You’ve been on the same career path for a while now. Whether it’s 5, 10, 15, or 20+ years, it’s taken you a lot of work to get where you are.
But now it seems as if things have plateaued. The projects you are working on, which you once found challenging, are not as interesting as they used to be.
When you go to work, it feels as if you are just punching the clock versus making a real difference. So what can you do?
If you are feeling unmotivated in your career, this could actually be an opportunity. Here’s what you can do about it.
Avoiding the “Shoulds”
First, it’s helpful to take a moment and pause. When taking stock of your career path and exploring your motivations, it might be tempting to “should” yourself. For instance, saying to yourself that you ought to be in a different place in your career. Certainly, our career paths are shaped by our choices. But there are many other influences at work that you can’t control. For example:
Having a boss or supervisor who is uninterested in your professional growth or development.
Getting downsized or RIF’d (reduction in force) due to greater economic issues or how your company was managed.
Taking on a job only to discover that it wasn’t what you were expecting and not the best fit.
So, when you feel unmotivated, avoid blaming yourself. Rather, there are many other things that you can focus on that will be more helpful.
Reflect…Then Shake Things Up!
Take some time to reflect on why you feel unmotivated at work. Often people become unmotivated because they are doing the same thing, day-in, and day-out. You fall into a rut that becomes really repetitive. So why not shake things up?
Examine what your job responsibilities are and how you fulfill them. Then, consider if you can get those tasks done but using a different process. Also, think about what you do and what other tasks or responsibilities you could take on. Maybe you need a new challenge and a chance to expand your skill set and responsibilities.
Making a Change
If you have done the above step but still feel unmotivated, then perhaps it’s time for a change. Change could mean:
Applying for a different position within your organization (such as a supervisor or other role than what you are currently doing).
Moving on to another company but within a similar industry.
Making a big move and switching careers entirely.
If you notice, these ideas move from easier to harder. It’s much easier to throw your hat in the ring for a new opening in your current company. On the other hand, it is more difficult to switch careers. Yet, it’s also entirely doable, so don’t let that deter you from making a change if that is the direction you want to go!
Taking Advantage of Career Counseling
It’s not easy making these kinds of decisions. Logic doesn’t always factor into the picture as much as emotion and self-talk. For instance, you want to put in for that promotion, but something is holding you back. Why? Is it self-doubt that you still carry where you question your own capabilities?
Or you know you want to make a change but are unsure how to do so. This is why career counseling is so helpful. Together, you and a therapist will work to identify and resolve that negative self-talk. Also, you can collaborate to work out a career road map for yourself.
If you are unmotivated in your career, that is a sign something needs to change. How to make that change happen may not be as obvious as you’d like. But counseling will help. Contact me today to learn more about career counseling.