From time to time you’ll doubt whether you’ve made the right choice. Is this the right job? Are these tasks the best use of your time and talent? Should you have taken a different path altogether?
Feeling like this is normal and with so much going on in life – family, work, hobbies, professional development, politics, environmental disasters, wars, and more – it’s not unusual that you question things.
If you feel stuck and unsure which direction to go, read on for five tips that help you gain clarity again. (plus: important announcement at the end of this newsletter!)
1) Brainstorm your skills
Have a brainstorming session by yourself to identify your best skills and the unique abilities you bring to your work and professional life.
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What are you particularly good at?
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What makes you unique?
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How are you currently using these skills?
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How could you utilise them even more, e.g. in new and different tasks or with more responsibilities in your role?
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When and how do you get your best work done? What does your working environment look like when you’re ‘in the flow’?
Answering these questions helps you see more clearly whether your current situation allows you to use your talents in your job and whether you have set yourself up for success.
Sometimes it’s simple changes that make all the difference! For me, for example, it helps to go to a busy, friendly cafe where I can get some writing done. Another thing that has recently really energised me is getting to help others build their public speaking skills.
2) Ask people what difference you’ve made to their lives
Speak to five people in your network and ask them how you’ve impacted their work, their job and career, maybe even their life. Sounds too scary?
Think of a colleague or friend who came to you asking for advice recently. How did that conversation go? What was the outcome? Now approach them with something like “Hey, remember our conversation recently where I helped you prep for the difficult conversation you had with your boss? I was wondering what happened next? How did the conversation go? Was my input useful?”
That’s a pretty straightforward conversation to have, right? Now think of a few more people who you can approach in a similar way.
Then capture their feedback and see what you can learn from it. You may be surprised at how people benefit from their relationship with you in ways you didn’t expect.
3) Identify what brings you energy
What are three things that give you energy and bring joy into your life? How can you create more of those situations?
Whether it’s dancing around the living room with your kids, going for a solo bike ride, or listening to your favourite music – what lights you up? Can you schedule or create more of those moments?
Being out in nature with Andy and our dog, Maggie, is a great way to recharge my batteries. While it’s not always the three of us, I try to get two daily dog walks in and it definitely keeps me sane. I return to my desk with a fresher mind and even a bunch of new ideas.
Finding things that bring you joy, no matter how small, is important. Adding these little highlights throughout the day will have a positive knock-on effect on everything else and can be just what you need to get a boost for your work.
4) Build expertise in an area that fascinates you
Sometimes you need to find a new topic to focus your energy on to gain fresh enthusiasm for your work and your career.
If there is an area you’ve always been curious about but never pursued, now might be the perfect time to do so. That could be going back to school part-time to study for a degree and learn about something you’ve always found fascinating. Some people challenge themselves to complete a marathon or a triathlon – both fun and hard to do and a good opportunity to balance out your desk job.
Maybe you’re really into history and ancient Greece and simply want to spend hours each week reading about those times. Good for you!
I have come to realise over the course of my career, that none of these pursuits are ever a waste of time. For one, it’s your life and it’s not just about work. Scratch that itch you have and find hobbies that make your heart sing! These topics tend to always give you something that you can apply in your professional life as well.
Taking cooking classes will teach you a great deal about preparation, timing and attention to detail. Learning to knit helps you focus and be present. Training for a marathon will test your time management skills and will boost your endorphins each morning.
You get the idea…
5) Create a ‘habit plan’
Finally, you can establish new habits. Make a habit plan and include things that bring you closer to your professional goals, even if your current job has limited opportunities for that.
If you want to establish yourself as a technical expert in your field, figure out what skills you need to build and create a plan to work on these skills regularly. What are daily, weekly, and monthly practices you need to establish for this?
Creating a system where you can track your progress and specify your goals will help you stay on track. You’ll more easily find ways to have these new habits and skills influence your work and you’ll build capabilities that pay off in your career for the long-term.
Personal news
Now for some personal news: I am excited to share that I am expecting a baby in June. Given my upcoming maternity leave I have the following coaching opportunities available:
I can take on 2 new clients for the duration of March, April and May (e.g. a 3 month package or individual sessions).
I have availability for 2-3 new clients starting in September.
If you want to secure a spot before summer or indicate your interest for the autumn intake, please fill in this form.
Have a great week!
Eva