I frequently hear the following in much of my coaching work and life. “I am losing my ambition”. “Things that I used to care about at work, I don’t care about anymore”. “I don’t like who I am becoming at work”. Or another variation on the same theme, which boils down to this: I am just not into my work like I used to be. Is it me?
Work forms a large part of our identity and thoughts for many of us. So when we face a point in our careers where we feel the passion, ambition or desires we once had for our work diminish or no longer exist, it can be quite a confronting moment.
The short answer to “Is it me?” is this: maybe. Let’s find out.
I don’t know your circumstances and what might be going on for you. Maybe your organisation is dysfunctional, or the team, leadership and the job no longer serve you. So here’s my perspective based on my experience if you are feeling like this and questioning yourself. Take what works to help make sense of the situation and discard the rest.
First of all. If you are feeling like this, I would say cut yourself some slack. It’s been a tough few years for many of us. COVID and lockdowns, inflation and higher interest rates than anticipated, unrest in the world (war, famine, economic instability), and climate change, to name a few. Add to this macro picture whatever is happening at a personal level, and no wonder many of us are overwhelmed. So take a breath, find a quiet spot, bring your journal, and then ask yourself the following questions.
What phase of life am I in?
Depending on our life stage, the pressures it brings, behaviours and expectations, and the obstacles we face can all force us to reevaluate whether we have the same passion for work that we might once have had.
For example (and an oversimplification of a transition), as a 50+-year-old woman, I don’t want to be in the phase of my 30s and 40s where I am striving to eke a place for myself in the corporate world. On the continual cycle of growth, growth, and more, more and more. Where productivity is the only measure of success (or whatever the measures of success are in your industry or sector). That worked then; it doesn’t work for me now. It does not mean that I have lost passion or desire to contribute and be a fully engaged human in the world or that work no longer holds interest; it just means that that type of work no longer interests me…for now.
I am still ambitious, but about different things and doing it differently. The net of that is that I had to redefine what success looks like for me in this phase of my life, and you might need to as well. That in itself forces us to question what our new reality might be.
Have my needs changed?
When you started your career or even the job you are in today; you had particular needs that were being fulfilled. Perhaps it was financial security, new skills, or a particular team or an environment in which you wanted to gain new experiences. Whatever the reasons are, there are needs behind those reasons. Asking what your needs (and desires, for that matter) are in today’s context and about your role is an important consideration. Perhaps the work you do today no longer fulfils these needs. Do you know what your needs are today? And how does your current job or role fulfil those needs?
Do I need a break?
When was the last time you had a meaningful break with some downtime? Time to just be and not do. Where being productive on holiday was not the goal? So perhaps you are tired (as opposed to exhausted or burnout, which requires a different approach). Maybe you are not getting enough sleep, exercise, meaningful connections, mother nature time outside, wholesome foods and whatever else refreshes and recharges you. If you are not sure, do an audit for a fortnight and see what is happening. Make some changes, and see what that tells you.
Is it the environment?
Evaluating whether you are in a work environment that still serves you is essential. Perhaps the culture is changing, you have a new boss or team members, and you are not aligned with their values. Perhaps you don’t agree with the decisions being made, or they cross an ethical boundary for you. This all impacts us, determining whether we like our work or not. Perhaps in this world of limited resources and budgets, you are being asked to do things beyond your role’s scope and to the detriment of other areas of your life. So take a hard look at where you are and see whether the environment brings out the best in you or is it one that drains you.
Can I re-design my job or do something else in the organisation?
This one is trickier for most, but it is still an option. What is possible, depending on the size of the organisation and the roles available? Can you shed parts of the role you have outgrown that might be a development opportunity for someone else? Can you do another job you always wanted to try or move to another area of your organisation that can leverage your skills? Chat with your manager, next level up, or human resources on what might be possible. Changing the view does change the perspective and gives you a new lease on the career and the investment you have made in a role.
Is it me?
I am assuming high levels of self-awareness here because I don’t think you would have read this far down if not. So perhaps it is you that has changed. Not only in terms of life stage, needs or desires but also about skills, experience and outlook.
Perhaps your outlook or thinking has changed, and you need a new challenge. Perhaps your values have evolved, and the alignment with the work is no longer there. This is all natural and all part of growth. So yes, maybe it is you, and you have outgrown the job or the industry you are in, and you need to do something different.
So if you find yourself not sure if you have lost your ambition for the job you have today or don’t feel that the work you do is meaningful for you anymore, then my hope is some of the questions will prompt you to think about the situation differently and allow you to consider what actions you might take.
And please remember, we don’t have to do this alone. If you are not in a good place, contact your organisation’s internal services, such as Employee Assistance Programs or external services, such as Lifeline or Beyond Blue (in Australia) and get some help. Consider hiring a coach, talk to a friend, consult a trusted advisor, or chat with your boss or manager for career transitions and planning. Again, you are not alone in feeling this way, and the more we acknowledge and talk about it, the healthier the world of work will be.
In summary:
Redefine what success looks like for you in this phase of your life.
- Define (or redefine) your needs and desires for today (and, if you like, do it for the next two years). How are those being met today in your current role or organisation?
- Take time out and consider alternative work arrangements.
- Outline how your current environment brings out the best in you and how it might no longer serve you. What can you change?
- Do a values assessment (check out some values work I have written about previously) and see what has changed for you.
- Brainstorm ideas on how you might re-design your job and which other parts of the organisation you might work in.
- Seek assistance. Test your thinking with a mentor, colleagues in your organisation or industry, a career coach or an external provider.
And if you still cannot see yourself doing the work after all that, then perhaps it is time to consider looking for new work elsewhere.
As always, if you invest in yourself, the rewards will be unfathomable.
Until next time.
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