Navigating the New Year: Finding Motivation and Growth in Your Current Role
Amanda Zonca
Learning & Organisational Development | Experience Design | Strengths Based Leadership
As the New Year unfolds (how are we at the end of January already?), it brings with it a wave of reflection and resolutions. For many professionals, this is a time when the desire for change, growth, and new beginnings takes centre stage. It's not uncommon for individuals to contemplate making a significant career move, fuelled by the aspiration for a fresh start or a reset.
Before leaping into the job market, it's worth taking a moment to explore avenues for growth and fulfilment within your current role and organisation. Is the grass truly greener on the other side, or can you cultivate a thriving professional landscape right where you are?
Reflecting Inwards: A Journey of Self-Discovery
Take inventory of your strengths and skills. Are you leveraging these strengths in your current role? Identifying your core competencies allows you to align your daily tasks with what you excel at, fostering a sense of accomplishment and job satisfaction.
(Tip: I recommend investing in the Gallup Clifton Strength assessment for deep insights into your strengths and natural talents. This is my personal favourite tool for navigating career growth and development #notsponsored).
Consider your past accomplishments. Have you made a significant impact? Reflecting on your achievements can help you recognise your contributions and understand where you bring unique value to your team and organisation.
At the end of 2023, I was feeling a bit flat and as if I hadn't achieved as much as I wanted to, but when I sat down and reflected on the entire year, I realised I had achieved a significant amount. A lot of this was in the first half of the year, so I think the calmer nature of the second half falsely led me to believe I wasn't having enough impact. This helped me to consider how I might be able to better spread the load, and the wins, across 2024.
3. Seek Feedback
Request feedback from colleagues, supervisors, or mentors. Understanding how others perceive your strengths and areas for growth can provide valuable insights. It also opens up opportunities for mentorship and collaborative learning.
Finding Opportunities Within Your Current Role
Explore opportunities for stretch assignments within your current position. Are there projects or initiatives that align with your interests but challenge you to grow? Volunteering for such assignments can broaden your skill set and offer a fresh perspective on your role.
I've been in the learning and development space for over 15 years. I love it, but sometimes I need to add other challenges and opportunities to my plate in order to stay in my sweet spot. I often like to identify projects or opportunities that align to the organisation's growth strategy and will allow me to give other exisiting skills or interests some air time, such as developing communication and marketing strategies or coordinating international assignments.
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Investigate professional development opportunities provided by your organisation. Training programs, workshops, or courses can be instrumental in enhancing your skills and preparing you for future challenges as well as expose you to different areas of the business.
3. Networking:
Connect with colleagues across different departments. Networking within your organisation can uncover hidden opportunities and potential collaborations. Understanding the broader organisational landscape can help you identify areas where your skills can make a difference.
The Grass Is Greener Where You Water It
1. Evaluate Company Culture:
Assess the cultural fit of your current workplace. Does it align with your values? A positive company culture contributes significantly to job satisfaction. Consider whether your current organisation provides an environment conducive to your professional growth.
2. Explore Advancement Paths:
Investigate potential career paths within your current organisation. Many companies offer avenues for advancement and career progression. Understanding the possibilities within your current workplace can be a game-changer.
Embrace a growth mindset. See challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Approach your current role with a curiosity to acquire new skills and knowledge, transforming your job into a platform for continuous development.
The beginning of the year serves as an opportune moment for self-reflection and exploration. While the allure of new beginnings may lead some to consider external job changes, it's helpful to first pause and recognise the potential for growth and fulfilment within your current role and organisation. By assessing your strengths, seeking opportunities for development, and cultivating a growth mindset, you might discover that the grass is indeed greener where you water it.
Here's to a year of professional growth and fulfilment!
#CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment