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Career Path Strategies Is this the secret to being happy at what you do?
Career Path Strategies Is this the secret to being happy at what you do?
Career Path Strategies Is this the secret to being happy at what you do?
From guest contributor, Wanda Hayes, www.careerspa.com.au
Work out exactly which types of problems really hook you in, grab your interest, set your heart racing, and make you feel like you are ‘in your element’ … and you’re very close to discovering your passion.
It’s worth thinking about. Because knowing with clarity which kinds of problems you actually ENJOY working with, helps you to tap into that passion, and to know in what direction to develop your skills.
It won’t come as a surprise to you to learn that when you are in a work environment that provides you with opportunities to grapple with those kinds of problems, you’re more likely to be both satisfied AND SUCCESSFUL in your work. Whether that’s in an employment situation, or as a consultant or doing contract work.
Remember, it’s not so much the work you do, but how you do it that matters.
Of course, what makes your work meaningful is a very individual thing. For some people, it’s about the work they do – the things they build, fix, or create. For others, it’s the employer they work with – and what that organisation represents. For others, it’s the relationships they build, the people they influence, or the ideas they work with that make their work special.
But here’s the bit that really needs thinking about. When I asked the attendees in a workshop on finding passion to stand up and talk about what they did, it was clear by those who chose not to stand, that not everyone has found a way to work, or found a place to work, or a job to do that has meaning for them. And they might have been thinking, like I confess I did once: “Work is work. I don’t get passionate about work.”
So, step one is to re-define passion (in the work context!). And then to go find it.
Work? What’s it all for anyway?
When you find yourself needing to sort out your career options after years of being in the workforce, it’s tempting to wonder what it’s all for…
You’ve done the time in building your career. It might be even a little depressing that after all your years and effort, you are now at a crossroads, with some difficult decisions to make about your working future.
If that’s you, there are some simple things you can think about that will help you ensure your next move … is the right one.
A really important first step …
Think seriously about what role you want your work to play in your life. Re-orienting your working life is much easier when you first take the time to get back in touch with what you actually work for.
Our work often defines us.
What do we do when we first meet new people. Chances are, we ask: “And what do you do…?” Our work does indeed define us. Yet when asked WHY they work, all too many people say they just work for the money.
Of course, that’s rarely the whole story. People DON’T suddenly become happier if they are in a crummy job and get a pay rise. It’s not the money. And anyway, for most people, there are some things they wouldn’t do, no matter how much they were paid.
So why do you work – really? What does work mean to you and how do you want it to contribute to your life?
Thinking deeply about this helps you to reflect on your identity in the workplace, and how the work you do relates to the person you are. We create our own identity, and the way we see ourselves influences what skills, abilities and experiences we value. And that in turn influences how we make career decisions for the future. And you’d have to add, what ‘learning curves’ we’re prepared to start up afresh to realise our new career path.
It’s interesting that our perceptions of ourselves actually ‘filter’ our experiences. It means we see some opportunities and yet totally miss others. Because of our ‘filter’, they don’t fit with our view of ourselves and our work.
Let your filter be set according to the way you want work to add to and enhance your life. Think about the experiences, acquaintances, achievements and satisfaction you want work to give you – as well as the financial reward. When you know exactly what you are looking for, you are far more likely to find it!
And just a final word on the money thing... it’s a simple fact that you are far more likely to be successful in a financial sense if the work you do is well-aligned with the rest of your life. Get yourself and your priorities sorted. The rest will flow from there.
(Wanda Hayes specialises in career path counselling and helping people find a sense of direction and purpose in their working life. She can be contacted via info@careerspa.com.au.)
