Craft your job

As a life and career coach, I write a whole lot about determining and pursuing your ideal job.

Now, ideal is ideal. [Obviously].

But I understand that a huge career shift isn’t always a feasible option. I also know that there’s always at least a tiny bit of wriggle room. There’s always a way to improve your experience at work.

Here’s how.

+ Leverage your skills [or: do more of the good stuff]

You know what you’re good at and I would bet that there are some tasks throughout your day that you find easier and more interesting than others. Make a list of those tasks. [Go on, actually write them down!] Then consider [and pursue] the ways in which you can increase the amount of time in your day spent on those tasks.

+ Employ your strengths

Everyone has a set of strengths – a set of natural qualities – which they can use to enhance their life. [You might not even be aware of what they are – you can find out here.] The thing is, so many jobs don’t engage employees’ natural strengths. Such a waste!

Once you know your strengths, you can start to think about your role and consider how you might be able to shape your efforts around them.

+ Engage your values

Values are another framework that can help with re-crafting your role. But if I asked you want your values are, would you be able to say?

Once you’re clear on your standards for a life well lived, you can start to think about how you could approach your tasks in a way that would more convincingly support and promote that way of being.

+ Find a Why

If work doesn’t feel all that great, it can help to re-frame your professional purpose. A purpose doesn’t have to be huge – you don’t have to be fixing world hunger or finding a cure for some horrible disease.

You just need to find some reason for being there that is bigger than you, to connect your efforts to something more meaningful. So instead of thinking of work as just a way to pay the bills you might, for example, see it as a way to improve a customer’s day or add beauty to the world or boost office morale.

+ Set some goals

This one doesn’t apply to everyone because some folk already have heaps of goals built into the work they do. But if your role feels pointless or Groundhog-Day-ish then actively building in some goals can really help.

Goals can be work-related: I will start a conversation with five customers in the next hour. Or focused on an interest outside of work: I will spend 45 minutes writing my book during my lunch break. Whatever you choose, remember to write the goal down and find an effective way to track your progress.

+ Boost positive emotion

Positive emotion contributes to a heightened sense of well-being and small, readily accessible changes can make a big difference. Use a coffee cup you love rather than the ones from the office kitchen. Have a picture on your desk that reminds you of a brilliant holiday. Listen to interesting podcasts as you commute. Make a lunch you’ll look forward to, each day.

When work doesn’t feel great, making just a few small and conscious changes can return a sense of autonomy and optimism which can shift your whole experience.

Tags: life-coaching, Melbourne