We live in unprecedented times. It feels like we have been hearing that message on repeat over the past few years.
First BREXIT, then COVID and now we are facing economic uncertainty on a scale that many of us have never experienced.
At times, the world can feel a little dark and scary.
If you are “sitting pretty” or at least it appears to other people that you are “sitting pretty” with a secure job, working for a respected organisation, and have a great income that allows you to support a comfortable lifestyle for you and your family….. then why on earth would you rock the boat?
You’ve hit the jackpot. Many people would cut off their right arm to have what you have.
But….
And for many people, there is sadly a but….
You HATE that secure job with the respected organisation. Every day, you have to drag yourself out of bed, plaster a smile on your face and get on with it.
You hate the politics, you hate the lack of control over your own time, you hate the constant juggle of keeping your clients happy, keeping your Partners happy and managing your internal reputation.
You wish it could be different, but then would you still be able to make the same income elsewhere?
Would you need to compromise your lifestyle and if you did, how would that impact your family?
What on earth would other people think of you?
When faced with a feeling of being stuck and unhappy at work, there are various options:
1. Suck it up. I don’t recommend this option, it might seem like the path of least resistance but in the long term it will make you even more unhappy and resentful.
2. Have a complete career change. This a very real possibility for many, particularly if you have a burning desire to pursue a specific career path.
3. Find a different job at another professional services firm. This can lead to career happiness if you don’t feel aligned with your organisation’s culture and believe you would fit better elsewhere.
4. Make changes in your current role that will enable you to be happier at work. With the support and buy-in from other people in your organisation, you may be able to find a way to increase your level of satisfaction in your current role.
5. Reframe your thinking. Perhaps you don’t enjoy your current role however you do enjoy and appreciate what it enables you to do in other areas of your life. Perhaps it’s time to make your peace with that. And perhaps it’s time to consider how you can fulfill your desires and ambitions outside of work. Your work does not have to be the only aspect of your identity.
You may be surprised to hear option 5 coming from a Career Coach. You might expect me to advocate that everybody should strive for career happiness and satisfaction at all times.
I prefer to take a pragmatic approach. There is no one size fits all approach to career happiness. I encourage my clients to explore all their options and to make a rational, informed decision about what is right for THEM at this specific point in time.
If you are currently in a job that you hate and you would like to have an impartial conversation about how you can explore your options, then feel free to book in my diary to talk about Career Coaching – I’d love to help you – here is a link to my diary.
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