Learning to Love Your Work
When was the last time you thought, “I love my job”? For too many of us, it’s been a while.
Between conflicts with leadership or colleagues, unclear expectations, or heavy workloads, too many of us are just trying to get through the day. We leave work feeling frustrated, drained, overwhelmed. Yet, according to a recent study from Gallup and Wellbeing for Planet Earth Foundation, 80% of the people around the world say they like the work itself.
Take a second and think. Is it the projects you are assigned or the goals you are working towards that are the problem? Or are you frustrated by how you are working and/or who you are working with?
What if you could change or account for the things that drag you down? There’s a good chance that you would have more days where you enjoy logging in or arriving at the office and feel invigorated as you end work for the day.
So, let’s get started. Here are some questions to ask yourself so that you can get back to loving your work. Jot down your first reactions as you read them.
The What
Clear expectations are key. What are your goals? What does success look like? How will you know when you are finished?
The Who
Start with YOU. What parts of your work are most exciting to you? How can you set up your schedule so that you have time to find your flow?
Then consider your team. What talents and skills do the people around you have that could be helpful in pushing a project across the finish line? Which of their natural tendencies do you need to better understand so that you can collaborate more efficiently?
The How
Systems and processes should serve the people that use them. Are there points in a process where things consistently break down? What systems could be put in place to avoid these issues? What parts of the process need to be completed in a standard fashion? Where do you have freedom to work in whatever way comes most naturally?
Look through your notes and highlight something you need to clarify, understand, or change. It’s okay to start small. Then create a plan and acknowledge your successes. By taking more ownership of the little things at work, you will have more things to celebrate at the end of each day.