The Corporate Soldier: A role we didn’t realize we signed up for

From the moment we step into the corporate world, we unknowingly slip into a predefined role—the corporate soldier. We follow unspoken rules, adopt a robotic way of communicating, and suppress emotions to be perceived as competent, and driven.

Our natural human traits replaced for "professionalism".

We become the doers, the achievers, the ones who get things done. We measure success by long hours, impressive job titles, and the ability to keep up with relentless expectations. We master the art of keeping a straight face, even when our inner world is screaming for something different. We push emotions aside because vulnerability isn’t welcomed in boardrooms. We speak the corporate language of ‘leveraging synergies’ and ‘thinking outside the box’ while unknowingly boxing ourselves in.

And for a while, it works. We earn promotions, respect, and validation from the outside world. But underneath it all, a different story unfolds—one of loneliness, disconnection, and a lingering feeling that something is always missing.

The silent weight of suppression

Over time, this soldier-like approach to our careers becomes second nature. The weight on our shoulders grows heavier, yet we become so accustomed to carrying it that we don’t even recognize it’s there. The pressure to get there—to the next level, the next salary bracket, the next perceived milestone—becomes our North Star. But ‘there’ is an illusion, always moving just out of reach.

We start feeling isolated, disconnected—not just from others but from ourselves. The loneliness creeps in, disguised as busyness and overachievement. We wake up one day and wonder: Why doesn’t this feel fulfilling? Why do I feel empty despite all I’ve achieved?

Because we traded our authenticity for the illusion of success.

Reclaiming your authentic self: the awakening

The good news? Reclaiming your authentic self is not only possible—it’s available to you right now. You don’t need to quit your job or escape to a remote island to find yourself. What you need is awareness.

Most of us are running on a script we never wrote or would have chosen. It was handed to us by society, workplaces, family expectations, and cultural norms. This script tells us:

• Work hard, and you’ll be rewarded.

• Emotions have no place in the workplace.

• You have to earn respect and need to prove your worth through results.

• Success means sacrificing personal desires for professional gains.

But what if these beliefs are outdated? What if they are the very things keeping us stuck in an endless loop of striving without ever feeling we are arriving?

To break free, we must take a closer look at the story we keep telling ourselves on repeat. Some of the common underlying stories are: "I feel invisible and insignificant, there I have to proof myself through achievements and accomplishments to be seen and heard", or "I feel I don't belong here therefore I have to work hard and be seen as pulling my weight so that I am accepted" or "the only way to feel secure and to get somewhere in life is to constantly thrive forward". Only then when we become aware can we rewrite the script.

" Just because we have our eyes open,

doesn't mean we are awake "

Richard Wilkins

Step 1: Identifying the story you’ve been telling yourself

What narrative is running in the background of your mind? Is it one of “I must work harder to be enough”? Or perhaps, “If I show my true self, I won’t be taken seriously”?

Start by observing your thoughts, especially in high-pressure situations. What beliefs come up when you feel stressed at work? When you receive feedback? When you consider slowing down? These beliefs hold clues to the unconscious script that’s been dictating your actions.

Once you identify the script, ask yourself: Is this true? How would I feel or who would I be without this belief? This simple shift can open the door to new ways of thinking.

Step 2: Relabeling and changing the story

Now that you’re aware of the outdated script, it’s time to rewrite it. Here are some powerful reframes:

• Old belief: I need to prove my worth through achievements.
  New belief: I am inherently worthy, and my contributions speak for themselves.

• Old belief: Emotions make me look weak in a professional setting.
  New belief: Emotions make me human, and emotional awareness is a leadership strength.

• Old belief: Success means constantly pushing forward.
  New belief: Success is about alignment, not just achievement.

   

The goal is not to resist or reject your corporate role but to approach it differently—from a place of authenticity rather than performance.

Step 3: Finding self-acceptance & trusting yourself

Self-leadership begins when we stop outsourcing our validation to external achievements and other people's opinions and start listening to ourselves. It means taking ownership of ourselves.

Self-acceptance means embracing all parts of yourself, even the ones you’ve been conditioned to suppress. It means allowing yourself to feel, to create space for yourself and to speak honestly rather than regurgitate corporate jargon.

Self-trust follows self-acceptance. Fully accepting who you are—beyond the job title, beyond the ‘corporate soldier" and trusting you are enough is the cornerstone that affects all areas of our lives. The moment you trust yourself is the moment you reclaim your confidence, power and resilience.

And that’s when everything changes.

Step 4: Showing up authentically (without quitting your job)

We often hold on to a misconception that we can only be our true selves outside of work or need to leave our corporate roles. A misconception that the two don't go hand in hand.

But you don’t have to leave corporate to be yourself—you just have to start being yourself within it. Authenticity isn’t about being reckless; it’s about being true and honest with yourself.

Here’s are some ideas as a starting point how you can show up more authentically at work:

• Use your real voice. Stop filtering your words to sound ‘corporate.’ Speak with clarity and honesty and show humility. Show a sign of when you are exhausted or tired or simply overwhelmed and need space for yourself - say so.

• Stop performing. You don’t need to act like a leader or the person who knows everything and is in control, just lead in a way that feels human and natural to you. Admit when you don't know something or you didn't get a chance to look something up and when you feel unprepared.

• Create space for yourself. Success is not about pretence or burnout. Protect your energy by incorporating slots within your day that are for you: to take a walk, sit somewhere quietly - meditate or practice breathing, listen to some calming and relaxing music with your headphones.

• Build structures within your work day: Dedicated slots when you respond to emails, when you reply to DM's, when you have conversations. And those structures allow you to be present. Be present in meetings, be really there and stop checking messages. Be present in conversations. Be present in your correspondence.

• Bring emotions back into the workplace. Genuine connection happens when we let go of the robotic facade and pretence that we have our lives sorted. When you appreciate yourself and what you do on a daily basis, you will stop fretting about the small stuff. Let it go.

When you show up as your true self, you not only give others permission to do the same but relationships will deepen, your understanding of yourself will give you an understanding of the people around you, opportunities unfold, and work becomes less about proving and more about contributing.

" You can't get being YOU wrong"

Liz Ivory

Life beyond the corporate soldier mentality

Something incredible happens when we break free from the corporate soldier mindset: life starts to flow.

Instead of feeling like we’re constantly fighting uphill battles and feeling stressed, we notice opportunities that were always there—but we were too rigid, too focused on ‘getting there’ to see them.

Work becomes less about stress, struggle and exhaustion more about alignment. Relationships with colleagues become more genuine. And most importantly, our relationship with ourselves strengthens and deepens over time.

The loneliness and isolation fade when we finally meet ourselves—not as the achiever, the doer, or the title-holder, but as the person beneath all that.

The search for something more outside of us ends because we realize: we were never missing anything to begin with - we were always there!

Reclaiming your authentic self isn’t about abandoning your career—it’s about finally bringing yourself into it.

And when you do that, success takes on a whole new meaning.

Are you ready to break free?

This journey starts with awareness. It starts with questioning the script you’ve been following and rewriting it on your own terms. It starts with accepting and trusting yourself again.

What’s one old belief about success that you’re ready to let go of? I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment below or send me a message.

Here’s to leading yourself with authenticity.

Susanne Kubik

Hi, I'm Susanne. For most of my career I've worked in high pressured environments in Consultancy and Investment Banking where I perfectly adapted to the corporate soldier mentality, simply because I felt invisible, insignificant and compared myself notoriously. For years felt as if I was enduring my corporate existence or forever planned my exit strategy. UNTIL, I learned that there was another way. Finding my true self has been the game changer that affected all areas in my life positively.

And now I am sharing all that I have learned with others, so they can finally replace the self-doubt for inner knowing and find their brilliance beyond roles and job titles and live a live on purpose and with intention.

To find out more check out:

https://susannekubik.com/home

Join the mailing list for free resources, updates, courses and events:

https://susannekubik.com/newsletter108706

Join the Monday morning meditation for intention setting:

https://susannekubik.com/mondaymorningmeditation