Are You Really Loving Your Job?

By Deb Boelkes

Have you ever found yourself at work, thinking “What am I doing here?”

Most people have probably asked themselves that question at some point in their career. For most of my career I’ve enjoyed the people I’ve worked with and have loved what I did for a living. But there were a couple times I asked myself that very question, especially early on before I figured out my strong suits and learned how important it is to play to one’s strengths.

Probably the worst job I ever had was serving as a part-time fabric store clerk while attending fashion design school. The job was so boring that I found myself looking at my watch every five minutes. I didn’t stay in that position more than a couple weeks, but that was longer than I should have stayed. I’m sure my attitude about it didn’t do me or anyone else any favors. Yet, thankfully, because of that experience, I came to realize that there are certain aspects of work life that individuals shouldn’t compromise on.

While those aspects may vary from one person to the next, for me to be at my best it’s important for me to:

• Love what I’m doing
• Be proud of my company
• Believe passionately in our products and services, and
• Respect those I work with, including clients

If any of these essential ingredients are missing, it becomes difficult for me to be at my best. If my role doesn’t play to my passions and inspire me, it may not stop me from being a heartfelt leader to others, but performing with enthusiasm and achieving stellar results becomes challenging. Therefore, I’ve always strived to ensure that all the necessary elements remain in optimal alignment.  

I was once interviewed by a radio host who asked me, “If you could identify the primary thing that has made you successful, what would it be?”

I answered immediately: “I have always done what I loved to do and did well. If at any point I found I wasn’t really loving my job, I would either redesign my role or find another position.”   

When you love what you’re doing, you typically thrive—although there can be a few exceptions to this rule, like when any of your other essential elements are missing. That’s why on the second page of my book, The WOW Factor Workplace: How to Create a Best Place to Work Culture, I made the point, “People join companies and leave bosses.”

The good news is, if you love what you do, it’s quite possible to outlast a bad boss. I’ve certainly done that on more than one occasion. In fact, loving what you do can get you through all kinds of frustrations if you can maintain a positive attitude and focus on what’s important to you. Through perseverance, you might even be asked to become the replacement for that annoying boss of yours.

On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with leaving a situation that simply isn’t right for you and holds little promise for an exciting future. Should you decide to move on, be sure you can answer these three questions which an executive friend of mine likes to ask interviewees:

• What are your most deeply held values? 
• What are your unique strengths?
• What brings you joy in life?

How you answer these questions will define the most essential elements you should look for in your next position.  

Keep in mind that a job interview is a two-way street. Of course, it’s the organization’s chance to assess how you might add value to their team and fit within their culture. Yet, it’s also your opportunity to ask relevant, in-depth questions to assess whether there will be plenty of ways, both now and in the future, for you to leverage your strengths and find joy in a culture that 1) matches your values, and 2) will offer you both lateral and upward mobility. Any organizational culture or position that will make you feel like an impostor—where you can’t leverage your strengths and be your authentic self—won’t ever be right for you.

A strong suit isn’t just something that you’re good at, it’s something that brings you joy and fulfillment. It’s something you look forward to doing. Your strong suits are your special blend of talents and passions that propel you forward.  Leveraging your strong suits gives you energy (rather than exhausts you) and helps you realize your purpose in life.

If you need help to zero-in on what your strong suits are and determine how best to leverage them, ask people who know you well to describe what they believe are your unique gifts. You might also take an online assessment or two—CliftonStrengths and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator are two good starting points.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or transitioning to something new, finding a role that will allow you to do what you are naturally great at and would love doing, in a culture that matches your values, will elevate your performance and personal fulfillment. It will allow you to stand out from the crowd as you become the very best version of yourself.

So, if your job has become a drudge, perhaps it’s time for you to either redesign your role or move on to one that will better suit you. If nothing else, seek the advice of a favorite heartfelt leader—someone you respect and admire—who can help you evaluate what’s missing in your current situation and lay out some potential alternatives.  

If you don’t already have a mentor or know someone more experienced with whom you’d be comfortable sharing your career challenges, you might find my book Strong Suit: Leadership Success Secrets from Women on Top to be quite helpful. No matter your gender, and regardless of where you stand on the career ladder, you will find Strong Suit to be brimming with career tips and tactics and introspective questions that will enable you to determine a better way forward. A student who’s just beginning to chart a career strategy will find Strong Suit just as helpful as someone who’s at mid-career exploring a change. It can also be of tremendous value to any seasoned leader who’s well into their journey of living life without regrets.

Now, if you can honestly say that you really are loving your job, then praise the Lord.  My wish for you, in this case, is that you will now step up to making the world a better place by serving as a heartfelt mentor to someone who needs some guidance in finding the same kind of joy and fulfillment that you have found.

Heartfelt best wishes to you, wherever you are on your heartfelt leadership journey.