Career: 3 ways to (re)motivate yourself in September

The figure is chilling: When asked to choose a word that best descibes our work situation, 75% of us choose the word stress’; Hence the conclusion of Jean-Paul Guedj, management consultant and author of various books on the subject, that ‘clearly, the value of work is declining.’

Yes, but who’s to blame? The increasingly demanding shareholders and managers? Employees for whom a career is not the only priority? According to him, the responsibilities are shared and everyone should question themselves. For it is a fact that while once in the past, having a job offered a social status and a sense of belonging, we now consider our job as a way to make a living without necessarily finding any interest in it. Should we resign ourselves? Are we condemned to dread Mondays and returning from leaves?’

‘You are either content with what you do, or on the way to an assured depression’, warns the expert. ‘It is urgent that everyone realizes that even when it comes to work, it is their own happiness that is involved’.

Where to start, how to succeed? Here are some tips to rediscover the passion in your job.

1.    FIND YOUR PLACE

There’s a proverb that says: the recipe for success has three ingredients: the right person, at the right place at the right time. But how can we be sure that we are sitting in the right seat and wearing the right uniform? Firstly, by courageously responding to these statements with true or false:

– I feel useful in my service.

– I exist in the eyes of my colleagues and my superiors.

– Even when I do less than 100%, I do not feel a sense of imposture.

– My job is like me, I like to exercise and I do not want to change.

If you answer all four with ‘true’, follow your calling, there is no need to worry.

If you have answered with at least one ‘false’, stop being anxious. Although the economic situation might not be as great as it once was, the fact is there are more opportunities among us than you think. And rediscovering your way at work is also easy by getting some help from psychotherapy, coaching, skills assessment if necessary.

2. HUNT PLEASURE WHERE IT IS

While the etymology of the word ‘work’ has nothing to celebrate, “trepalium”, its equivalent in Latin means “instrument of torture”. No wonder then that when we get up in the morning, we think of it as ‘duty’ and our enthusiasm fades out as the day goes by. But to get out of this representation and achieve a different work perspective is not an impossible quest. To take pleasure in the workplace, everyone should imagine their own definition of happiness: So think about what you like to do or try a personality test which you can find free on the Net. Are you comfortable with taking decisions or do you flee responsibilities? Do you prefer being a creative, a leader, or an organizer? Do you need autonomy or do you prefer working in a team? Make a list of your aspirations and take your steps to refocus your daily missions by negotiating with your colleagues and superiors.

3. ADMIT YOUR NEED FOR RECOGNITION

Rather than playing the big boys or claiming that you are “above it all”, admit that you need to be recognized. According to psychologists, one of the major causes of stress in the workplace is that many of us experience the feeling of not being fairy valued. Faced with these difficulties, you have two solutions; Either put aside your humility and point out your strength and good performance to the people concerned, or acknowledge that you need training to improve efficiency and thus visibility.

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