You don't have to exhaust yourself to do a good job, do you?
Do you believe that, to do a good job you need to work long hours, over execute, check and reply to emails at godly hours, and constantly check in to see if you're doing a good job?
I get it. This is a story that dictated the way I showed up for my work for so long. Certainly, some of this behaviour was ingrained in me at previous workplaces — but mostly, it came from pressure I put on myself needing to prove my capabilities and ability.
Can you relate?
I have really needed to work on this story for myself. I believed that, to do a good job, I really DID need to work those long hours, over execute, check and reply to emails ALL THE TIME and I had this urge to constantly check in to see if I was doing a good job.
I believed that the direct indication of doing a good job was how much pressure I put on myself and how ‘busy’ I was. The busier I was, the more important I was therefore that had to mean I was doing a good job. Right?
WELL - I had it all wrong.
How can you do a good job and go home on time? How can you do a good job and not refresh your emails every 20 seconds? How can you do a good job without being busy - what???
And it is funny because I knew this was a behaviour of mine and I knew that I was addicted to being busy but it wasn't until I was out of that cycle, that I could really feel how much control this actually had over me. My worth and my value.
It hasn’t been until I seeked and gained a role that supports my strengths, that I have an invested interest in and generally enjoy the tasks that I have, that it has felt easier. I don’t feel exhausted. Busy is just out of my vocabulary, I am energised and excited by my work.
All of this results in higher productivity, resilience at work and internal motivation. Win Win.
If you are feeling like you are constantly busy or exhausted or anxious about your work (shown in ways like, constantly checking emails after work hours, staying at work for long hours for no reason other than it makes you feel busier, over performing for praise, following up on little things and regularly asking for validation you have done a good job) maybe, just maybe you are not in a role that supports and aligns with your strengths.
Here is what I suggest.
Get clear on your WHY. Ask yourself …
Why are you doing [insert current job here]? Why are you working in this role? Why?
What is it about this job that you enjoy?
If you could pick any job in the world to be doing, would it be this job?
If you answered YES to the last question, then continue on, as you where.
If you answered NO. Let's go a little deeper.
How does it feel for you, in your body to be busy?
Is this sustainable, long term?
What is one thing you can do today, to change?
What are your top 3 strengths? Be really purposeful when you answer this. What is it that I am actually good at, and enjoy. If I could do these three things all day everyday, what would that be?
Some examples may include; building people up, team work, clear communication, public speaking, engaging an audience on various levels, graphic design, creative thinking, building proposals, creating better systems.
Now ask yourself - does this role foster my strengths?
What does doing a good job really look like to you? What would you need to do (get 100% specific) to leave for the day feeling like you have done a good job, your cup is full, you feel satisfied and excited to come back tomorrow to do the same again?
I’ll give you an example from my work life - feeling satisfied in a day's work for me includes a mixture of the below:
Support people in their careers via coaching clients or 1:1 appointments
Presenting a workshop
Connecting with new people who want to organise a workshop
Building the workshops - physically writing them
Preparing content that really support and helps people, in a variety of forms
Connecting and engaging with people
Creating new programs, workshops and bringing ideas to life
This work all supports my strengths, building relationships, career development and encouragement and communication.
Now your turn? How do you feel in your current role? Are you constantly feeding off exhaustion and busyness?
Need support in determining your next best steps? Check out my free webinar HERE to get you started.