Think you hate your job? People tend to believe the grass is always greener on the other side. Sometimes it is. If you are being discriminated against, working in unsafe conditions, not paid as promised, or otherwise treated poorly, then you should look for a new job. Really, stop reading this article right now and start looking!
However, if you are like the vast majority of American workers, you're just checked out. Recent Gallup research shows that 70% of U.S. workers are actively disengaged from their jobs. They're not inspired, not proactive and they don't feel like their opinions matter.
This is a serious issue from the perspective of businesses who are not getting maximum performance from their employees, as well as the U.S. economy that is not benefitting from that productivity. But it is also a serious issue for the employees themselves.
When someone is disengaged at work, they are actually hurting themselves as much as the company, if not more. They can miss out on formal and informal education opportunities, be passed over for new projects and assignments, and get stuck in a skills and experience rut. People who are disengaged don't do their best work or provide the best possible service, which is often reflected in fewer raises or promotions. And they often don't participate in events, meetings or social situations that would help build strong connections within their company and industry.
One of the ironies here is that over time disengaged employees actually continue to get further and further behind their more engaged peers, which makes it even harder for them to move on to a new position. It's a vicious cycle. They're trapped in a role that they're not happy with, aren't building the skills and connections that would help them move on, and just become more and more sidelined as time goes on.
If you, your friend, or your coworker is one of these 70% actively disengaged workers, then there really are two choices. You can find another job that you love, or you can find ways to love the job you have. While there are likely to be aspects of your job that you have no power to change, you do have the power to change your perspective. Whether you decide to stay in your current job or seek a new one, there are steps you can take to get the most out of where you are right now.
Here are a few tips on how to get more out of your current role:
- Act happier and you will be. Smile at someone or say hi to a coworker, even if you have to force it the first few times. Pretend it's your uniform or you're playing a character if you have to, just put on a positive attitude when you go to work. Positive attracts positive. It sounds a little New Age, but people do generally reflect back what they see. If you act happier and more engaged, you're more likely to be offered the opportunities that you are seeking.
- Set goals and identify gaps. If you don't know where you want to be, it's impossible to get there. Take some time to identify where you want to go next, or in the next few years. Talk to peers, mentors, coaches, anyone who can help give you this kind of perspective. Once you know where you want to go, you can see what gaps you need to fill to get there. Next, identify ways to fill some of those gaps in your current job, or on your own outside of your job. For example, if your next ideal role requires additional education, investigate whether your current employer has a tuition reimbursement policy. Or, if the skills you need to gain can only be learned on the job, be the first to volunteer for the next relevant project.
- Decide what you want to get out of it. Every job has opportunities. The role you're in right now will be a stepping-stone to whatever you do next, that's how careers are built. While you may not be in your dream job right now, you'll have opportunities to learn new things, gain more experience, or meet influential people. Identify and take advantage of those opportunities whenever you can. Decide what you can and want to get out of the role you're in right now, and then purposefully focus on those areas.
The interesting thing about all of these actions is that, while they'll help you put things in place to move on to a new job, they'll also help you be more engaged right now. That's crucial because it's hard to gain what you need to move on to a new role without being engaged in your current one.
Most people spend the majority of their waking hours working. You might as well find ways to love the job you have, even if you're looking for one you'll love more.