Do You Love What You Do?

Earlier in the week I shared research from Marcus Buckingham who is a New York Times Best Selling Author that states only 20% of people truly love the job they are in. The pleasing news was to hear many people I know, felt like they did fall into this 20% category and the jobs were all different that they held.

It did make me think about my past roles and what did I like about them. I am one of those people who would pride them self on staying in a role when it serves me and that it does genuinely get me excited to get out of bed. A role I know I can make a difference and create impact.

I am also conscious love versus like is a strong word and perhaps many really like what they do although may not love it. For some their worth is not tied up in what they do.

If you can sit back now and ask yourself a few questions, it might help guide you to the answer.

1. What did you love about work this week? Let’s be specific here and it makes it timely as it is living in the now. You should be able to quickly highlight what tasks or actions this includes. If you need to think for a long time what you enjoyed, it might be time to consider are you happy in this role.

2. When do you feel at your best? This question is quite powerful. Think about the work you do and the tasks you complete. When you tap into your emotions - what brings colour and light and empowerment and joy? What gives you a true sense of achievement and pleasure? You want those emotions to bubble up.

3. What tasks make you lose track of time? What do you get lost in? That is often a job that is providing interest and challenge and opportunity. It will bring you joy because you are fully engrossed in that activity at that time. We are obsessed by time now, so it is refreshing to sometimes completely forget about the clock.

This all flows back into the concept of control - what you control in your world and does this light the path for you to feel fulfilled and valued.

Yes, at times we have to take on a job because of circumstances although I would say the market continues to be strong so at least look for the right company or the right industry that will give you some balance if the job is not the perfect fit for right now and it is necessary for you to survive perhaps instead of thrive.

Do you love what you do?

Practice Deliberate Calm

Reading a recent article by McKinsey & Company they discuss the topic of leaders practicing deliberate calm. The four step process they recommend I believe can be practical for everyone when dealing with a situation.

Step 1 - Pause

• Not all situations require immediate action. Stop and ask yourself if it’s you that needs to respond and, if so, how and when should you act.

Step 2 - Exhale

• When pressure hits, take two quick inhales through the nose (inhale, pause, inhale again), and then a long exhale through the mouth to calm the body.

Step 3 - Move

• In a state of stress, the body is primed to fight or flight. Instead of resting and sitting still, try movement like a brisk walk.

Step 4 - Learn

• Asking questions to ourselves or others causes us to slow down, reflect, and engage the executive functioning parts of our brain.

When you read through each step it seems logical and nearly bordering on common sense.

One of the greatest mistakes we can make is to jump right in without stopping to think about what you are about to say or do. Take that moment.

Breathing is something we do unconsciously although when done consciously it can change your perspective. Providing that mediative state to reset.

To move is a highly recommended way to to prepare the body and your mind to handle stress.

They say you need to be green and growing - always learning. Asking questions allows you to be curious and dig deeper, it provides perspective and could allow you to open your mind.

The concept of deliberate clam sets the tone to take your time, practice in a way that is thoughtful and considered.

Will you practice deliberate calm?

Image: Indie Lane Photography

Where To Next?

More and more I find friends, family and colleagues come to me for employee relations advice. They need to talk to someone who is educated in this field and willing to offer guidance when requested.

An area I have been developing is career coaching and thinking about the benefits each person can receive by working with an expert coach in this field.

A career coach should be able to:

• Help you recognise your own value

• Help you plan your career

• Help keep you accountable

• Help you prepare for interviews

• Overall boost your success

If we break down these areas - helping someone be clear on the value they can contribute in a role is critical - each person needs to build their confidence in their strengths and then be able to sell themselves. I can appreciate that makes some people feel uncomfortable although the honest truth - this is the one time you need to make it all about you.

Planning your career is a seperate step. Providing direction to work out what you do or don’t want to do is a starting point. Today there are so many different career paths you can take and you need to truly understand where your desire sits and if you want to fuel that.

Accountability does not just sit with me - it will sit with you. Nobody else can make this happen. That old saying you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink. When you are ready to embrace this step you are ready to own your career direction.

Interview preparation is a special skill. There are so many tips and tricks I can present to you having interviewed thousands of people during my working life. It can be as simple as what to wear, to what to say, to how to research a company.

My ultimate goal is for you to find success and you can be surprised how quickly that can happen once you invest the time to take charge.

Where to next?

Believe

If you are considering making a career move and are worried about making the leap - ask yourself what is holding you back?

Sometimes it is the fear of the unknown - new role, new company, new manager. Sometimes it is the fear of failure - what if I am not succesful in this new role. Sometimes it can be a concern around benefits they will offer. You have been working at one company who allows you freedom and flexibility. Sometimes it can be you questioning if you have the right level of experience and skills you need for this role.

Believe in yourself. Back yourself.

It is an employee market right now, so you are in the driver seat. Do your research so when you apply for a role you know about the company and if they culturally align to your values. You will be surprised how transferable your skills are, perhaps you have not worked in a particular industry although the role is the same as you have today, put your best foot forward and explain why you are the best candidate. You can always learn about that company and the industry over time.

If you want flexibility be up front in the interview process and explain what you are looking for, be prepared to compromise although once you set your boundaries they are much easier to mantain.

If you are a parent returning to the workplace after taking time off do not underestimate your life skills you can include in your resume. Think about what you have been spending your time doing and highlight the skills that could be linked to this new role.

A reminder to believe in yourself. Be clear on what you can do and if you only have 70% of the experience and skills outlined in the job advert, do not let that hold you back from applying. Although do not be dishonest in the interview process, if you cannot do something make that clear and indicate your willingness to learn.

This is an ideal time to be reviewing the job market right now. If you are considering a change and want to know what is out there jump on to the latest recruitment sites to get a sense of what roles might appeal to you. Have the courage to apply - what is the worst thing that can happen?

Believe - that is my magical word for you today and everyday. You need to back yourself every time.

When I Grow Up

Do you remember at school you were asked over and over again - What do you want to do when you grow up?

Which really on reflection makes me think what you do as job is what defines you, which we know is not true.

Today when you ask the younger generation what they want to be? The most common answer is FAMOUS. No more career goals of being a doctor, lawyer or a teacher.

What I love about the world now is the opportunity that exists. When I went to University there were different options for study although the courses were similar with the same run of the mill subjects. Now we have options like Digital Entrepreneurship, Personal Branding, Authentic Leadership or Corporate Sustainability.

At any age you can go back to study and take a new career path if you are ready for a change. Many courses also offer full time and part time study with some offering complete online learning so you never need to be in a classroom.

If you feel a little lost about your career direction, one book I read and it continues to be republished is “What colour is my parachute” by Richard Bolles. The book gives you the tools to discover and land your dream job. They have already released the 2022 edition. You do need to “do” the book, as there are activities to complete so you can define your purpose and way forward.

The message is - it’s never too late to change career direction. Network and talk to others in the field you are interested in to see what doors can be opened for you. You are never stuck where you are, especially if you are not feeling fulfilled.

Perhaps in the future we will start to hear about happiness instead of fame, helping others instead of what’s in it for me and maybe my dream of being a back up dancer is a reality.

When I grow up I want to be?

Do You Suffer From Imposter Syndrome?

You hear the term thrown around often (mainly towards women) Imposter Syndrome. What is it exactly?

Imposter syndrome, can also be called perceived fraudulence, involves feelings of self-doubt and personal incompetence that persist despite your education, experience, and accomplishments.

It can be a voice inside of us saying -

• Why am I here? I don’t belong.

• I am a fraud, everyone will work that out soon.

• I do not deserve this (promotion, praise, reward).

It can feel like a wave of emotion that is about insecurity, anxiety, not feeling good enough, fear of judgement, lack of confidence and doubting yourself. All feelings that can derail your ability to believe you can achieve.

You can worry about people around you recognising your shortcomings or failures - even though no one should expect perfectionism - we are always learning and growing and no one knows all of the answers, even if you might be credited as an expert in your field.

Related studies talk about the feelings of guilt we can experience that we are tricking people, that we do not have the “smarts” to deliver what they might be expecting.

You are worthy and you need to stop listening to that voice. I know easier said than done.

A great place to start is write a list of your achievements, qualifications and skills and remind yourself why you are being recognised for the right reasons in your industry/field/role.

Remember that your feelings are not facts, do not believe them.

This is an important topic to discuss because a huge percentage of the population suffer from imposter syndrome and we need you to believe you can do this.

Celebrate The Wins

What many of us are not good at; is celebrating the wins no matter how big or small they are.

If you do not take a moment to recognise and reward yourself for those achievements you may feel like you are not moving forward - even though you are. 

Through numerous studies it was found that nothing contributed more to a positive inner work life (the mix of emotions, motivations, and perceptions that is critical to performance) than making progress in meaningful work. 

If a person is motivated and happy at the end of the workday, it’s a good bet that they achieved something, however small. If the person drags out of the office disengaged and joyless, a setback is likely to blame.

It has been called the progress principle - interesting to note that managers play a key part in influencing an employee and their level of motivation. 

It might seem simple - setting goals, having the time needed to complete a task, along with the required resources and most importantly offering the deserved recognition are critical to success of the progress principle. 

Tell me what do you want to celebrate in 2021?

Source: Harvard Business Review The Power of Small Wins