I know very well that there comes a time during our professional career where we suddenly seem off balance. Like we’re not as passionate, or giving or putting in as much effort. There is, however, a very big difference between feeling these feelings and internalizing them and actually getting in the way of work and affecting other people by acting unprofessionally. This becomes especially evident if you’re working with a team. It is by all means your right to be going through rough patches and feeling like you may be confused or dissatisfied with a particular aspect of your job but it should under no circumstance make you a liability and harm the people that you work with.
If you feel like you’ve been experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms but still want to keep your job and position intact, it’s time to think about the below points to re-examine your behavior.
You need to keep doing your job well without affecting the smooth flow of tasks and efficiency. If you aren’t happy at work, it shows in your job performance and may end up getting you fired. When thinking about how to keep a job, always strive to excel at it and give it your all even when you’re not in the best of your circumstances. If it’s making you miserable to the point that you can’t function properly, then maybe it’s time to say goodbye and move on.
Help your boss do their job well because if you’re slacking off, you’re likely causing them built up frustration and they are more likely to have a shorter fuse with you. If you’re in a rut, still look for ways to make your boss’ and teammates’ jobs easier, continuing to add value to your team. Things like not showing up to work and not giving your boss a heads up will get you into hot water with them, especially if they are trying to contact you to no avail.
Keep your boss and your team in the loop with the tasks that you have taken ownership of, especially when it comes to major things. If your boss isn’t aware of all your accomplishments, it makes it much easier for them to see you as a liability and someone that can easily be replaced.
I know this one is difficult and on a personal level, this is my biggest challenge. Keeping an open mind and taking on challenges that you might not be ready to face. You may be asked to work two jobs or take on responsibilities you never imagined — or that you know you won’t like — but be open to new job duties and responsibilities, especially if it means securing your position for at least the short term. As hard as it may be, I’m sure there are new things you will discover about yourself.
When things get tough and everything starts becoming unclear but you still aim to persevere and make a difference; try going back and remembering why you started doing all this in the first place. Re-visit all your accomplishments and hard work and sleepless nights and big wins. I’m sure it will eventually make a difference and push you to keep steering forward in the right direction. If all the above fails and you still can’t seem to make ends meet or feel internally satisfied with yourself, then you should probably start considering other options and figure out what will make you happier.
