By Mary Ann Faremouth, CPC

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary this Fourth of July, many of us will gather with family and friends to enjoy fireworks, parades, backyard barbecues, and traditions that remind us how lucky we are to live in a nation founded on freedom, opportunity and resilience. While we celebrate our country’s Declaration of Independence, it is also a wonderful time to think about another kind of independence, the freedom to become the very best version of ourselves in today’s New Work World.

Throughout my career as an executive recruiter and career coach, I have learned that true career success is about much more than simply finding another job or earning a larger paycheck. It is about discovering where our talents, values, purpose, and relationships all come together. When we take a holistic approach to our careers and our lives, we are much more likely to find fulfillment, both professionally and personally.

Our nation’s founders believed in building something that would create opportunity for generations to come. In many ways, we can apply that same thinking to today’s workplace. Employers and employees alike have an opportunity to build workplaces where people feel valued, supported and encouraged to become the best versions of themselves.

We can all create our own Declaration of Independence by embracing the opportunities the New Work World offers.

So, what might that look like? Over the years, there are several qualities I have seen that help both employers and employees succeed.

1. Freedom Through Collaboration

No one succeeds alone. One of the greatest strengths of any organization is having people who are willing to work together for the good of the team. The attitude of “that’s not in my job description” doesn’t work very well in today’s New Work World.

Today’s workplace requires flexibility and collaboration. Sometimes that means staying a little later so a coworker can take care of a family matter, or arriving early to help prepare for an important client meeting. When people adopt a “we” instead of “me” attitude, everyone benefits. Employers should also communicate these expectations during the hiring process so candidates understand the importance of teamwork from the very beginning.

2. Freedom Through Open Communication

Another important part of a successful workplace is open communication. Trust is built when supervisors take the time to listen, communicate honestly, and make employees feel respected and appreciated.

I recently attended a national conference where I had the opportunity to reconnect with people I had placed over ten years ago. Many of them were still with the same companies. While some had been promoted into leadership positions, what impressed me most was hearing how much they appreciated supervisors who communicated openly and made them feel valued. It reminded me that good communication is still one of the greatest tools for employee retention.

3. Freedom Through Meaning and Purpose

One of the greatest freedoms we can experience in our careers is knowing that our work has meaning and purpose.

Not long ago, an employee at one of my client companies shared something that really stayed with me. He said, “My supervisor doesn’t just tell me what to do. He tells me why we’re doing it and how our efforts contribute to the company’s success.”

That simple explanation made all the difference. It helped him understand that what he was doing mattered. When employees understand how their work contributes to the bigger picture, they become more engaged, more committed, and more motivated to do their best. Everyone wants to know that what they do makes a difference.

As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday this Independence Day, I hope we also take a few moments to think about our own personal and professional journeys. The Declaration of Independence helped shape a nation built on freedom and opportunity. In today’s New Work World, each of us has the opportunity to write our own declaration by continuing to grow, building meaningful relationships, and becoming the best version of ourselves.

Mary Ann’s award-winning first book Revolutionary Recruiting has been listed by Book Authority as Number #1 Best 100 Recruiting Books; #1 Best Seller, Non-Fiction, Amazon (2019); Top 20 Recruiting books, Recruitics; Readers’ Choice finalist (2019), Houston Literary Awards; Best Non-Fiction (2018), Best Cover (2019), and Best Self-Help (2018), Authors Marketing Guild. This was followed by “Revolutionary Reinvention”, a workbook for job seekers giving advice on how to rediscover your skills and passions and reinvent your career. Her most recent book is “Revolutionary Results” , a collection of life lessons about relationships, integrity and contributing to the world.