Getting out of a workplace slump

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/08/2018 (2800 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Last week, I wrote about the post-vacation blues, but sometimes those so-called “blues” are also closely related to the lack of overall job satisfaction. Although there’s a wide variety of statistics ranging from Statistics Canada’s dissatisfaction rate of 20-26 per cent of study participants in 2016 to the 50 per cent dissatisfaction rate found in the Hays Canada study, job dissatisfaction is obviously is a problem.

The reasons for job dissatisfaction also include a wide range of issues. These include general boredom and a lack of meaning at work, general frustration at all the distractions at work preventing tasks to be completed, an unsupportive boss and/or a bully boss, feelings of being overworked and underpaid, and/or frustration with the lack of work-life balance. As well, many employees experience a nagging feeling that their skills are simply not being used to the extent they could be.

Job dissatisfaction over the long term results in emotional, spiritual, psychological and physical symptoms. The checklist for symptoms of dissatisfaction is long, but individuals can actually see it as well as feel it. Some feel a strong sense of unexplained tiredness, others are constantly irritable and don’t sleep well. Their mind is tossing and turning and debating over whether to quit or stay. Older workers wonder if it is simply time to retire.

Overall, the employee’s productivity is low, they find it hard to get to work on time and when they do, they find it hard to get started and hard to finish. Scheduled breaks get stretched out, they may start to take more sick days. Let’s face it, at the very least, employees facing job dissatisfaction simply stop putting forth their best effort. Frankly, this is not a good place to be, either for the employee or the employer.

While much has been said about the importance of the employer focusing attention on employee engagement, I strongly believe that individual employees have a bigger responsibility to do something about their dissatisfaction. In other words, if you are ­currently dissatisfied, keep in mind that no one can “make” you happy.

That said, what can be done about job dissatisfaction? More times than not, the issue is not money, it is something else. The following ideas may help to stimulate your thinking and put you on the path to “satisfaction recovery.”

Develop a do/don’t list — The best place to start is to look at your current job and your current employer. First of all, write down all of your tasks and analyze what skills you use. Then, prioritize those skills into the ones you like best and which you are good at; a “do or don’t” list if you like. Don’t forget to assess the work environment, your friendships and the organization’s culture.

Discover potential opportunity — Determine if you could expand the tasks and skills you enjoy doing to take up more of your time. Meet with your supervisor to discuss. Think about other opportunities in other departments that use those skills and explore this with your manager as well.

Discover what motivates you — Believe it or not, many people don’t really realize what motivates them. Your motivators drive your behaviour, so pay attention. For instance, if you like challenge and change, you will be bored quickly in a standard maintenance type of job. You are better with new, short projects. If you are motivated by social service/just cause, then you are better off to work in a helping profession. Think about what motivates you, it makes a difference.

Volunteer for new assignments — Once you have confirmed the skills and tasks you enjoy, look for volunteer work assignments. This allows you to display your skills with a different set of managers that may be interested in your skills. Seek out projects that will develop new skills or enhance your current skills to a higher level.

Volunteer and network — Once again, volunteering gives you an opportunity to get exposure with other people who will respect your skillset. Volunteer plus network with others by attending different professional and associations. This will place you in front of new people and will often lead to new opportunities. However, be careful to always show a positive attitude.

Read all the job ads — The reason for this advice is to familiarize yourself with what’s out in the marketplace, but also to help you see how organizations are framing their job skill ­requirements. You’ll be surprised at how much you can learn about the skills organizations are seeking. More than likely you will find a skill that you have totally forgotten about. It also gives you an idea of your potential mobility in the marketplace.

Avoid back to school — While I highly prize going back to school, now is not the time. I suggest avoiding this until you are in a better frame of mind and are more focused on what you really want to do. Strengthening the skills you don’t want to use won’t help you out of the current dilemma.

Seek counselling — If you’ve been “stewing” about your situation for some time, be aware that you may be reaching the burnout stage. Check your level of anxiety and irritability; are you tired even after resting? Are you beginning to feel resentful and angry? If so, it’s time to get counselling. Also, think about taking a break by taking a few days off combined with a long weekend.

Seek out an executive coach — Meet with an objective executive coach who can help you to sort out all the issues related to job dissatisfaction and help you to formulate a goal for moving forward.

Be patient — Yes, that’s right, be patient. In my experience, rushing into a new job will most often place you in the wrong job, which in turn creates a new problem. While patience is difficult, it doesn’t mean sitting on your hands and waiting. It is time needed for self-reflection and assessment.

Monitor your thoughts — When you are feeling down and out, you may also be speaking to yourself in negative language and promoting negative thoughts. Only you can control what you think. Monitor what you are saying to yourself. Focus on positive comments and self-praise for all the good things you have to offer. If you don’t believe it, who will?

Seek out the sun — It has long been known that being in the outdoors and in the sunlight will help to improve your mood. Go for a walk around your workplace. Go for a walk at home in the evening. Look at the beauty around you, appreciate where you live and work.

While we often think a good portion of job satisfaction is the employer’s responsibility, in my view, it is just as much a responsibility of the employee. In fact, I often say that individuals are fully responsible for their own career. But no matter what, living day to day in a work environment where there is little to no job satisfaction is simply unhealthy. Go back and review some of the suggestions above, select a few items of interest and put them to work for you.

Barbara J. Bowes, FCPHR, CMC, CCP, M.Ed., is president of Legacy Bowes Group, the author of eight books, a radio personality, speaker, an executive coach and workshop leader. She can be reached at barb@legacybowes.com.