Often we find the satisfaction in our roles when we feel like we're
growing and developing.
So when things feel like they're on repeat, often, it's because we can do it
so well and kind of with our eyes closed, so we're really not feeling that
sense of satisfaction from the work that we're doing.
If this is the case, it's really good to kind of stop and really reflect on how
far you've come, reflect on the skills and the strengths that you've developed
and also look at the achievements that you're having with the work that you do.
When we can see the benefits that we're bringing to a business with the work
that we do, and where we're really using our skills and strengths to have an
impact in our role that can really give us a sense of satisfaction, even if
we're feeling like a lot of the duties are very much on repeat.
There can be a real sense of satisfaction when we can really see the
impact and the achievements that we're having with our role.
But often we don't stop and kind of reflect on that.
So a really good way to kind of get that sense of satisfaction back is every now
and again, just stop and appreciate the work that you've been doing,
appreciate your achievements, and really be proud of the skills and strengths that you're
using in your role to be able to perform it to the best of your ability.
So first of all, I would be thinking, why do I dread going to this role?
What is it about the role that I dread?
And then thinking about what is it about the role that I actually like?
You see, when we're in a role that doesn't kind of fit us perfectly,
we do tend to focus on the negatives and not think about the positives.
Whereas if we can have some positives to focus on, it can really help us and kind
of relieve some of that dread that we feel.
If in the main there are a lot more negatives than positives, it's really
thinking about, well, why am I in this role?
What benefit is it bringing to my bigger sort of career plan?
Do I have a career plan? And how does this fit in?
We don't have to see a role as for life.
If it's not the right role, which a lot of us will find ourselves at some point
in time in our career in a role that's not quite right for us.
It's really thinking, what skills can I gain from this?
What experience can I gain to take me to the next role?
And what does that next role look like?
So sometimes, being in the wrong role can actually, be really good, because
sometimes we have to go wrong to know what is right.
So really understanding why this isn't the right role for us can help us make a
much more strategic move when we move to the next role to make sure it is right.
So really identifying, is it the company culture, the environment, the management style,
that's not fitting for us?
Is it the work that we're doing? The people that we're working with?
And then really looking at, well, if that's not working, what will I need to
make the next role the right role so I can make a move into a more fulfilling
and happy role moving forward.
Often, we kind of go about our day to day really without giving it much thought.
So we're looking for happiness, but we're not really kind of paying
attention to what we're doing.
Now, happiness comes from what we're giving, not necessarily what we're getting.
So sometimes, just on a daily basis, stopping and really thinking about how
you've helped, how you've helped the business,
how you've helped perhaps people that you've worked with,
how you've helped a customer can really bring about a sense of happiness to the
work that we do.
Also looking at our achievements, again, and I know from my own career journey,
we often don't stop and appreciate how much we've grown, how much we've
developed and the achievements that we've had.
And really giving a time to reflect on what we're doing can actually make us
feel that sense of growth and sense of achievement, which can bring about some
happiness in our career.
So the day to day just don't kind of feel as monotonous because we can
actually, see on a particular day or a particular week, how we have an
achievement, we made an impact, we brought about results for a customer
or for somebody on our team can actually help us feel much happier about the work
that we do and really give us that sense of satisfaction and fulfilment.
Now, this is a big question and one that I'm often asked by a lot of people and
there's some key things to really look out for.
First of all, are you energized by the work you do?
Are you inspired?
Does the industry sector and your role, does it kind of light you up?
Or does it bore you to tears?
If it bores you to tears, then it's obviously, a sign that it's not quite the
right fit for you.
Your role and the industry you work in and the company you work for really
should make you feel energized and alive and inspire you.
You should be feeling like you're growing and actually, you want to grow
more within the work that you're doing because that's a surefire sign that this
is the right industry, the right career and the right role for you.
And ask yourself questions like, do I enjoy what I do?
Now, sometimes we don't enjoy all of it, 100% of it, but do we enjoy at least 70 or 80%?
And maybe if it's only 20% that we enjoy, it's really looking at why do I
enjoy that 20% and not the 80% and see how you can shift your career to work
more in that 20% and grow that.
Do you like to talk about your work, or your industry sector?
Do you read about your industry sector?
Really, we have an opportunity today to work in a career and industry sector and
a role that really inspires us, and we're passionate about.
So these are big questions to ask yourself.
But if you're thinking about your work, and there's that sense of dread,
that sense of unfulfillment, you're bored, doesn't inspire you, you feel tired at
the end of every day, then there's signs that this isn't the right career for you.
When we're doing what we enjoy doing, and what comes naturally to us it
actually energizes us, not tires us out.
So I know I've had roles where I felt really, really exhausted at the end of
the day and it was actually because it just wasn't the right role, it wasn't
the right career, and it wasn't the right industry sector for me.
Nothing was lighting me up, nothing was kind of giving me that excitement and that energy.
So if you're feeling like you're unsure whether this is the right career or
right role for you, it is absolutely worth stopping, taking stock, really
asking yourself some questions around, what do you enjoy, what's going to kind
of put that fire in your belly and get you jumping out of bed every morning?
And what is it about the role that's really not fitting for you.
Now, depending on your circumstances, and really depending on how bad it is,
really is how quickly you need to move.
If you're in a really, really negative workplace, and you're in a situation
where you can actually afford to leave before finding another job, I would say
that can sometimes be the best way.
Because when we're in a really negative space to be able to put ourselves out
there in the job market and go for interviews, and talk with kind of energy
and positivity about our work isn't always easy.
But I know that's not always possible for people and we actually have to stay
in that role until we find another role.
I would look at maybe trying to take some time out, whether you can take some
time off on holiday or if it's really bad, you can look at taking a couple of
days sick leave just to kind of recoup and get yourself together and also get
your resume and your LinkedIn profile together ready to go out to the job market.
I wouldn't rush out to the job market, I would say really take some learnings
from this experience on why you're finding it so negative, so that when
you're looking to move to the next role, you can make the right move because the
last thing we want to do is jump out of the frying pan and into the fire,
which I see a number of people do when we're in this situation of,
I have to get out of here.
This role is horrible and isn't working for me.
But it's really trying to break down actually, why is it really negative?
Is it the environment?
And what is it about the environment, then that's causing that negativity or
that toxic work environment?
Is it just the company structure and the organization style, because we all have
kind of a different fit with the roles that we go for and the companies we work for.
So what works for one person doesn't necessarily mean it's going to work
for another person.
So it's really understanding what's the right environment for you,
what's the right culture fit for you, the right team, the right management structure.
So when you can identify those and why it's not working where you are,
you can actually, then look to make sure that the next company is going to meet
the needs that that you're looking for within a business and within a organization and role.
But it's about remembering a job, isn't for life and your health and your well-being,
your happiness actually should be the most important factor when you're
looking for work and when you're working within a company.
But like I said, don't necessarily take a knee jerk reaction and just jump,
unless you're in a position to be able to do that.
So sometimes it's worth just having a few things lined up, and actually,
once you start lining up that you're looking for another role, you start getting your
resume and your LinkedIn profile together, you start searching for
potential roles out there.
It can actually make you feel much more empowered, that you're doing something
about the situation and kind of take away some of that negative feeling you're having.