After several successful years managing a team resolving the most complicated technical issues in high stress environments, I had had enough. I remember telling my boss, “I just don’t care anymore.” I was burnt out.
The First Signs
Not caring isn’t like a paper cut, it’s a slice to the artery. Boredom, burnout, monotony, or even lack of attention/care from management – all can bolster a rising level of indifference. And it can impact even those who love our jobs.. If carelessness is creeping into your work, that is your first sign to wake up.
Our level of care is directly proportional to the level of effort we are willing to give. Can you imagine if your doctor, electrician, or mechanic didn’t care… the consequences could be dire! We’ve all been on the receiving end of a careless person and one that provides the utmost care. Whom would you rather have working on you or your stuff? Exactly…
Plan B – Switch It Up!
Many times, it’s our existing routine wearing on us. Dealing with the same people or situations day after day is taxing. Instead, try one of these methods to interact with others in a different way:
- Can you change up routines, gain an alternate perspective, or start a new initiative?
- Can you delegate or swap a few responsibilities with someone else?
- Can you work different hours or work in a different location for a change? Can you home-office from a different floor/view?
- Can you integrate work-life balance, go to a gym, start to meditate, or find a new hobby?
These types of remedies can re-vitalize your thinking and provide exposure to new people/new departments. Ideas come from the flow of people and information around you. If your surroundings never change, flow is impeded. No matter what your job is… all jobs carry innate importance in what they do for us, from a satisfaction perspective. Don’t underestimate that!
And if you are in management, don’t dismiss the words of an employee that indicates that he/she is bored or burnout. Create a plan. Help them find their path. If you don’t, when they leave tomorrow (they will), you won’t have a transition plan ready.
Plan C – Get Creative
If changing it up doesn’t work, leaving the company isn’t your only route to finding some passion again at work. These options are more aggressive than Plan B, but still worth considering:
- Can you change departments all together?
- Can you consider a lateral move for broader experience? Move to a new location/city/state?
- Can you move from a branch to corporate or vice versa? Focus on a top tier account(s), or a more specialized group?
- Can you move to a subsidiary or partner company? Move to a vendor or service provider?
Especially if you’ve been with a firm for a few years, use your panoramic view to get creative. Either way, do something. Don’t ignore the ennui (hint: this is what most of us do)!
In my situation above, I created a new position for myself by presenting how to resolve a systemic problem in the firm that needed a singular focus. I pitched it and management bought in. It was a win-win. I was re-invigorated and they benefited from an employee who was engaged again.
The Correct Plan: Adios & Hello
When first starting a job, most conscientious people strive to excel. They want to make a difference. They want to be noticed. As ambivalence sets in, we lose some of that steam. But stability is a double-edged sword. Stability and satisfaction are not the same things. When ennui turns to carelessness, and then apathy, start the search for something new. When you’ve already tried everything else ~ now it’s time to get mentally ready to move on.
Spend some time thinking about what you want to do next. Don’t forget to DESIRE and get emotionally involved with the thought. Remember, desire is like fuel.
- Start with thinking about all the things you dislike about your current job… and now imagine the opposite of them for your new job.
- Next, remember how excited you were when you first got your favorite job.
- Use that memory to cultivate a positive and excited frame of mind.
- Practice the feeling of having a job/position/accomplishment that makes you glow, from the inside. That ignites the process.
- Lastly, be open to new opportunities from everywhere. Consider new locations, new titles, and even new career paths if you can afford to do so. Then, go for it!
Having a better understanding of what you want is the first step to fulfillment no matter where you end up. Good luck!