I am quite a few years in my role at work. I’m good at what I do and my employer is open-minded and forward looking. But I simply don’t feel fulfilled and my commitment is beginning to wane. We don’t have any formal structures for dealing with this sort of problem. What options are open to an employee in this sort of situation?
In work as in life we all need to feel fulfilled. When people say “I’m not happy” what they often mean is that they don’t have a sense of that fulfilment you talk about.
What is happiness? Happiness can be described as an experience of joy, contentment or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful and worthwhile. So it’s more than just feeling good. But it also means that life has meaning and purpose.
In the workplace, happiness is linked to knowing that what we do matters. It’s useful to know about 4 key pillars – Purpose, Engagement, Resilience and Kindness and to use these as a starting point.
Change your mindset – Rethink your role, how you see it and if you could see it in a different way. So, for instance in talking to yourself you might be inclined to ridicule or make little of, or under-value what you do. Take notice of how you talk to yourself about your work and change it, if necessary. This can be difficult and you might need some help in doing it. So don’t be afraid to reach out to a professional.
Redefine your job description for yourself. So for instance, a shop assistant might focus on the customer service part of her work and develop a strategy to improve the customer experience of the individuals he/she has dealings with. This is called “task crafting” where the task has been shaped and altered to make it more meaningful to the individual providing the service.
Build or change relationships with co-workers. (This is called “relationship crafting”). Being kind to others can go a long way. Remember that other people can feel as unhappy, lonely, sad, frustrated as you do. By showing kindness you can help someone else but you also release the feel good hormone serotonin in your brain.
Resilience is being able to move through adversity in a healthy way and being able to “bounce back”. Genetics do play a part in resilience but environmental factors also play a role so it is possible to build our resilience. Self compassion (making our self-talk kind, warm and non- judgemental) is helpful. So too are mindfulness or meditation. Why not keep a “Gratitude Journal” – every day write down what you are grateful for in your life?
If you try to apply these techniques, they may help you to be more fulfilled and content in your work. No guarantees. But worth trying.
