Three Ways to Love What You Do
Published on 24 Sep 2007 at 6:43 am.
2 Comments.
Filed under Business Development, Career Tips, Feature Articles.
The following post is by Devon Carlson, author of the career and job advice blog Ask the CareerCounselor.
I consistently receive a great deal of questions about ‘doing what you love.’ After receiving the following question, I decided to write a post on taking matters into your own hands with a current job rather than relying on a job search to find a fulfilling workplace.
I’m in a bit of a conundrum. When I first began my job as an editor with our local newspaper, I was thrilled with my various roles and responsibilities. My job keeps me very busy, and I find that I constantly have to learn new things and work outside my comfort zone. However, even though my brain says I love these aspects of my position, my heart says my job brings me down. I either feel full-on depressed or emotionally drained after work and I’m not sure why. Any ideas?
-Marie in Casper, WY
Marie,
We’ve all had a similar experience at a job; you love the work but the atmosphere leaves you drained. After a while, you’re fighting urges to avoid the once-loved job altogether. It sounds a lot like you may be drowning in pessimistic co-workers and a negative work environment. Kudos to you for addressing this paradox early. Here are a few thoughts and ideas to help you weather the emotional storm:
Make every effort to create positive conversations in the office. Everyone, whether they recognize it or not, enjoys being around happy and optimistic people. When you speak to someone who has a great attitude about life and work, you walk away from the conversation feeling more upbeat and enthusiastic than you were before. Start to take control of these negative conversations; if you feel the flow headed in a negative direction, try to redirect the subject to a more positive moment or feeling. Politely and encouragingly point out that negativity only worsens the situation. Also, remember to keep an eye on what comes out of you own mouth; avoid adding to the problem by focusing on the negative in conversations.
If you come across a co-worker that absolutely refuses to look on the bright side, just avoid them altogether. Stay away from lengthy conversations with the negative personal as much as possible, but continue to encourage them to be more optimistic.
Be an ideal co-worker. Set an example in the office with your own behavior. Help a co-worker when they are stressed or overworked; go ahead and offer you assistance without your colleague even asking. Make an effort to get to know your co-workers better–ask your colleagues out to lunch, ask about their families, and make it point to ask about their weekend on Monday. Don’t be afraid to spread a little retail-love around the office during the holidays—everyone appreciates a small gift here and there.
Give others positive recognition. Although we’re all motivated by many different things, most people respond very well to positive recognition in the workplace. If you’re in a position of authority, frequently recognize the best performers in your department with small celebrations and other public recognition. Send out encouraging emails or leave nice notes for your employees, and develop small prizes for some achievements. If you’re not in a leadership position, make an effort to recognize your co-workers in a more personal matter. Some personal encouragement and acknowledgement can go a long with making the workplace a happier place.
In closing, remember to be both realistic and idealistic in this endeavor. It’s a difficult and arduous task to change others, but sometimes a few actions can create a chain of events with tremendous results. Put a little emotional effort into your own office.
Devon J. Carlson is the author of Ask the CareerCounselor, a blog dedicated to helping workers and job seekers navigate the career landscape by answering reader-submitted questions on a daily basis. Devon provides practical and unapologetic advice on jobs, success, happiness, and everything career-oriented.
ariesters on 15 Oct 2007 at 12:28 pm: 1
Your bloggings are great, I’ve just started my own blog too: http://20six.co.uk/ararast blog
lorraine on 15 Oct 2007 at 1:16 pm: 2
Many thanks for your feedback!
Congratulations on starting your own blog. I just took a peek.
Love the photos.
Consider subscribing if you’d like to read more!
Cheers,
Lorraine