Have You Mentally Checked Out? Re-Energize Your Career by Changing Your Outlook
If you've turned into a clock-watcher at work, started dreading Monday morning early Saturday afternoon, and feel like you're hitting the mental snooze button the moment you step foot in your cubicle, it might be time for a career makeover.
Does that sound like you? Managers and human resources professionals call it employee disengagement. That is really just a fancy way of saying that you're bored, and most likely, only hanging around for the security, the paycheck, and the benefits.
Disengagement can happen even to the best employees – especially those who have watched friends and colleagues leave and workloads increase. Disengagement can be a common feature of work life during layoffs and reorganizations. Employers, HR pros and managers spend a lot of time trying to keep employees engaged and productive in the workplace. But achieving employee engagement – just like happiness – is largely an inside job.
“I think that employees have a responsibility to the organization to focus on their own engagement,” said Wendy Fencl, engagement practice leader forBlessingWhite, a New Jersey-based consulting firm.
Here are some questions and tips to consider for re-energizing your career and your attitude toward work:
Find out what motivates you: This may seem obvious, but in reality, many people don't know, said Greg Karrip, Grand Rapids-based regional director for BlessingWhite. Ask yourself some key questions: What's really important to me? What brings me the most satisfaction? What do I enjoy doing at work and outside of work? Asking these kinds of questions also can help steer you down the right career path when you're faced with a tough decision.
Do a self-assessment: Once you have figured out what motivates and engages you the most, drill down a little deeper, Fencl said. What is the state of your job and your career right now? Are you truly contributing at work? If there are 10 primary responsibilities associated with your position, are you doing all 10 of those things? In your job, are you able to utilize some of your greatest strengths or is there a big disconnect between your work life, your home life, and what you enjoy?
Consider your working style: Does your position allow you to work in a way that is most productive for you? For example, if you work best at night, will your manager allow you to create a more flexible schedule? Do you work best alone or with a team? Thinking back over your career, when have you been the most productive? Fencl says answering these questions will provide you with valuable clues about what might get you excited about your work and career again.
Seek feedback from others: Comb through your performance evaluations for information and reminders about your strengths, and don't be afraid to ask your manager and colleagues for input, Fencl said. Knowing this information is key because employees tend to be happier at work when they are able to utilize and build on their strengths.
Develop a career plan: Once you've gathered feedback and have completed your self-assessment, sit down with your manager and map out a career plan, said Rose Stanley, practice leader of professional development at WorldatWork. Are there ways that you can utilize more of your strengths in your current position? Do you need more flexibility built into your schedule? Develop a business plan for your career based on your goals, needs, and strengths.
Seek more training, find a mentor: More training can help boost your engagement, Fencl said. The training can be skill-based, or it can focus on increasing awareness about a variety of topics, such as employee engagement. It also helps to have a mentor – something with more seniority at your company, who can help you navigate your career, said Judy McLeish, president of Toronto-based McDaniel Partners, a firm that helps companies increase employee engagement in the workplace.
Increase communication: When people begin to feel disengaged at work, they often stop communicating with their supervisors, Fencl said. But employees have a responsibility to help keep those lines of communication open. So if you think certain changes would increase your enthusiasm about work, communicate those things to your manager so that they can help make some of those changes happen.
Focus on balance: Sometimes lack of enthusiasm for work can be remedied by taking some time for yourself. Working all the time can create burnout and feelings of disengagement. And even if a vacation or sabbatical are out of the question, taking an afternoon or day off can make a big difference and help rejuvenate you.
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If you've turned into a clock-watcher at work, started dreading Monday morning early Saturday afternoon, and feel like you're hitting the mental snooze button the moment you step foot in your cubicle, it might be time for a career makeover.
