What exactly is career success? Well, it's going to depend on who you ask. Success means different things to different people. But there is at least one thing that we all have in common, we all want to get a sense of satisfaction from what we do.
When you think about the amount of time we spend at work, spending that time in a job you hate can feel like a nightmare. We also want to feel appreciated by our bosses and colleagues. And we certainly don’t want to feel that work is a never-ending cycle of stress and possible burnout. When you enjoy your work you feel better and you perform better. And just as enjoying your work has positive impacts on other areas of your life, being unhappy in your job can impact your life negatively. Do not underestimate the power of job satisfaction.
So, what's the secret to a successful and satisfying career? Here are 9 tips to help you find satisfaction and fulfillment at work
1. Don't let anyone tell you what’s best for you
Ignore anyone who says, "Pick this field because it has lots of opportunities right now," or "You will make loads of money in this sector which will more than make up for hating your job," or "I like this career and therefore you will like it too” They may be well-meaning, but these statements are among the many myths about career choices. All of them ignore one important thing: your career choice is a personal one that will have a significant effect on your life. Your career choice is based on your values above all else. And although there is a lot of talk about money, the relationship between earnings and job satisfaction is minimal.
2. Measure your own success
How do you define success? Is it the size of your salary? Having a certain job title or how many people you manage? Is it the feeling you get when you know you did a great job on a challenging project or the one you get when you know you helped someone? Perhaps a successful day is you coming home at a reasonable hour to spend time with your family. We all measure success differently and ultimately you are the only one who can decide what it means to you. Your satisfaction with your career is strongly linked to whether you feel you have met your own goals, not someone else's.
3. Ask for help when you need it
Nobody knows it all. Yes, there are people with more experience than you, and with that experience comes knowledge. Learn from the people around you. You need experienced colleagues in your network. A mentor who can guide you through your career is a great way to develop. In addition to advising you on how to advance, a mentor can help you learn about an occupation you may be considering, get the lowdown on an employer before a job interview, and help you solve problems at work.
4. Never feel like you are stuck
No matter how careful you are about choosing the "right" career or job there may come a time when you want to make a change. You will probably be able to come up with a whole host of reasons not to do it (change can be scary after all!) but consider it anyway. Take this saying to heart: "If you don't like where you are, move. You are not a tree that’s rooted to one place for your entire life.”
5. Own your mistakes
Everybody makes mistakes. Even the most senior leaders have made mistakes along the way. Mistakes are a normal part of life. Even if you try hard not to, mistakes are bound to happen at some point. Of course, you will do what you can to avoid making a catastrophic error, but sometimes they happen, despite your best efforts. While your instinct may be to run away and hide, that is the worst thing you can do. Owning and admitting to an error demonstrates leadership and courage. Finding a solution, or at least taking an action that mitigates its effects, will help restore your reputation and make you feel better. Plus you will be able to take learning from the situation to develop and avoid repeating the same mistake again.
6. Don't overlook those who help you
Whilst it might sound really simple to acknowledge anyone who helps us in our careers and at work, it's genuinely a significant gesture. Whether someone gives you five minutes of their time or introduces you to a potential new employer, it's important to let that person know that it meant something to you. And when they or someone else needs help, try to be that person that returns the favour.
7. Try to avoid always seeing the negatives
This can be challenging. Especially if you are in a job or workplace that you don't really like. It can feel almost impossible to find the positive and easy to see the negative in everything. Do you know a colleague who always finds something to complain about? Try to avoid being that person. Not only will it make you feel worse about your situation and potentially get in the way when it comes to making a change. But you could end up bringing everyone else down too. Above all else, a negative attitude drains your energy which can make it even harder if you need to start looking for a new role. Whilst you should never ignore problems, instead of just complaining, look for ways to fix them by suggesting solutions.
8. Don't let your self talk drag you down
From time to time you might have a little niggly voice inside your head telling you that you’re not good enough or smart enough. Many of us have this critical self-talk. Learning how to handle and quiet this voice will make a big difference to how you feel at work. There are plenty of people who are quite willing to bring you down without you needing to do it to yourself too. When you make a mistake, admit it, fix it, and move on. Mistakes are no reflection on your character nor a measure of your value. If you are missing a skill or need to get some more training, take the necessary measures to improve. Positive self-talk tells you things like “This is an opportunity for me to try something new” or “I can’t control what other people think, say or do. I can only control me”
9. Listen more and speak a little less
You can learn a lot by listening carefully just as you miss a lot if you don't. Active listening is making a conscious effort to hear not only the words that the other person is saying but more importantly the complete message that is being communicated. Whether your boss is explaining a new project to you or telling you about their weekend, it's important to understand what they are really saying. Careful listening will prevent misunderstanding and help you build rapport with others. We learn so much about ourselves and others by listening. And when we’re learning, we’re improving. When you listen more you’re also more aware of opportunities.
Having a successful career is less about what you choose to do, and more about the way in which you do it. Finding fulfillment is taking responsibility for yourself and for how you feel.
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