Feeling Under-Employed? Do This.

Feeling Under-Employed? Do This.

Feeling under-employed or under-utilized in your job? Feeling as if you are capable of so much more than what your current job or boss requires of you? Do you feel like you’re not living your purpose? Maybe you’ve been in the same job for several years and have just been going through the motions and not feeling challenged anymore? Or, are you just plain bored?

If you answered yes to any one of these questions, know that you are not alone. In fact, according to a recent Gallup study, two-thirds of the American population are disengaged at work. What this means is that they feel no real connection to what they are doing, and thus tend to do the bare minimum. They’re just going through the motions every day.

This is pretty significant considering we spend so much of our time at work.

So what can you do if you are finding yourself disengaged at work? Here are some tips:

Identify the aspects of your job that you don’t like. Knowing what tasks cause you to disengage is crucial for you to know in order to make a change. Maybe you feel like the work you’re doing is “beneath” you. Maybe you feel like you never get the recognition you deserve. Or, maybe you just plain hate your boss. Whatever your reasons are, get clear on what aspects are triggering disengagement for you.

Write down all of your thoughts that you have about these tasks. Just brainstorm. Write it out. Put pen to paper. What trends do you notice? What can you glean from these thoughts? Are you surprised with any of your thoughts?

Then, play devil’s advocate. What do you like about your job? Maybe you have a great team of co-workers. Maybe you truly believe in the overall mission of your organization. Or, maybe you just have a fully stocked breakroom that blows all others out of the water. Whatever your reasons are, take note and write them down.

Next, write down all of your thoughts on why you like your job. No matter how significant or insignificant of a reason it is, notice your thoughts. This may be a challenge for you. Regardless, find them. How do they differ from the thoughts you identified before? Being able to see the positives no matter how negative you view your current situation can give you added perspective. What can you learn here?

In doing this exercise you’ll quickly be able to see your triggers and why you are feeling under-employed in your current job. You’ll also learn what will be important for you in your next role.  

If you’d like help in finding out what’s next for you, I’d love to help. Schedule a free strategy session with me here:  https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=13605969&appointmentType=6136068