Already Have a Job. So, What’s Next?

As we move head first into 2014, I want to broaden our topic list. I want to add a focus for the people who have a job but aren’t happy. You know you want to stay where you are but be more fulfilled. I have been in a job where I was satisfied but not truly happy or fulfilled. As I work with my clients, we have discovered together there are at least three actions you can do that will help you get unstuck.

The first action is to not take your current job for granted. It is easy to get complacent which can lead to unhappiness. I know what you are thinking. It is easy to say, “Don’t get complacent,” but hard to do. There are a lot of people who are out of work and would love to have your job. I promise this won’t turn into lecture telling you to just love your job anyway or they will replace you. Instead, it is about teaching you a skill that you can develop for true appreciation of your job. Here is how it works. You start each day thinking about two-three things you enjoy about your job—for example, a short commute, the person in the office next to you, the money you make, or the fact that you get to use your best skills. I don’t know what makes you happy, but I know you have something to be thankful for at your job. If you didn’t, you would not still be there. I have worked with people who were in bad places in their work life, and they started doing this activity consistently. It was amazing how within a few weeks they would come back to me and say, “You know I really am lucky to have this job.” I am not saying this is a magic bullet—because we all know those magic bullets don’t exist. I am telling you, this can make a real difference in how you view your job.

The second action to help you become more fulfilled at your current job is to take on a new project. It doesn’t have to be something huge, like restructuring a plant. It can be something minor, like starting a fitness challenge with a few people you work with. It is the beginning of the year, and we are all thinking about getting healthier. I realize some of you are saying, “That isn’t really a work project, Jennie, so how does that help me?” What I have found is that when you are at work, you need to feel like you are in charge of something. So, even if the project isn’t directly related to work, it is something you can own at work. It is also good to consider a work project, like reorganizing your filing system or creating a more effective way to communicate with team members about an important issue. Whatever it is, start something new. Start as soon as you finish reading this.

The third action is to get a new perspective. That isn’t always easy, but it can be done. One way to get a different perspective is to ask others what their perspectives are. Now I do recommend talking to people who seem to enjoy their jobs. It doesn’t even have to be someone at your workplace. It can be someone with a totally different job. Just talk to others about their jobs and what they like or don’t like. What this simple idea does is gets you thinking differently about work, and that can change your perspective.

If you want to start enjoying and appreciating your work more, try one or all of these ideas: (1) List two-three things you like about your job; (2) start something new; and (3) get a new perspective. Let me know if any of these ideas work or don’t work for you. Let’s grow together.

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