You have fallen out of love with your job. There are no date nights, second chances, or counseling services that will make the situation right. You assume that it is time to move on to greener pastures, but is it?
There are ebbs and flows to every relationship and jobs are no exception. Things that attracted you to your current position such as, challenging assignments, a fun work environment, or money may no longer be enough. However, before mentally checking out and looking for a new position, consider the following things.
- All Relationships Need To Be Nurtured. In some cases relationships go flat and you have to remind yourself why you fell in love to begin with. Challenge yourself to think about how you can rekindle the enthusiasm you had for your job when you first started. This exercise may take some effort, but the results could surprise you.
- It Does Not Have To Be All Or Nothing. We can all agree that nothing is ever a 100% perfect all of the time. Consider if your job is 80% perfect most of the time. Do you like the work you do? Do you like the people you work with? Maybe what you are going through is a relationship slump which requires some effort to get out of, but it certainly does not warrant packing up and moving on.
- What Have You Done For Me Lately? If you are bored with aspects of your job, ask for new assignments or the opportunity to lead a project or to shadow another department to refine your skills. Relationships are a two-way street and if your relationship has grown stale with your job, there is nothing wrong with providing some recommendations to spice things up.
- Eliminate The Negative Forces. There is no shortage of people who like to complain about their jobs. These dream squashers are not happy unless everyone else around them is as miserable as they are. Distance yourself from these naysayers as quickly as possible because they will do nothing but make a bump in the road seem like a valley that you cannot climb out of.
- Find An Honest Voice. Find a trusted source that will be honest with you and not just tell you what you want to hear. Everyone has someone in their lives that will provide them with honest and objective suggestions. The key to remember is to keep an open mind regarding the feedback this person provides; do not discount the ideas provided because they do not reconcile with your opinion.
If you decide that it is over after all, do some self-reflection to determine what you loved, liked, and could no longer tolerate with your job. This process may not change your mind to move on, but it will provide some valuable insight on what look for and avoid in the future.
