Are You In The Wrong Job? Ask Yourself These 7 Key Questions
7 questions to the job you desire
Title: Are You In The Wrong Job? Ask Yourself These 7 Key Questions:
Author: Michael Spremulli
Article:
Have you ever stopped to ask yourself if you are in the wrong
job? Too many times people go to school, get a job in their
chosen field and end up spending the bulk of their adult working
life feeling miserable. Here are seven questions to get you
thinking about how well-matched you are to your current job.
Do you look forward to Monday morning? I know that this may
sound crazy, but hear me out. Of course every job has times when
you wish you could be somewhere else. There is no such thing as
the perfect job. Realize, however, that people who find their
job fulfilling and rewarding look forward to beginning their
workweek. This is not because they are crazy, it’s because they
become energized when working in an environment that is a good
match for them. Do you find it easy to get along with coworkers?
Whenever you get a team of people working together there is
bound to be some type of conflict from time to time. The
question then becomes, how often do you find yourself "locking
horns" with your co-workers? If you find yourself fighting with
team members on a regular basis, it may mean that you are
working in an emotionally toxic environment, or your coworkers
are not communicating effectively with you, or you are not
effectively communicating with your coworkers, or a combination
of all of these. Have you noticed that you are taking more
personal and sick days than when you first started work? Are you
burning up your sick and annual leave faster than you can accrue
it? Think back to when you first started at your current job.
How often did you take sick and annual leave compared to now? If
you have noticed an increase, ask yourself why. You might be
tempted to say that you are taking more time off now because you
earn more or because of your seniority -- these are not valid
reasons. I’m sure you know someone at your company who has been
there for less time than you and has built up hundreds of hours
of leave time. A potential “red flag” is when you have an
extremely limited amount of release time on the books. Are you
performing tasks that you enjoy and come naturally to you? Are
you a "people person" but your job has you locked in a cubicle
analyzing stacks of data? Do you like to meticulously plan your
work day, but find that you are constantly having to cast your
plans into the wind and manage continual crises? These are just
two examples of many potential situations where you might be in
an environment that is a poor match for the way that you prefer
to behave.
Do you hate your boss with a burning passion? Sure, everyone
reading this will occasionally have disagreements with their
bosses. This is different than actively hating your boss. If you
constantly have mean and vicious thoughts about your boss, you
will have a tremendous challenge being productive and feeling
satisfied in your job.
Does the mission of the company fit your personal values? It is
awfully difficult for you to be committed to your work when it
conflicts with your personal values. For example: do you support
protecting the environment, but the company you work for is a
major polluter? You may despise firearms, but your company makes
parts that are used in the manufacturing of handguns. A constant
conflict of values can be difficult, if not impossible, to
tolerate for long periods of time.
Do you feel valued as an employee? EVERYONE needs to feel valued
as an employee. Unfortunately, companies and managers often lose
sight of this. Ask yourself when the last time was that you were
complimented for a job well done. Does your boss or management
appreciate your loyalty and dedication? If you do not feel
valued, chances are that you will become de-motivated and adopt
a “do the minimum to get by” attitude.
These questions are intended to be a catalyst for you. If you do
not like your answers to these questions, ask yourself one more
-- what can YOU to do improve your situation at work? Remember,
if your work life is not what you want it to be, you are the
only one who can take the action necessary to make it better.
================================== About the author: Michael
Spremulli holds a Master’s degree in psychology and is a
Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst. He is the host of
HowHappyAreYouAtWork.com For more information contact:
Michael Spremulli HowHappyAreYouAtWork.com 2001 Hammock Drive
Valdosta, GA 31602 229) 257-0665
http://www.HowHappyAreYouAtWork.com
Mike@HowHappyAreYouAtWork.com
About the author:
Michael Spremulli (a.k.a. the Chief Happiness Officer) is
president of The Chrysalis Corporation and host of the
HowHappyAreYouAtWork.com website. His extensive background in
psychology and human behavior has positioned him as a sought
after speaker and corporate consultant. Michael and his firm
specialize in helping companies hire, manage, and motivating
employees and creating a happy and productive workplace.
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