Dealing with Disenchantment at Work
Recently, I’ve spoken with professionals feeling disenchanted with the work they once loved, so much so that some are considering quitting their current jobs despite not having a plan for what’s next. Most of these are folks who have worked in their current roles more than five years, and what’s puzzling about this is that each were once very excited to land that current job and found their work fulfilling for a significant length of time.
Often mid-career professionals share that they no longer find their work challenging. It was the challenge of mastering the skills needed to be successful in their work they once found fulfilling and rewarding. If that’s you, then it may be time to find the next challenge. This could mean pursuing promotion, a specific project, or starting a new venture in your current work that allows you to embrace and develop new skills aligned with the talents that have brought you this far. What opportunities would bring back the challenge of work you once embraced? What challenges did you love in the past? Who could you talk to about moving in that direction?
We also hear from professionals who overtime feel out of touch with the purpose or mission of their work as they have moved from the front lines to the back office through promotion. Though thankful for being promoted, you may feel that you’ve lost touch (meaningful relationships) with those you once served directly, which has resulted in a loss of the sense of mission your work once held. Instead of quitting, let’s attempt some refitting.
First, remind yourself of what it was that once made your work feel purposeful. What was actually happening in your past work that made you love it? Think about those moments. How can you leverage your current role to be a part of those moments again? Maybe you’re in a leadership role that no longer provides you with direct links to those you serve (clients, customers, patients, students, etc.) Could you spare a little time each week to work those front lines once again to reconnect relationally? What opportunities exist for you to continue to lead others in your mission that regularly expose you to the street-level outcomes driving your work? You may only need a few of these moments each week/month to be reminded of how important your work truly is and regain that valuable sense of purpose you desire. So, before you abandon a potentially great career future, take some time to reflect on the opportunities your current work presents. If you’d like to talk more about rediscovering the work you love and/or crafting a new role for yourself, let us know. We’d love to help!
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