I consistently have people tell me that they are disengaged, unmotivated, or unclear of a path for growth within their company. And then I also hear some of you tell me that you think you’ve accomplished everything you’ve wanted to accomplish in your job and are seeking other ways to grow and develop yourself. You might seek a new job because it provides you with a challenge and new things to learn, but that’s not the only way to grow and develop. 

 

One thing I do see a lot is that we lose sight of ourselves while working for someone else; you have to follow their rules and abide by their subjective feedback, adhere to their growth and development opportunities (or lack thereof), etc. It can be easy to lose sight of your own identity, individualism, your own needs and values, your own aspirations. Your company might not provide you with enough learning and development to keep you as motivated and engaged as you want or need. 

 

I will say, for myself, when I left the corporate world, my eyes were opened – everything was so new to me – the freedom to make all of my own decisions, not having to adhere to someone else’s policies, etc. It was a learning experience and I had to establish my own identity and find my own voice. I’d always had someone else’s rules to follow. I hadn’t realized that I had become a product of my environment. That being said, even before I became self-employed, I was constantly initiating my own growth and development. 

 

The good news is that there are things you can do yourself to become engaged and motivated again. Start off by doing a self-assessment: where are you now? Where do you want to go? What do you really want? How do you define success? What kinds of things energize you or drain you? What are your strengths and weaknesses and how can you play to your strengths and work around your weaknesses? What excites you? 

 

In what ways do you want to grow? Does it mean additional skills/competencies? Does it mean a higher title? Higher pay? An industry award? Designating yourself as a well-known thought leader? Creating and publicizing your own personal brand? Obtaining additional credentials or certification? Accomplishing something that scares you? Learning to set boundaries and communicate them? Becoming a better decision maker?