Working in a caged existence means that you are restricted to certain places, times, or ways of behaving at work. You cannot choose what you want to do when you want to do it, or how you want to do it because everything is pre-set. This can be monotonous and stifling for employees who are creative and innovative thinkers. Here are some ways to avoid working in a caged existence.
Change the dynamic by going out of your comfort zone
If you stay in your comfort zone all the time, you may never experience any growth and may remain in the same place for years. To change the dynamic at work, you have to go out of your comfort zone. If you have always been in a supporting role, try to take on a leadership position for a project. If you are generally shy and quiet at work, try to be more outspoken in meetings. Find ways to challenge yourself in your job and show your colleagues that you're capable of much more than they think. You can't change the dynamic at work if you don't leave your comfort zone.
LGBTQ
If you are in a minority group, you know the feeling of being in a cage. You may feel like you have to conform to certain expectations and behaviors because those are what is expected of your minority group. You may feel like you have to fit into a box that doesn't fit your strengths and passions. You don't have to fit the stereotypes of your group at work. If you are LGBTQ, you don't have to hide behind those letters or be ashamed of them. You have every right to be yourself and demand that your employer respect you. You also have every right to be treated fairly just like every other employee. You don't have to change who you are at work. You don't have to conform to the stereotypes of LGBTQ people. You can be yourself and still succeed in the workplace. Your employer has a legal and moral obligation to protect you and treat you fairly. You deserve to be included and to be treated with respect. If the walls around you and your office begin to feel like cold steel, then tear them down.
Take control over what you can
At work, there are many things that you have no control over, like your salary, your promotion schedule, whom you report to, and when you get to retire. But there are other things that you can control, like your work ethic, your productivity, your relationships with colleagues, and your overall happiness at work. Take control over all the things that you can. Don't just take ownership of your work. Be a good colleague by being helpful, friendly, and supportive. Be a good manager by mentoring other people and being fair and consistent. Be a good leader by speaking up when you have ideas and helping your team members when they need it. Take control over your happiness at work. Find ways to stay positive and avoid letting negative things affect you. Avoid gossip and political games. Don't be a toxic person who brings everyone else down. Instead, be someone who brings positive energy to your workplace.
Ask to be included in important decisions
If you feel like you don't have a voice at work, you don't have to just sit there and feel powerless. Ask your manager or colleagues to include you in important decisions, like company-wide changes, prioritization of tasks, or ways of doing things. If you feel like you are often left out of important discussions, ask why you aren't included and let them know that it makes you feel unimportant. If you don't get a good reason, you have every right to ask to be included in important decisions. Be careful to do this in a polite and respectful way. You don't want to come off as demanding or disruptive. But you do have every right to be included in important decisions.
Take initiative and show off your talents and skills
If you are in a caged existence at work, you may feel like you are always waiting for someone else to notice your work and give you a promotion. You may feel like you have no control over your career and that you are always at the whim of someone else. You may feel like you are always playing the victim and waiting for someone else to solve your problems. To escape the cage of a caged existence where you always feel powerless, take initiative. Show off your talents and skills and find ways to contribute to your team. Volunteer for special projects or take ownership of important tasks that need to be done. Show your manager that you are someone to be counted on and that you deserve a bigger, better, and more important role on your team. Take initiative, and you'll find ways to escape the cage.
Commit to constant self-development
If you work in a caged existence, you have little control over your surroundings and what you do each day. You have no control over your opportunities for growth, promotion, or increased responsibilities. But you always have control over yourself and your development as a person. You have control over how much you learn, how much you read, how much you grow, and how much you improve your skills and talents. You have control over how much you invest in yourself to become a better person. You have control over your career advancement. You have control over your future. You have control over the caged existence you live in at work. Constant self-development is your key to escaping the cage. Invest in yourself in every way possible and you will find ways to break out of the cage.
Conclusion
When you work in a caged existence, you feel like a bird trapped in a cage, unable to fly anywhere and unable to use your full potential. To work in a caged existence is to be confined to a small space and have limited freedom. This often happens at work when employees feel unimportant, controlled, and unable to use their talents and skills. You can break out of the cage of a caged existence by changing the dynamic, taking control over what you can, asking to be included in important decisions, taking initiative, and committing to constant self-development.
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