Stop "Wearing" an Ill-Fitting Career

Career coach Lou Stoops tells the story of Jim, who hated his job for years. Although the company he worked for paid him well, Jim felt trapped. He literally dreaded going to work. Stoops recommended professional counseling, but also agreed to work with Jim on issues of career success. After some counseling, Jim's life began to take shape again. He saw that his job was comparable to a well-paid prison sentence. He needed to access his life interests and positively focus on a new career that offered a more congruent fit. Jim is now thriving in his own business-and it's a perfect fit!

Tom Welch, author of Work Happy Live Healthy, (http://www.workhappy.com) suggests the "Career Success formula." To love your life's work, four things must be in place. You must:

• Use the talents and skills you enjoy.
• Work around people you like.
• Make sure that your values are met.
• Be able to make a difference.

If all four of these are present, you will love what you do. If one or more are out of balance, dissatisfaction will begin to set in.

Promote Your Boss

Karen Wood, management consultant for IBM, thought she had a secure career. On the fast track up the corporate ladder at multi-billion dollar corporations, she consistently cut costs and exceeded expectations. But instead of being promoted she was fired from a six-figure job. What went wrong? "I focused on doing the best possible job I could while I watched mediocre performers get the promotions I thought I deserved," she said. "I should have focused on the most important thing-to make my boss successful."

Without your boss's trust and support, your career doesn't have a fighting chance. You can demonstrate that you are a loyal, trustworthy team player by getting to know your boss's "hot buttons," supporting their decisions, promoting their accomplishments, and upholding their vision in your day-to-day actions.

Wood adds, "While companies may lay off workers, managers will seldom lay off someone from their team whom they believe is critical to their success. In the world of business, few things take rocket science. Most people end up picking and keeping people who are trusted and loyal to the boss' vision."

Don't Let Other People's Values Affect Yours

Barbara, a 30-something manager is genuinely committed to her career and exceptionally competent at her job. She has her mind set on achieving an executive position, however it is becoming more difficult to dodge annoying questions from her family about having children. (When are you going to quit that job and have a baby? Your biological clock is ticking! . . .) Consequently, Barbara doubts herself. Can she actually have a high-powered career and raise a family? Because of her tendency to allow other people's values and beliefs to affect her, Barbara's work performance is slipping. She is showing up late and unprepared for important meetings and neglecting critical relationship building.

Barbara, like so many other professionals, is in danger of damaging her career to the point of no return unless she does some soul-searching on what she wants in life, not what others impose upon her due to their personal agendas.

Challenge Yourself With Hard Questions

Professional career coach Lisa Huff, (http://www.coach2success.com), advises those who are frustrated in their careers to start asking themselves difficult questions. "Why" and "how" questions ("Why is this happening to me?" "How come everyone else is getting promoted except me?") don't work, because they imply that the blame lies elsewhere; that the universe is "against you". Huff suggests that her clients take a look in the mirror to significantly improve their careers. The following questions are good starting points:

•  What is the real issue here? What are my core beliefs about this situation and are they limiting my potential?

•  If I'm not where I want to be, then what am I gaining from staying where I am? (Security, not having to change, etc.)

• What am I getting out of staying with a company that doesn't value my contribution?

• What could I be doing differently to get a different result?

Huff's clients are the best advertisement for her sage advice. Many have accelerated their job satisfaction by looking at their self-limiting behavior squarely in the eye and addressing it constructively and courageously..

You Can Shine . . .

If you aren't shining at work, don't give up. Most successful people endure periods of doubt and self-reflection before realizing their full potential. Putting these tips into practice is a great start for making sure your career soars to new heights!