Revitalize your career: part I of a two-part series

T+D, Jan, 2003 by Deb Koen

The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.

--Eleanor Roosevelt

Do Roosevelt's words describe your working life? If not, you may have hit a plateau. If you feel as if you have no new mountains to scale or trails to blaze, if you yearn for greater fulfillment in a career that's lost its pizzazz, you may think your only options are promotion to a higher position or abandonment of your job. However, there are many simple ways to enrich your work experience, and changing just one aspect of your job can create a ripple effect throughout your work and home lives. Here are a few suggestions.

Focus on meaningful work. Information overload, competing priorities, and established habits can conspire to pull you away from your underlying mission.

To consciously redirect your energy, imagine that you have only six months left in your current position. Ask yourself what you would want to accomplish in the remaining time. Stepping back from your daily routine to consider your legacy can help separate the meaningful aspects of your work from the mundane.

To focus on meaningful work,

* complete a values inventory to determine why you work, other than money

* list your top three work priorities and organize your time to reflect their importance. (That may mean letting go of items farther down the list.)

* get rid of one energy-draining, low-impact responsibility--delegate it, eliminate it, or redesign it

* start or revisit a compelling project that has been pushed aside.

Share your expertise. If you know your job so well that you could do it in your sleep, consider passing on some of your wisdom. By writing, teaching, or mentoring, you can contribute to colleagues' development while enriching your work experience. Many people find this shift in orientation extremely rewarding.

To share your expertise,

* write an article for your organizations newsletter, a professional journal, or an industry Website

* offer your skills as a volunteer. (Community service is rewarding and can provide you with valuable work experience and connections.)

* teach a course or facilitate a workshop outside of your current job. (Offer it to a different department in your company, for an association conference, or as a community college course.)

* mentor a less-experienced co-worker formally or informally.

Enhance your network. Expanding and diversifying your network can breathe new life into your career. Both formal and informal venues can help you gain exposure to fresh faces and novel perspectives.

To enhance your network,

* join a cross-functional team or taskforce that will expose you to various work groups in your organization

* discuss your career goals with role models--for example, a mentor or a successful colleague whose work you've observed

* conduct informational interviews with people whose jobs interest you and with vendors and consultants who can provide outside perspectives

* join a committee, conduct a study, or assist with event planning for a professional association

* become a board member for a not-for-profit organization to interact with new people while developing strategic planning and fundraising skills.

Reconfigure your job. Conduct an audit of your current work with an eye toward creative change. Figure out how you could do your job differently while continuing to provide value to your employer. For example, you might shift your focus to developing a specialty area or creating a flexible schedule.

To reconfigure your job,

* consider such alternative work arrangements as an early-in, early-out schedule, part-time work, job sharing, or telecommuting. (When proposing the plan to your manager, be sure to outline the benefits to the organization.)

* delegate or eliminate, when possible, less-preferred job functions

* seek a stretch assignment or project that will allow you to work autonomously, in a leadership position, or in an area new to you.

Tip the work-life balance toward personal development. Rather than view your job as boring, use the current leveling-off period to work in relative calm, freeing up energy to focus on other pursuits. Whether it's a hobby, a relationship, or an education that you give your attention to, thank your temporarily mellow job for the opportunity.

To tip the balance toward personal development,

* attend a career planning workshop or do self-assessment exercises to clarify your priorities

* take a class or start a new hobby that will be both enjoyable and developmental

* become a futurist. Track trends and begin scenario planning.

* travel to broaden and deepen your perspective. Discover regional retreats, or invest in a journey to a dream destination.

* use earned vacation time by building in a three-day weekend every month.

Making a commitment to change even one aspect of your worklife will yield surprising results and lead to new, rich experiences.

Additional Resources

* Values Inventory

www.saf.uwplatt.edu/counsel/career/workval.htm simple, free exercise on work values