important than acquiring approval from everyone.
