Show me a person who sees uncertainty as opportunity, and I’ll show you a person who has mastered the new world of work.
To Take Charge of Your Career, Start by Building Your Tribe
Researchers talked with gig economy workers like freelance journalists, consultants, designers, software engineers, and executive coaches. The workers shared stories of creative struggle, bitter loneliness, and chronic uncertainty. And yet most of them claimed that they would not have it any other way. They might be uncomfortable, but they were free. Even people who work in organizations report some similar feelings — after all, no one today expects their company to give them a job for life. So how do workers cope? The research suggests that feeling masterful is essential to keeping this independent, mobile life from becoming too stressful. And to create a feeling of mastery, workers rely on a community or “tribe” of close friends. These tribes have three characteristics: they offer strength and safety, learning and performance, and useful questions and advice.