Un-Do Yourself

Life is not perfect, right? I don't expect anything in my life to be perfect, but work is one of those places where I expect a certain level of satisfaction. I mean we basically live there! Unfortunately, that is not always the case. In my conversations with women about work; there are specific words that creep in--almost always. What do these words have in common "UN"?! When describing your job you say things like, "unfulfilled, under appreciated, under valued, unmotivated"? The list could go on, but you get the point. Why is it that we stay in jobs or companies that make us feel this way? Is it stability or comfort? I don't know your reason, but in the past, I have endured the curse of the "UN" out of fear. I had no idea what I would encounter in other workplaces or (based on my friends similar experiences), I thought they were all the same.

I remember a particular work setting that made me feel miserable EVERYDAY. I was finally in a professional setting and moving towards building the career of my dreams and there was more drama than a high school cheer squad. I can say that because I was a high school cheerleader. The manager hired young talent and managed through fear. She would threaten our weekends if we didn't produce or warn us of potential layoffs if our department wasn't performing. I stayed there because I was afraid that no other employer would look twice at me because I was entry level. I thought that was my only opportunity to gain experience.

Well, I am here to tell you that there is no amount of fear, uncertainty, or security to keep you in situations that leave you filling un-(fill in the blank).

I am by no means saying that you should quit your job or do something equally drastic. However, maybe you should consider doing something about the situation to make it better. My example was an extreme case. I have experienced other workplaces where I was unmotivated and felt under appreciated. Having a conversation with the right leader in the organization could make a difference. Is there someone that you could talk to in an effort to find more engaging work or create a plan for growth? Here are a few tips to managing those feelings about your workplace:

Unmotivated or unfulfilled-If you are feeling that your work doesn't excite you or you would like a challenge; I would suggest consider joining project teams or asking for assignments that fit your natural talents. Of course, you want to make sure you are performing well in your current role before asking for more.

Unappreciated or under valued-Maybe your manager doesn't say thank you or give you the credit your deserve for the work that you do. It is important that leaders understand what appreciation means to each team members. If this is not the case, manage up and let your manager know how you feel.

Under compensated or under employed-Now this can be a challenging one to navigate. If you are feeling like you have out grown your role; are you willing to make the change to eliminate this feeling? Are there other roles in the company that would take you to the next level? Are you ready? I would suggest talking with a manager or mentor about a development plan that will prepare you for the next role either within your current company or others.

I challenge you to think of the reasons that you come home feeling drained from work or the reasons that you dread Monday mornings. Once you get to the root of your UN; do something about it! Share your thoughts in the comments. They may help someone else UN-DO themselves!