Are you still learning something in your current job? If not, it’s time to get out. As part of the Gallup polls indicate, a leading market research firm, people need to continue to grow and learn in order to find happiness. This is true in your life. And this is true in the work place.
Does this feel familiar to you?:
- “I am at a ceiling in my career”
- “It’s been 3 years since I have received a promotion.”
- “I’m no longer learning”
- “I have not had a training in more than 2 years now.”
- “I’m feeling blocked in my work. I have no impact.”
- “I am not appreciated by my boss.”
If you are starting to here that little inner voice inside you peep out these words and you have already addressed these issues with your management, then it’s time for you to be courageous and make the career jump that you have been resisting. If you stay, you will find yourself feeling more and more un useful, disrespected and unchallenged. If you continue to feel this way over time, you are on the path to an eventual burnout.
In order to measure one’s success, we need to feel useful and desired in our job. We want to continue to learn. We want to feel that we help others. We want to feel that people need us. We want to feel recognized for our contribution. This is what motivates us to get out of bed. It’s the same for the millionaire who has everything. Even if that millionaire has everything, yet no longer feels valued or appreciated or challenged, they soon withdraw socially. Humans are like sunflowers. When we grow and have enough sun, we flourish and open up; when we stop growing, we welt and dry up.
Throughout my career coaching career, I’ve noticed that most people don’t leave bad situations because they are allowing their decisions to be driven by their fears:
- “I will never find a job as good as this one.”
- “Will I find a company close to my home with the same salary?”
- “What if I lose my contractual advantages, like my car and phone?”
What if you changed your attitude and turned your fears into courageous acts:
- “I’m a smart person and I know that I will find an employer who recognizes my worth.”
- “I’ve worked really hard and have a lot to offer in my next job.”
- “I’m capable to learn almost anything; I have the commitment and drive to do this now.”
- “I’m an intelligent person worthy of love and self-respect in the work place.”
There are many ways to find your new career. It starts with taking the jump. Then, you need to look at your attitude and adjust it. Once these two steps are taken, it’s time to do an evaluation of your core beliefs and values. What is really important to you in the work place? What are are your natural talents? And do you feel that you use these natural talents in your job today? If the answer is no, it’s time to look at making a change.
It’s critical to keep looking for what you love. The only way you will find that is to keep on experimenting.
It’s critical to be true to yourself and not do what others think will make you happy. Think about what kind of lifestyle you want to have first.. It’s not about, “I want to be richer.” It’s about, “I want to have more free time. I want to see my kids. I want to keep learning. ” So, it’s important not to get stuck on the exact way to get there but first to get some clarity about what kind of life do you want to design. And then, from there, we can make a plan to get there.
Erica Elias is a certified business and career coach (www.interviewnow.be) and has interviewed more than 6,000 people, with www.mindworks.be. She is also an author and her books can be found on these links: https://www.diekeure.be/nl-be/professional/1434/recruitment-a-z and https://www.amazon.com/Interviewing-Global-Economy-Multinational-Corporation/dp/147833536X