“Do not wish to be anything but what you are and try to be that perfectly.”
–St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Over my career, I have had several jobs where I was absolutely miserable. Has this been your situation? How many times have you struggled to overcome a weakness related to areas where you simply don’t have an interest or don’t have the natural talent to do?
How much satisfaction would you experience if you worked in a position where you focus on your strengths and actually do what you do best every day?
How much satisfaction would you experience if your workplace was a perfect match to your core values?
How much satisfaction would you experience on the job if it fit perfectly your personality and temperament?
Then let me offer three ideas you should use immediately.
Discover your strengths
To do this, I recommend StrengthsFinder2.0, the New York Times bestseller by Tom Rath. Here is one quote from his book: “Studies indicate that people who do have the opportunity to focus on their strengths every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs and more than three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life in general.”
Rath’s premise is you build on your natural talents or those areas where you have greatest potential to develop strengths.
Rath’s formula: Talent (a natural way of thinking, feeling, or behaving) x Investment (time spent practicing, developing your skills and building your knowledge base) = Strength (the ability to consistently provide near perfect performance).
I purchased the book and went online to take the 30-minute assessment. As a result I discovered what makes me stand out and I received a strength-based action plan.
Find the assessment tools at: https://www.strengthsfinder.com
Determine your core values
You must understand your core values in order to identify a new career path and to know if a particular job really suits you. What are your core values? These could include:
- Family-oriented
- Close friendships
- Hardworking
- Religious/spiritual life
- Honesty & integrity
- Helping others
- Decision-maker
- Lifelong learning
- Self-improvement
- Physical health
Thus, a job that conflicts with family and personal relationships, for instance, may be less satisfying to you. Take your time and dig deep to uncover your core values; those you cannot live without; those important values that motivate you to do your best work.
Determine your workplace values
What suits your personality and temperament? Workplace values could include:
- Fairness
- Time flexibility
- Financial rewards
- Stability and security
- Honesty & integrity
- Recognition
- Respect
- Autonomy
- Teamwork over competition
- Change and variety
- Creative expression
- Clear path to advancement/personal growth
Your core values and workplace values should form the basis of your career-planning decisions.
Summary
Do not waste your valuable time and energy trying to succeed in a job that isn’t congruent or in harmony with your natural talents and strengths. Remember that Talent x Investment = Strength.
Then you must determine your core values and workplace values to find out if the job really suits you – if it will be a good fit. You must search for employment in areas you are most likely to be more effective and successful.
Finally, take to heart these words of Elsie Lincoln Benedict (1921):
“No person achieves success or happiness when compelled to do what he naturally dislikes to do. Since these likes and dislikes stay with him to the grave, one of the biggest modern problems is that of helping men and women to discover and to capitalize best those things which permit him to act in accordance with his natural bents.”
A new survey by Right Management found that 84 percent of employees are planning to look for new and brighter opportunities elsewhere in 2012. Are you?
If so, be sure to use the ideas in this article for job-hunting success!!
Want more job-hunting ideas?
Check out my e-book What Every Unemployed Woman Over 50 Should Know: 17 Success Strategies to Land Your Next Job
http://www.WomenOver50JobSearchStrategies.com
