How Does Paid Employment Affect Person's Identity - Essay Example

The personal identity that a person creates about himself affects many aspects of his life. For instance, the way a person perceives himself affects the kind of goals that they set for themselves in life, the manner of achieving them and their view on what goals and visions are feasible (Newman 2011, 60). The way a person constructs their ‘self’ has direct implications on their motivation, self esteem, emotions and their interactions with other people of the society. This then implies that the way a person views himself affects their job performance in the work place.

In order to achieve a company’s objectives, the manager should work through his employees. One way of doing this is by promoting their identity through use of motivational factors. This paper focuses on how paid employment affects a person’s identity (Elliot & Dweck 2004, 46). Identity Construction at the Work Place A study has shown that the extent of commitment that employers show to their employees is reflected in the employees’ commitment to the job. If the employees are satisfied with the kind of payment they receive from the company, they have no thought of seeking employment elsewhere.

As such they are able to identify themselves with the company objectives and goals and easily assimilate the corporate values. Satisfaction of the employee results in job empowerment which affects their commitment to the organization. With the contemporary globalization in business management, the organization is using job redesigning and downsizing. Developments of the identity can be applied where employees who show intent desire to remain in the company and are committed to attainment of its goals are selected.

Managers should therefore carry out adequate research on personal and societal identities as they influence the kind motivation that would work on the workers (Knights & Willmott 2007, 99). Paid employment instills continuance commitment in the worker. This is because the workers view leaving the company as an expensive move as they would lose the kind of retirement benefits that they have invested in that company. Persons work in an organization in order to satisfy their own personal needs. These needs arise from their own individual goals and also from the requirements of the societies surrounding them as it shapes their identity.

Work is a part of a person‘s life which takes a major portion of his lifetime therefore its effect on identity development cannot be ignore. They spend most of their adult life in the work place. The interactions and the relationships therefore formed in the work place make up a lot of what a person becomes. It is used as a standard for self definition and meaning of life. People describe themselves and the others based on job context. The career that a person engages in is a portrayal of their own personality.

People in different fields describe their work using adjectives that show the worth that they attach to such jobs. You will find an engineer describing his work in a manner that show that they deal with interesting and adventurous activities. Doctors use words that portray the importance of their work in saving lives. All this shows that individuals get into a career with the motive of forming positive identities (Newman 2011, 35). Pathways through Which a Person Creates Positive Identity in the Work Place Research has shown that a person develops positive identity in the work place through four different pathways.

The development of these pathways is influenced by a