Working professionals develop emotional detachment. It’s the only way to thrive in the work. Emotional detachment helps us remember that we are not our work, and that feedback is useful, not an attack.
Commitment permits us to keep going (especially when we’re asked to provide more effort than we planned).
It’s easy to confuse the two.
Being detached doesn’t mean you don’t care. It simply means you’re focusing on the work and those you serve, not on your own narrative.
And being committed comes from a professional decision, not from an existential crisis.
PS Thanks to Ari for two lovely essays (1 and 2) with his take on my work around marketing, dignity and leadership.