How Do You Feel About Your Work?

Many people go through the motions of setting career goals -- usually to satisfy the demands of their bosses or companies. Indeed, this scene from our parable, Animals, Inc., might look familiar to most employees:

Probably the most important thing decided at that first managerial meeting was that the managers would meet with each employee to help him draw up an IDP, an Individual Development Plan, that would help chart a career path. This was a major change on the farm. Until then, planning for the future had pretty much been limited to deciding what to eat for dinner that night.

This is precisely why a few days later, Scarecrow found himself meeting with his supervisor, Miney, at the wooden picnic table next to the barn. "Sooo," Miney said, "I guess you don't have an IDP?"

Having no idea what an IDP was, Scarecrow shook his head and confided in a whisper, "I don't even have any underwear. They didn't give me any."

"An IDP is a plan that you make for your future," Miney explained. "You decide what your career objectives are and the best way to achieve them. Haven't you ever thought about what you want in the future?"

Scarecrow had a ready answer for that question. "Well, I really would like some underwear. And a warm coat too," he said. "Sometimes it gets really cold just standing out there in the field."

"That's not really what I mean," Miney explained gently. "Let me put it this way, do you really want to spend the rest of your career working in the same field?"

Scarecrow's exchange with Miney may make you chuckle. But we want you to think seriously about the question that Miney raises here. Ask yourself: Do I really want to spend the rest of my career working in the same field?

Your answer, of course, depends on how you feel about your job right now. (Some jobs leave people feeling about as cold as Scarecrow.)

How do you feel most of the time about your work? Do you love it? Hate it? Maybe you're just indifferent. But like most people, you probably have some kind of feeling about your job -- and these feelings hold important messages about your performance.

Indeed, Gallup research reveals that employees who love their jobs are more emotionally engaged than their less passionate colleagues. They are energized by their work; they keep learning and developing new ways to be more effective.

People who are indifferent toward their jobs, on the other hand, are only minimally productive. They stay "under the radar," doing just enough to get by, but not contributing energy or enthusiasm to their workplaces. Worst of all are the people who hate their jobs -- employees who are "actively disengaged." They're absolutely miserable; they cause trouble in the workplace as they spread their negativity to others.

So how do you feel about your job? Based on how you answer this question, here are some ideas that will help you to deepen, reclaim, or discover your love for your work.

For those who love their jobs . . .

Is your job so great that sometimes you have to pinch yourself to see if you're dreaming? If so, congratulations! Here are some ways you can love your job even more:

Create ways to do more of what you're already good at and love to do. If your situation allows, tell your manager what you particularly enjoy. Explain to him or her where your talents lie. Work with your boss to find opportunities to make more of your strengths. Volunteer to do more.

Develop a reputation as an "expert." You have special talents, skills, and knowledge that others probably lack. Perhaps you are more strategic than your colleagues, or you are a particularly talented communicator. Maybe you have knowledge and skills that your coworkers would find indispensable. Why not become a "go to" person who can offer others advice or counsel, drawing on your areas of strength?

Identify and partner with others who have similar talents. Find your talent "soul mate." This may be someone whose talent is more developed or less developed than yours is in the role. Seek out someone who can offer you the inspiration and motivation that deepen your feelings toward your work. (See "A Passion for Work" in See Also.)

For those who are apathetic . . .

If you're bored or indifferent, do something about it -- now, before it's too late. Think back to a specific time when you were excited about your current job. If it's been a while since you felt that way, here are some ideas on how you can get the excitement back:

Renounce the present state. You didn't take this job to be apathetic. So if you find yourself watching the clock all day -- or climbing the walls -- admit to yourself that you're bored stiff. Be brutally honest. Declare to yourself that you want to make a change. Recognizing a problem is the essential first step toward solving it.

Remember your first day on the job. What talents were you looking forward to using when you first took this job? Are you using them? How often? Are your talents being employed more than, or less than, your weaknesses are?

Chances are, your talents are being used minimally, if at all. So think about how you could use your talents intentionally in your present job. (See "Acting With Intent" in See Also.) What would have to change? The company's processes? Or would you, your manager, or your fellow employees need to change? Applying your talents and strengths, how could you transform your present role into a dream job? Ponder these questions, and start taking action based on the answers.

Reclaim the joy. Someone once asked, "Do I sing because I am happy, or am I happy because I sing?" We don't know if there is a definitive answer to such a question, but there is one clear outcome: happiness. All of us want to feel happy and fulfilled in our jobs. So identify that special something that brings you joy.

For Jason, a custodian, the mere mention of clean windowsills helped him to rediscover joy for his work. Even though Jason worked for a company that prides itself on hiring only the most talented people for every role, he once slipped into apathy. Cleaning offices, mopping floors, polishing fixtures, making restrooms sparkle -- tasks that initially brought him a sense of achievement -- no longer gave him satisfaction.

Then something happened that rekindled his joy. One day, a visitor to the company approached Jason with a broad smile on his face. The man, a job candidate at Jason's company, thanked Jason for positively influencing his decision to join the business.

Apparently, the man had doubts about the company, and he set out to discover its flaws. But he just couldn't find any. People did their jobs incredibly well and seemed happy at work. Finally, in frustration, the man thought of an extreme test: "I'll bet you," he said to himself, "their windowsills are every bit as dusty as other buildings' windowsills." He promptly ran his finger over a windowsill as he walked through the hallway. To his surprise, it was spotless. "And that," he said to Jason, "was when I decided to join this company."

Jason admits that there are still times when cleaning is anything but exciting, but that memory has kept him from feeling apathetic about his job ever since.

For those who hate their jobs . . .

If you despise your work, get out! But wait: Before you go running off to land another job that you will most likely hate yet again, here are some questions to ask yourself:

Why do I have a job that I hate? You chose it, after all. Think about why you chose it: Were you chasing more money? Status? Were you looking for more training and experience? Did you want the opportunity to become more well-rounded? Any of these reasons could lead you to hate your job.

More money is appealing only until your lifestyle catches up with your new earnings -- then you crave even more. Status has its limits -- what good is it to brag about your lofty job title or big-name company at a cocktail party if you're actually miserable at work? Training and experience are beneficial only if they help you develop your natural abilities. Well-roundedness is more likely to produce mediocrity than excellence; if you're well-rounded, you will become OK at many things, but great at none. (See "Hate Your Job?" in See Also.)

What feelings do I lack in this job? Chances are, you don't have a sense of belonging in your organization. Gallup research shows that people feel better about a job when they feel a connection to the mission and purpose of their company. It's more difficult to add great value to an organization -- or feel valued or "part of the family" -- if you aren't moved by its mission.

Do I have meaningful goals for this job? Can you imagine still doing your job 5, 10, or 15 years from now? If your answer is "Never!" then you're wasting your time, today and every day. You will suffer gravely from the law of diminishing returns. Every hour, day, week, or month you spend doing a job you hate, you get less and less benefit back. You aren't likely to be known as the best performer, best employee, or the best coworker. You do yourself, the organization, and your employer irreparable damage every day you show up for a job you hate.

As Miney might suggest to Scarecrow: Maybe you're in the wrong field. Maybe it's time you found a new one.