Sadly many people feel dissatisfied with their careers. They feel that work is something they have no choice but to perform, and they do not even expect to be able to enjoy it. However, we have found that work can be fulfilling and, the best part is, it does not require a change of career, just a shift in attitude and perspective which our coaching can bring.
I had been presenting at a group event and afterwards a gentleman came up to me and asked “Alright, is it really true I can love my job? Really love my job? Like come on, no one loves their work.” And I looked at him I said, “Yes you can. I don’t know if you’re in the right job or not, but let’s try figuring that out and see how it goes.” So he hired our company for a 12-month contract.
The issue with this client was that he didn’t trust his voice or his judgement and that would drain his energy and enthusiasm. During our discussions, he explained why he felt insecure about speaking up; he believed that he was expected to accept instruction without question, and if he were to voice his opinions, there would be negative consequences. But in actual fact the directors wanted his unique participation and voice at the table.
And in essence it comes down to this, when people attend meetings they must make a contribution, so they have to do one of three things; give an idea, ask a question, or support what someone else has said. It is not good enough to just sit there like a fly on the wall and take it all in. If you’re an executive you have got to show up. And show up means bring your energy, be engaged, ask questions, look at stuff differently, try out things, contribute in some way. It doesn’t mean you have to be bossy, own the whole conversation or take it over, in fact sometimes a powerful question is far more effective in leadership than any answer.
We were able to bring our client some insight about how he was not showing up and some understanding about the impact he was having on the group, so he started thinking about his viewpoint, how he wanted things to be, and what steps he could take to get there. When he finally began to voice his thoughts, he was shocked to find that they were well-received, his colleagues were impressed with his ideas and encouraged his continued participation.
Once our client discovered that his voice mattered, he began to look forward to work. His new self-confidence gave him the strength to speak up and make a difference in his organization, his ideas dramatically affected his company, and it wasn’t long before his efforts were recognized with a promotion. His change in attitude positively affected the way he saw his career.
I met him again some time later and he said, “Do you remember when I came up to you and asked you if people can really love their work? Even though I didn’t quite believe you I was willing to work with you. And now, I know you were right.”