What is your job?
It’s easy to do a job without ever answering this question. You show up each day, respond to the emails in your inbox, go to the meetings on your calendar, and execute on the tasks your manager or stakeholders give you. The job is then effectively “whatever others tell me to do”. And that’s a fine job!
But what if you’re not entirely satisfied with that? What if you’re frustrated that you’re not getting invited to certain meetings, or asked for your input on certain issues, or given certain tasks?
Then I think it’s time to change your job from being defined by others, to one where you shape your job according to your intentions.
1) Figure out how you want to spend your day. Ask yourself before you do something “Do I still want to be doing this in a year?” If not, figure out a way to get that meeting or task off your plate by delegating or automating it.
2) As you clear the work you don’t want to do from your schedule, be intentional in what new work you add. Don’t do more of the same, but choose work that energizes you, and that you can deliver with unique and differentiated impact.
3) Once you know what work you don’t want to do, and what work you do want to do, communicate that. Make the case of why you will add more value by doing type 2) work, and why somebody else is more suited to do type 1) work.
Until you consciously manage your time and attention in this way, and communicate those intentions, you will continue to be in reaction mode, where your day and your job will depend on what others send your way.
What tips do you have on how to consciously define and shape your job?
#careerdevelopment #coaching #youhaveachoice