photo credit: sergis blog
So, you know what you love to do, and how much time you get to spend doing it. You’ve managed your schedule and attention in a way that allows you to do more of the things that you love, and be more effective at them.
What if it’s not enough?
Maybe you’re in the wrong job.
I’m all for personal accountability in your career. You make your own opportunities. You choose where you spend your efforts. But anyone who has a boss works within someone else’s framework, and sometimes that framework just does not allow for you to be your very best self.
Some hints that your current work situation may not be the best for your personal growth:
- Lack of new projects. Maybe new projects just never come to your department. Maybe your manager likes to keep them all for himself. Maybe they just get assigned to everyone except you. Whatever the situation, if you’re always doing the same old stuff, it’s a challenge to stay engaged even in things that you’re passionate about.
- Lack of autonomy. Maybe you’re not quite ready to run a multi-million dollar project, but I bet you’re perfectly capable of running a staff meeting. Occasional visible trust in your competency not only signals you’re a valuable part of your organization, it also allows you to stretch your skillsets and feel the emotional payoff that comes with success. Both are powerful motivators.
- Lack of two-way communication. In order for your organization to help you grow, they need to know in what areas your growth would be most meaningful. Which means they have to get to know you. This typically occasionally requires them to listen to you. If you feel that your thoughts, ideas and feedback routinely fall on deaf ears, especially if you’ve stopped sharing them because of it, I would question how much they know about your strengths and interests.
So what do you do?
The absolute first step is to ask yourself one question:
Is my lack of growth because I’m in the wrong job, or because I’ve had the wrong attitude?
Have things always been this way, or is it recent? Does everyone have the same roadblocks, or is it just me?
In an upcoming series, we’ll talk about personal power, and how you can create your own opportunities by leveraging your skills and relationships.
Related posts:
- Achieving Balance: Do more of what you love
- Job search over 50: Unique challenges, unique opportunities
- Set your career compass – Step 1: Navel-gazing
- The “What if?” factor
- Getting into alignment: Putting passion into your everyday
