Running on Auto-Pilot

Something interesting happened to me last week,?

I had my son for the day, and we had breakfast and lunch at two different cafes. In both instances, during breakfast and lunch, the waiter placed a large glass, plate, knife, and fork in front of my two-year-old son. As any parent knows, mishaps and accidents are part of life, but you do everything in your power to avoid them. I usually don’t fuss about it and quickly remove the items from his sight and promptly ask for a plastic cup or a small plate; the waiters were friendly but seemed to be going through the motions. Still, since this happened at two different venues on the same day, it got me thinking about why at times, we tend to work on “Auto-Pilot.”

Routine work can be good or bad, depending on how you approach it. It can provide a framework for productivity and accuracy, yet routine work can run on “Auto-Pilot,” leading to mishaps and job dissatisfaction.

So why do we work on “Auto-Pilot”?

Your job description is still the same; it has not changed.

You have become stagnant in your role, you are not learning anything new, and there is little development. To stay engaged and happy in a role, constant learning and development are required; if your position hasn’t evolved much, there’s a chance that you’re not learning anymore.

Don’t wait for your team lead or manager to approach you, put up your hand, ask for more responsibility or training. Challenge yourself to have more intention and accountability each day by speaking up and taking responsibility.

This leads me to my next point,

You’re Avoiding Opportunities for Leadership

You are no longer the new person in the office, and even though you are fully trained and capable of doing your role, you stay safe in the background and clocking your work; yes, you are doing what you need to do but not much more. As a result, you will miss the opportunity for promotion and the opportunity to improve your skills.

Change your routine and Snap out of it.

Same place, same routine; there are many things you can do to break and snap out of the repetitive routine.

Start a conversation with a colleague and learn about their role; learning about what other people do in your office is a great way to stay engaged and contribute; you get the opportunity to understand how your role impacts others and how you can collaborate.

Pick a different place to have lunch, explore your surroundings, and if you can enjoy the outdoors.

Move around the office or at home if you have the opportunity to be mobile and pick different locations and environments to do your work.

Be present during your weekly team catch-ups and meetings with your boss; this is a perfect opportunity to share ideas, contribute and collaborate. This will encourage you to bring ideas each week and think at a higher level, don’t stare at your laptop, and do your “job” in other’s people’s time.

Taking the time to check back into your work can help you refocus and identify any potential areas of growth or change you may have been avoiding.?

Turn the AutoPilot off and be present, your career will thank you!