You've probably been there... or are there right now. The place in your job where you hit a wall. The honeymoon phase can be filled with promise, learning, development, and even some level of enjoyment! You put in extra hours, work hard to learn the tricks of the trade, and are energized by the role. However, the honeymoon has to end at some point. The long hours grind away, you feel like you've learned all that you can, but are feeling drained by the monotony. Your boss is a dummy, your co-workers are lame, and the warm-and-fuzzies about the day-to-day have dissolved. So how do you get out of the funk? Here are some options to navigate around the doldrums of your work life.
The biker in the black pants needs to get some bend in that knee!
Invigorate Your Current Job
Perhaps the best (or at least most easily-achievable) way to combat stagnation in your job is to find a way to improve it. You can achieve this in many different ways. First, I would recommend figuring out on your own what you can do to derive more enjoyment in your job. No, I don't mean 2:00 PM daily happy hours or getting in a quick 18 holes at lunch. Find aspects of your job you enjoy and dig in deeper. For example, if you really like giving presentations, perhaps preparing and delivery a formal presentation instead of an informal update may improve your outlook. While some of you may be cringing right now, we each have our favorite parts of our jobs. Maybe it's doing extra research on the company's newest initiative, meeting with co-workers to learn more about their work, or burying yourself in a spreadsheet. Whatever your work vice, spending extra time on it may help you tolerate the less-thrilling parts of your job.
If this doesn't work for you, my second recommendation is talking to your leader about taking on new (or perhaps trading out existing) tasks as part of your role. Before blindly walking into his or her office and groaning "I'm borrrrrrred...", have some ideas in mind. If there's something of interest that the company has not pursued yet, you may be helping both yourself and the company. Or, if you have a co-worker who may excel at something you've focused on - and you can take on something he or she isn't passionate about - perhaps present the idea with your co-worker. The key is presenting it from the perspective of how it will help the company - driving more revenue, saving time, etc. Trying to justify it by saying it will make you happier may work, but your leader will be swayed more by a company-first argument.
Find A New Position
What if you tried improving your current job to no avail - what is the next most practical option? If you like your current company, consider other positions within the company. Personally, I have worked for three companies in my professional career, and at each one I've held two different positions. Each time I moved to a new position, I've enjoyed a renewed sense of purpose. Check your company's job board regularly and see what opportunities are available - and recheck every few days for updates. Make sure to polish off your resume and cover letter and update as applicable. This may be risky: if you're on good terms with your current leader, you could consider asking him or her for help in your search. If you are so bold, I suggest emphasizing your happiness in your current role and explain that you are just looking for new challenges and want to do so within the company. Good leaders recognize that most employees don't stay in their positions for their entire careers, and should help you find a better circumstance. Many may even help by making introductions to leaders of areas you are interested in working in.
Now, if you work in a smaller organization, I would suggest doing more to drive this change. You likely won't have a job board, and you should talk to your leader about your ambitions. Don't assume your leader knows what you're thinking. Walking the line between diplomatic and direct, let your leader know your intentions and see what opportunities may be available. The best jobs are the ones your create for yourself, so if you have ideas for defining a new role, keep those in mind as part of the conversation with your leader.
I'm going to call it a blog. I do have one more idea for you - looking for jobs outside of your company - but that's a big one! I'll save that meaty, delicious topic for next week. Until then, my last piece of advice is taking ownership of your happiness in your career. Don't be a victim of circumstances - be creative, ambitious, and strategic in your approach, and you could find yourself more content with your career.
Comments