The idea of pursuing challenging work has become popular in recent years, especially among new generations of workers. As the world continues to develop, more and more people seek meaningful and fulfilling careers. Work is no longer a matter of subsistence and wages. People want careers that bring satisfaction to their lives.
But what makes a career fulfilling? The answer varies from person to person. However, some key factors must be present in order for a career to be satisfying.
In this article, we’ll explore the five key ingredients for a successful career and the importance of incorporating them into your work.
1. Do what you are good at
The first important factor is to do what you are good at. This means that at work you need to do what you are naturally good at: use your talents.
Talents are natural aptitudes that often seem easy to harness. They give you energy and give you great joy and satisfaction.
According to research When you choose jobs that let you do what you do best, you will be more productive, perform better, be more engaged in your work, and ultimately feel happier and more fulfilled. about it.
Showing your talents also creates a feeling of being “in the zone,” or in a state of flow. I am completely focused on the task at hand and hours seem to pass like minutes.
Psychologist and author of Flow, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, describes flow as “a state of concentration or complete immersion in the activity or situation at hand.” It’s a situation where people are so absorbed in some activity that other things don’t matter. “
Csikszentmihalyi’s research shows that people feel happier when they’re in a state of flow. In fact, his research shows that there is a positive correlation between flow and happiness. If work allows you to enter this state, it will bring you joy and lasting satisfaction. It all starts with leveraging what you are naturally good at.
2. Do work that intrigues you
The second factor is doing work that piques your interest. If you are naturally interested in something, you will enjoy the time you spend on it more.
Forget the idea of finding your passion. Passion is, by definition, an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. Being passionate suggests that you are into or obsessed with something. But not everyone feels this way about something.
Instead, focus on what inspires you. What would you like to know more about? What would you like to be more involved with?
3. Do work that helps others
The third factor is doing work that helps others. A sense of accomplishment comes when you feel that you are making a difference and making an impact in someone’s life. In fact, helping others gives your life meaning and fulfills a basic need to contribute. Giving makes us feel important, special, and needed. It also satisfies a fundamental desire to bring something into the world that benefits others.
The virtue of serving humanity has not only been expressed in the writings of numerous philosophers and thinkers throughout history, but has also been supported by scientific research. In fact, a study from Emory University found that giving activates the part of the brain that produces pleasure.
Helping others provides a powerful path to lasting happiness, so I want to do work that can add value and have a positive impact on others.
4. Do a job that allows you to grow
The fourth element is to do work that allows you to grow. This consists of jobs that provide opportunities for advancement and challenging responsibilities. It also includes a work environment where you can receive constructive feedback and recognition of your work.
When your work gives you a great sense of accomplishment and makes you the best version of yourself, you will definitely feel fulfilled.
In fact, according to the two-factor theory developed by the renowned American psychologist Frederick Herzberg, the factors that enable personal growth are those that provide high motivation and create extreme satisfaction in the workplace. They are a great source of happiness and fulfillment.
5. Avoid negative factors
Last but not least, avoid factors that can cause extreme frustration. These factors include company policies and management styles that conflict with your values, unhealthy relationships with superiors and colleagues, poor working conditions and pay, and lack of job security.
Based on the two-factor theory, the absence of these factors can be a source of extreme frustration.
There’s no point in doing what you love if you can’t make a living or have a difficult boss. Similarly, if your job involves changing the lives of thousands, but you work in an abusive environment, you may feel frustrated. If there are negative factors, it will be difficult to achieve.
Combine these five key factors and you’ll find a fulfilling job. Workplace satisfaction isn’t something you make up or someone else creates for you. It’s something you build yourself. It starts with understanding what brings you fulfillment and building a career to achieve it. This requires maintaining self-awareness and continuously investing in yourself and your growth to take advantage of what makes you grow. The key is to take control of your career and do what it takes to establish a career that makes you happy, even if it means taking risks, having tough conversations, and making difficult decisions. is.
“Happiness is not pre-made, it comes from your own actions.”–His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
***
Maxine Skerrett is an Executive Coach and a Gallup Certified Strength Coach. Since 2015, she has worked with hundreds of professionals to discover what they do best and maximize their potential at work.
As the founder of Pure Bliss Coaching, Maxine strengths-based culture By offering StrengthsFinder workshops and coaching programs for leaders and teams.
She also said that the organization strengths-based culture By offering StrengthsFinder workshops and coaching programs for leaders and teams.
Learn more about her strengths-based coaching program
Learn more about her StrengthsFinder corporate workshop
