Building joy into your work
I love my job. I can't wait to get up in the morning, get on the train and sit at my desk all day adding value and consciously acknowledging (and being acknowledged for) the terrific contribution I make to the business. My job is really my hobby which I love with a passion and I'm so fortunate to be paid for what I enjoy doing.
Does this sound like your job? No? Well it doesn't sound like mine either. It's not that I don't enjoy my role. I do, very much. It's just that 99% of us are not in jobs that are all about fun, adventure or about using some amazing inherent talent that we possess and get to exercise every day.
This is why I am a great believer in thinking through the aspects of my role that I really enjoy and focus at least some attention on how I can introduce things I like doing.
Examples of what you may (or may not) enjoy are as follows:
• Developing your team and seeing them prosper and progress through the organization (with all the acknowledgments that come your way)
• Specifically, running your own bespoke short training sessions and encouraging your team members to get actively involved, enjoying the thankful and supportive feedback they provided
• Building great relationships both within and outside your organization (see 'Networking').
• Applying the skills you learn to support voluntary work you perform outside business hours. Perhaps you provide management support, finance training or support, mentoring or something else from your talent base.
• Improving productivity within your team and also assisting other teams with your process re-engineering experience
• Managing large scale assignments making use of your project management and diplomatic skills.
• Learning more about the marketplace. Perhaps understanding more about the cultures across different geographical regions.
• Traveling and seeing the sites, beyond airport lounges and hotel lobbies. If you organize things correctly can you perhaps see more of the world at no cost to the company?
• Would you enjoy playing with the 5-a-side team at lunchtimes or perhaps taking your team for a coffee more often?
• Would you enjoy introducing more out of work activities for the team?
My advice to you, particularly if you are not happy in your current role but have no intention of moving on to another role or career, is to build as many of these (the ones that you like) into your role. Some will lend themselves much more easily than others but I challenge you not to find at least 2 to 3 things that can help lighten up your day