Pursuing your Passion – Purposeful Careers

Impossible deadlines, ever-growing to-do lists, increasing workloads, demanding managers and lack of interest and enthusiasm at work are all contributing factors to people experiencing increasing levels of stress in the workplace. And, if not addressed, these high levels of stress can lead to burnout – something each and everyone of us should avoid at all costs.

Recently, I ran a seminar on how to beat the burnout blues with a group of business professionals. Here are some of the major topics we discussed – I’m sure you’ll find them helfpul.

What is burnout?

Burnout is the result of excessive and prolonged levels of stress and anxiety in the workplace which can cause mental and physical exhaustion.

We’re are seeing an increase in stress and anxiety in the workplace through boredom in what you do, through feeling unfulfilled, unmotivated and feeling like their work has no real meaning. This too, if not dealt with can cause burnout.

Which professions are susceptible?

Any person that is working in an environment that has an overwhelming amount of work, causing high levels of stress and anxiety, if not monitored can cause a person to become burned out. However I’d say that Helping Professions in particular have a higher tendency to experience burnout, due to the huge caseloads they have to manage.

This could include: Social Welfare Workers; Teachers; Medical Professionals such as Nurses/Doctors; Mental Health Workers; even Professionals working in the Ministry. All through having to work long, excessive hours with almost impossible caseloads to manage.

With the increasing number of people leaving the workforce to begin their own small businesses, these sole operators can find they are faced with an impossible workload thus feeling a loss of control over the copious demands and their work environment can cause enormous amount of job stress to

Symptoms of burnout:

While everyone reacts differently and therefore exhibits different symptoms some of the more common symptoms of burnout can include:

Strategies to avoid burnout:

I think the most important thing is to develop a realistic picture of yourself and gain an awareness of what you’re feeling and why – so as to be able to develop or seek an appropriate coping strategy.

 Must-do stress and burnout busting strategies :

• Establish firm and realistic goals; and stick to them. Aim to complete the most crucial projects so as not to become enslaved to an excessive workload and bogged down with trivial tasks.
• Avoid becoming the “yes” victim by learning to ask for help, or becoming more assertive and comfortable in saying “no” if asked to take on extra work by colleagues and demanding clients who continually present impossible deadlines.
• Set yourself a reasonable limit of hours for your working day and working week – and stick to it.
• Take regular ‘power’ breaks; get up; stretch; walk around; change your posture.
• Incorporate change into your routine to avoid getting stuck in a rut. Following strict schedules and performing repetitive tasks can lead to boredom, disinterest in your work, and eventually burnout. Rotate your schedule; incorporate a new task into your day; or put aside some time to develop your skill-set – anything that adds an element of change to your daily routine.
• Maintain a regime of proper nutrition and physical exercise: Exercise is an excellent way to relieve tension and stress so when scheduling your diary, block in 20-30 minutes of exercise at least three or four times per week. Increasing your fitness level can also benefit your productivity and level of awareness plus assist in avoiding other physical ailments.
• Learn to delegate and avoid temptation to do everything yourself. Train someone or outsource any daily and repetitive tasks that do not necessarily require your expertise so that you can concentrate on more important issues.
• Learn basic stress reduction techniques such as meditation or deep breathing.
• And most important – take time out for yourself and your family. Maintain an active personal and social life outside of work. Your life should not revolve solely around work, but rather follow a healthy balance that incorporates time for yourself, your friends, and your family.

If you do recognise some of the symptoms of burnout and you really feel unable to cope, or powerless to implement some of the strategies, it’s important to be willing to accept seek out the support of a professional. If increasing stress and anxiety levels are due to the fact that you feel bored and uninspired within your job then consider investing in one of our Purposeful Careers programs to reinvigorate and boost your energy levels, feelings of fulfilment and enthusiasm for your work!

Here’s to beating the burnout blues!

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It’s unfortunate that many people are working in a job that bores them to tears and has them feeling like that there’s something missing from their life, but they don’t really know what that missing ‘link’ is. Often, this is because their job does not align with their interests, their dreams, or their passion

Does your current work reflect your interests and allow you to harness your special talents? Do you love what you do? Feel worthwhile and that you are making a real difference?

Hopefully you have answered ‘yes’ to all of these questions.

Repetitiveness and familiarity can often cause boredom in the workplace so here are a few strategies you may wish to incorporate within your current work, to nurture your creativity and re-energise yourself. 

• Schedule some ‘you time’ into your diary, even if only for 5-10 minutes so that you can unwind and recharge your batteries.
• Maintain a flexible approach and vary your daily schedule. Have lunch with different people. Schedule the staff meeting in another location. Invite different staff members into your meetings in order to obtain a fresh perspective during your brainstorming sessions.
• Become involved in projects that provide you with opportunities for knowledge, growth, and a chance to meet and build relationships with other people in your workplace.
• Avoid bending to conformity if it totally goes against your values and beliefs. Rather, share your new ideas and innovations.
• Build a support team who also share a liking for your creative ideas. Use them as a sounding board for feedback on your initiatives.
• Expand your thinking and options available by asking ‘what if’ when devising new solutions or ideas about current projects.

Fortunately, the above strategies are enough to inject some interest and enthusiasm back into the workplace, however if you’re still struggling with that hollow, empty feeling at work it may be time to consider one of our Purposeful Career programs.

Here’s to loving your work and being passionate about your career.

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Ruth was a mid-level manager/team leader working for a multi-national telecommunications corporation overseeing a talented team of 20 customer service representatives. Due to Ruth’s talented training, leadership and mentoring approach, she had been able to successfully build a team that was continuously out-performing other groups throughout the organisation.

Despite ongoing recognition and accolades for her work, and opportunities for ongoing professional development advancement, Ruth still felt that something was missing, though she did not know what. She had always given 110% dedication to her work, was well liked and respected by both her colleagues and senior management, and enjoyed the interaction with her colleagues. However her job functions and responsibilities no longer held the same meaning and she had slowly been losing interest in her work – something she felt she had absolutely no control over. What made it worse was that she had no idea what else she could do, as this had been her career for the past 15 years. So it was an underlying doubt and uncertainty that kept her trapped in a role that she despised with increasing intensity. 

Perhaps you can relate to Ruth’s situation? You may be working in a position that no longer inspires you, with each day dragging very slowly, almost draining every last bit of energy and motivation from you.

Unfortunately if this rings true for you, you are not alone. A recent survey by an international recruitment agency showed that over 51% of senior executives were unhappy in their roles and had wished they had followed a career path that was more aligned to their interests. According to a Gallop Poll, 71% of workers are not engaged in their jobs, and the United Nations claims that there are spiraling levels of stress around the world due to people unable to find meaning and purpose in their work. However for whatever reason, they choose to remain working in a role that they often despise, find boring and fails to motivate or challenge them.

Why do people stay in a job that fails to have meaning or challenge them?

Through my work with clients, I have found ten barriers and unhelpful beliefs that have prevented them from exploring and finding a career that they could feel totally fulfilled in:

1. Fear of the unknown: people would rather stay with what they are familiar with, rather than taking that leap of faith into something they don’t.
2. Lack of clarity, vision or purpose: people lack clarity about their own unique talents and their ‘visions’ and therefore accept whatever comes their way.
3. Fear of failure or rejection: rather than taking the time to research, plan and live the career they want, people take the first job offered for fear that nothing else will come their way.
4. Lack of self confidence: thinking you haven’t the skills or knowledge to do anything else.
5. Unconscious unawareness: some people do not realise that they have an option to truly love their work. They think that ‘a job is a job’, it pays the bills and that’s all that matters. How sad – if only they knew what they were missing out on.
6. Caught up in the ‘family tradition’: people’s career paths can be pre-determined by their parents who wish them to continue the long line of descendents who have been working in ‘a particular profession’. It’s expected that you will follow in the footsteps of your ancestors. Expected to take over the family business.
7. External pressures: financial pressures forcing hasty decision making to accept a position that is of no interest.
8. Doubt: people don’t believe that there really is the possibility of living their dream career either because it’s impossible to achieve or impossible for them.
9. Money outweighing happiness: people may be in a profession that pays significantly high and therefore continue working in a role that they don’t enjoy justifying their unhappiness with the fact that they are being well paid.
10. Procrastination: people may take a role that they do not enjoy with the thought “I’ll accept this role and then begin looking for another job once I’m settled”, but never get around to doing so. Procrastination sets in and blocks them from making the move.

It is an underlying fear that prevents people from taking the steps in getting totally clear about what their interests, skills, and values are, thus inhibiting them from having a career that they can totally feel passionate and motivated about.

If you have connected with Ruth’s story or you could categorise yourself as someone who wished they followed a career more in line with your interests, but are still not ready to move forward, ask yourself:

What is preventing you from exploring and planning a career in which you can feel totally fulfilled and worthwhile, looking forward to each and every day with enthusiasm?

Are you willing to accept mediocrity within your work – or would you rather have a job where you can experience real meaning and fulfillment?

Remember:

If you continue to do what you have always done, you will continue to get what you have always gotten.

If you were guaranteed not to fail – then what would you be doing?

If you’re at the point in your life where you are ready to step up but feel you could benefit from support, it may be wise to consider one of our Purposeful Career programs.

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Here’s to reclaiming passion and motivation in your work!

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