|
By
Michelle Bayley - A Certified Professional Life and Career Coach
If you want to enjoy
your job as much as possible in 2007, spending some time doing a stock
take of 2006 will point you in the right direction. Whether you're thinking
about moving job in the same field, or a complete change of career,
the clearer you are about what you got from this past year, the better.
So find some time
over the Christmas break to ponder the following simple questions.
What have I really
enjoyed this year at work?
Think about when you've felt engaged and fulfilled by your job. Even
if you're feeling negative about it at the moment, push yourself to
think about the things that have most held your interest and made you
feel as though you've been making a worthwhile contribution. Be as specific
as possible and home in on what it was about a particular project or
maybe working with a particular team or client that felt good for you.
What skills have
I really enjoyed using?
We often take our skills for granted, assuming that because we have
them everyone else must have them - they don't! We're all stronger in
some areas than others and some jobs are a better match for our skills
than others. Think back to your answer to the first question. The chances
are that when you've been really enjoying yourself you've also been
using your favourite skills.
What have been
my achievements this year at work?
Don't fall into the trap of thinking that an achievement has to be something
like winning "employee of the year" or getting the highest
possible rating in your appraisal. While these obviously are achievements,
you should also think about times when you've had to stretch yourself
to get something done. What have you done this year that you know you
were uncomfortable about or maybe even dreading beforehand but you've
got on with it anyway?
What do I want
more of from my work next year?
This question's deceptively simple! Think about it across all areas
of your job. What are the good things you've had from your work this
year that you want even more of next year? More money, flexibility,
chances to develop new skills, opportunities for team working or more
responsibility are all possibilities. The options are endless, but what's
important to you?
What do I want
less of from my work next year?
This one's important too and when you're fed up with work, it's obviously
often easier to answer! What are the things that you'd rather you didn't
have to deal with or at least deal with a lot less?
What can I do
to make my work as enjoyable as possible next year?
It can sound trite but it really is true that you're responsible for
making sure you enjoy your job. Again, this can be anything from speaking
to your manager about new areas of work, to finding a mentor who can
help you progress, to moving jobs entirely or making a decision about
a whole new career. If you're drifting what can you do to stop it and
make sure that by this time next year you've done all you can to enjoy
your job?
Whatever your answers,
make sure that once the new year starts you use what you've learnt to
help you have your best working year yet.
Michelle Bayley
is a Certified Professional Life and Career Coach. To find out about
coaching with Michelle click
here.
© Michelle
Bayley 2006
|
