How to Put the Joy Back Into Your Job
Submitted by: Rutendo Geraldine MangwiroWe spend most of our waking hours at work, but what happens when your job feels uninspiring or stressful? Michael Gullan of G&G Advocacy, an eLearning consultancy, shares actionable strategies to reignite passion for your career without needing to resign.
"Achieving greater job satisfaction is possible," says Gullan. "With some reflection, self-evaluation, and a few small changes, employees can show up happy, engaged, and ready to succeed."
1. Identify What You Dislike
Pinpoint what’s making your job unpleasant. Is it colleagues, a toxic company culture, feeling overwhelmed, or a lack of excitement? Understanding the root causes allows you to take targeted action.
Examples:
- If your performance needs improvement, participate in your organisation’s eLearning programme.
- If toxic colleagues or culture are draining you, focus on strengthening your people skills and resilience.
"Difficult situations often teach us the most," notes Gullan. "An unreasonable boss or customer could be your greatest teacher."
2. Focus on Tasks That Excite You
Few jobs are entirely uninspiring. Identify tasks that energise you and actively seek opportunities to do more of them.
- Take stock of activities that make your day fulfilling.
- Talk to team leaders about taking on more of these responsibilities.
"No job is free of tedious tasks, but proactively pursuing what you enjoy can bring balance," says Gullan.
3. Utilise Your Strengths
Make a list of your skills and strengths, then find ways to align your responsibilities with them.
- Show managers how leveraging your strengths can enhance team performance.
- Over time, your positivity and results will encourage them to assign more opportunities that suit you.
"Managers want their teams to excel—it’s up to you to make your role more meaningful," explains Gullan.
4. Commit to Growth
Continual learning and self-improvement are crucial for career satisfaction.
- Identify your weaknesses and growth opportunities.
- Enrol in your organisation’s Learning and Development programmes or external courses to upskill or reskill.
"A growth mindset is essential for ongoing motivation and engagement," says Gullan.
5. Avoid Negative Colleagues
While supporting struggling colleagues can be admirable, their negativity shouldn’t bring you down.
- Distance yourself from pessimistic coworkers.
- Build positive relationships and seek inspiration from colleagues who uplift and challenge you to improve.
6. Evaluate the Grass on the Other Side
Before switching jobs, ensure you’re not escaping challenges you could overcome.
- Break challenges into manageable steps.
- Celebrate incremental successes and ensure new opportunities align with your goals.
"Sometimes, the difficulties we face today are stepping stones to the careers we aspire to," says Gullan.
Embrace the Philosophy: “Do It Now. Do It Scared. Do It Anyway.”
Gullan shares the mantra that has driven G&G Advocacy to become leaders in their field. This proactive approach encourages personal accountability and continual growth, inspiring individuals to overcome fear and take meaningful action in their careers.
By identifying challenges, leveraging strengths, building supportive relationships, and committing to growth, employees can rediscover joy and purpose in their work.
For more insights from Michael Gullan, visit:
Michael Gullan on LinkedIn | G&G Advocacy
Total Words: 572
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How to Rediscover Joy in Your Job
Struggling at work? Discover Michael Gullan’s strategies to reignite passion and satisfaction in your career. #CareerSatisfaction #WorkplaceHappiness #GrowthMindset #GGAdvocacy #mypressportal #pressrelease #AfricaNewsroom #bizcommunity #publicrelations #africa #southernafrica #southafrica
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