Читать книгу Prep, Push, Pivot - Octavia Goredema - Страница 20

Here are some questions I've been asked about career values, goals, and challenges at work.

1 I have a goal, but I'm struggling to make progress; what do I do?If your heart is still set on achieving your goal, breaking it down into smaller pieces is the best place to start. It feels too immense, you'll start to panic.If you're like me, there are times when there's an important task you know you must do, but you'll find almost anything else to do instead. Remind yourself why the task is important, use visual cues if you can that cement in your mind why you're doing this in the first place. Then, the most effective and efficient thing to do is to develop a “procrastination antidote” that gets you on track.Your system could be sharing your progress with a friend, or keeping a calendar on your wall, or tracking next steps in an app. Try whatever it takes. For me personally, removing any distractions so I can focus on what I need to do works every time. This involves ignoring e-mail, turning off my phone, and just diving in. If it helps, create a personal incentive as a reward for finally getting the task done and off your to-do-list.After you rip off the bandage and just start, you'll usually find your task wasn't as scary as you feared it would be. Often our minds inflate the task to be bigger, scarier, or more laborious than it really is. So, find the antidote that will get you started, because the sooner you start, the sooner you'll be on your way.

2 I like my job, but my boss is a micromanager, and I'm worried he's holding me back. What should I do?The fact you're enjoying your role and want to advance is fantastic. With that foundation in place, you can still progress, even with a micromanager as a boss. The first thing you need to determine is how your boss feels about your performance. Have you had a performance review? What was the feedback? If your boss is happy with your work, his tendency to micromanage may be a character trait versus a reflection on you.Micromanagers have specific characteristics, and it's likely you're one of many people who are affected by their challenging work style. Try not to let it get you down. Instead, focus on the positive elements of your job that you find rewarding, skills you are learning, or the networks and experience you are building.While it's painful to endure, remember you won't be stuck with your micromanaging boss forever. Anticipate your boss's needs but continue to do your best work and maintain a positive attitude. If there's something specific you need to support your professional development, talk to your boss about it and listen carefully to the response. Creating a dialogue about your future goals, and how you can do your best work, is a positive thing to do.

3 I hate my job, but I'm afraid if I start a new job, it will be just as bad. What do I do?If you don't like something at work, you have options. No one should stay in a situation that's not working for them. The important thing is to be clear on what you do want. Spend time reviewing your responses to the Career Values questions. They will help you identify if there are ways you could make some positive changes in your current role. If that's not possible, your career values are like a compass: they'll show the direction you need to move toward.Deciding is liberating. When you know what you need in the next phase of your career, plan with intent and start thinking about who can help you figure out the steps you're unsure of. Between friends, their friends, the Internet, books, podcasts, and social media, there's a deep bench of people, tools, and resources you can leverage to help you prepare for your next opportunity.Your career values will also help you as you work through the interview process during your job search. You will have already decided what you want, and what your nonnegotiables are. That insight, coupled with your experiences in your current role, means you're unlikely to end up in an identical situation to the one you're in now. Things can—and will—get better.