The summer represents a cherished time of good weather, school breaks, golfing, cottaging and whatever other outdoor activity helps in soaking up the sun. However, once Labour Day hits, we notice our mood shifts into a more serious focus on successfully finishing our goals for the year. While we are re-focusing on business, it is also an opportunity to take stock and ask ourselves if we're performing our "perfect work." Understanding what we are passionate about in our work, feeling our value and contribution to society often leads us to questions about our career.When we take the time to assess our careers, we sometimes feel as though we don't know where it is and are not sure where it is going. Few of us really take the time to check where we're at, where we want to be, and what are the obstacles to getting there.
When people feel stuck in their career, they often don't know how to transition out of their funk and take action to place themselves into a more desirable place. When we first start on our careers in our twenties, we usually are geared with a "take on the world" mentality and will do practically anything in order to prove ourselves. Although we have this limitless amount of energy, we don't often know where we will thrive and what our perfect work really is. At this stage, try to understand what you are good at and know your strengths. Then, set some goals for the areas you are weaker in. We all have strengths and weaknesses when it comes to our jobs technically, as well as in the relationship department. Remember, it is always more challenging to focus on your weaknesses rather than your strengths, but by focusing on important improvement areas you will continue to build your value and overall equity with present and future employers. This is the continuous improvement mindset that employers often seek out at all levels in today's workplace.
Once you begin to mature in your career, and go beyond the 10-year mark, you want to focus on continuing to refine your existing skill sets and expanded them. As your career evolves, so too do your motivations for knowing the perfect work for you. Recognize too that eventually external motivators become a little less important than our internal drivers.
Knowing more about who you are, and what you desire means you are no longer trying to please all of the people all of the time. If you find yourself in this place of being unsatisfied and even demotivated with your current situation, time to check in with your boss, a mentor, friend or corporate coach.
This is why one-on-one corporate coaching is becoming so popular today in Canada and the U.S. Just like we have personal trainers to stay in physical shape, corporate coaches do the same with your career. Why do we need someone like this? Today, it seems as though we have so many things to accomplish with our work and personal lives, we often need someone to help us keep it all together and on track. Having a coach helps you see the forest and the trees, something not easily done always on our own.
The most important thing in becoming rejuvenated is to first recognize that you actually are stuck. By acknowledging this you can then decide how you want to improve your situation. At the mid-point of your career, it is often beneficial to reflect on what you've accomplished, where you are today and where you see yourself in three to five years. This helps you strive to determine what you are best suited at doing, and then allows you to shape your job and career around the things you do well and want to do well.
You must at the same time remember that none of us works in isolation and it is not just about you and your needs. The marriage between employee and employer must be in sync. Corporate values and individual beliefs must be in harmony for you to be fulfilled and feel good about expending your precious energy with and for your organization. If you are not in alignment, there is always a greater potential for conflict with whom you serve.
When you have the opportunity to communicate with your boss, you create an avenue of mutual respect and accountability and set an example in your company and a standard with yourself. An open door policy and rapport with your boss is always the best policy to have, even when it comes to your next career move, whether internal or external to the company you currently are with.
Often we are not clear on how our roles change and what the expectations are. Therefore, taking charge of working towards having a healthy and optimal relationship with your employer and boss is really up to you. Only then will you progress in your learning, striving and evolution as you continue to achieve a successful, satisfying and healthy career.
Have a question or concern about your career or workplace?
Write to:
Pamela Ruebusch at pamela@tsigroup.com