Can you find career happiness during a bad economy?
Thursday, October 30th, 2008
I’ve known Chris Neck, Ph.D., Professor of Management at Virginia Tech, for years. I interviewed him a few times when I worked as an editor at Runner’s World magazine. Later, as a freelancer, I worked with Chris and a few other authors on Fit to Lead.
It was Chris’s advice in his books Mastering Self-Leadership and Medicine for the Mind that gave me the courage to leave my stable job as a magazine editor so I could try freelancing. I used the advice again more recently as I attempted yet another career shift. Here, he talks about finding career happiness in a bad economy.
Q: In this economy, it’s not as easy for someone to change jobs. What are some ways employees can improve their current situation?
A: First, do a “mental adjustment” on your current job. Perhaps there is a way to make it more fun. For example, is it possible to listen to your iPod while doing the job? Or is there a way to make a “game” out of your job? For example, if your job is making sales call on the phone, you might challenge yourself to make a certain number of calls within an hour and see if you can break your record each day.
Or you could talk to your boss about changing jobs within your company. This way you don’t leave the company that employs you. Document your strengths and skills. Tell your boss what you think you are good at. Suggest another job in the company that is a better fit for your skill set.
Q: Change takes courage. Let’s say someone is really stuck in a dead end, unfulfilling career with a boss who is not receptive to input. How can an employee find the courage to leave a bad job, especially during a bad economy?
A: Someone will only “change” when the benefits of “change” exceed the costs of “not changing.” In other words, to encourage yourself to get past the fear, you need to be around someone who really LOVES her job. Such a person will probably be energetic, happy, and content. She can’t wait to go to work each day. This will allow you to see what it is like “on the other side.” Don’t let the economy be an excuse. There are 100s of excuses to not switch jobs. You have to have the courage to “jump off that cliff, and to build your wings on the way down.”
Q: How can someone figure out whether he or she is in the wrong career?
A: Think about the things you enjoy and the things you are good at doing. Are what you enjoy and what you are good at part of your job? If not, you are in the wrong job. When your strengths, passions and skills match up with the tasks in your job, then the chances are very good you will enjoy your job.
Also, you should leave a job that’s toxic. What do I mean by toxic? This means the job saps your energy and your love for your work. If you work for a boss who drains you or you don’t enjoy your job (and you can’t switch bosses or jobs in the organization), then it’s time to move on and search for a better opportunity.
Q: What do you do personally to ensure you remain happy in your current position?
A: I try to focus on the parts of the job that I enjoy and to not focus on tasks I don’t enjoy. For example as a professor, I really enjoy having the opportunity to teach 1000’s of students each year, but I don’t enjoy administrative tasks or attending meetings. The meetings are part of the job, so I try to delegate the administrative tasks if possible and only attend those meetings that are critical. Some meetings I must attend and some administrative tasks I must do, but I don’t dwell on these things I don’t enjoy. I just do them.
