There was a time when I had been promoted to a director position at an international company. It was a strategic role and I’d been told I’d be responsible for developing and delivering a roadmap which would be tightly aligned with the greater organizational strategy.
Yet, every day non-valued-added activities landed in my inbox. It was disconcerting because there was an enormous volume of work, but it was absolutely mind-numbing.
I became increasingly frustrated by my situation. I also wondered if anyone else had noticed that I was “working below my pay grade”.
My discontent was compounded by the fact that my direct manager admitted that they recognized the work I was doing was mundane, but said it needed to get done by somebody.
I didn’t find this comment reassuring since there was no acknowledgment that I could expect things to improve in the future.
So, what do you do when your work no longer pushes your limits? Do you relish the break from being intellectually challenged? Or do you question whether this situation is indicative of stagnation?
Find the full transcript and other resources for women leaders at www.livingwhileleading.com/8.
How Women Leaders Can Distinguish Between Meaningful Work and Busyness
At the heart of every successful woman executive lies an intrinsic value to work hard. In fact, hard work and dedication have been the foundation of your success.
You’ve reached a point in your career where the challenges you had come to expect with each new position or assignment have started to dwindle. This leaves you to battle with an internal monologue that equates ease with inadequacy.
You’re faced with the dilemma of reconciling your deep-seated value for hard work with the unsettling feeling that you might not be doing enough.
The distinction between engaging in busy or unchallenging work and meaningful work is crucial since it affects your job satisfaction, motivation, and career trajectory. Invest time to assess your situation by answering the following questions.
Assess Alignment with Core Values and Objectives
- Are the tasks or projects you’re working on aligned with your core values, career goals or the company’s mission?
- Are you primarily focused on tasks that seem to exist without clear ties to larger objectives such as excessive reporting or attending meetings with no clear agenda?
- Ask yourself if you’re consistently engaged in activities that could be delegated or automated?
Evaluate the Long-Term Impact
- Are you engaged regularly in activities that have a tangible, lasting impact on your organization, team, or professional growth?
- Are you mostly focused on activities that provide short-term results or none at all such as manually updating spreadsheets or presentations?
Reflect on Personal Fulfillment and Growth
- Do you find yourself learning, evolving, and feeling a deeper connection to your work?
- Does your work make you feel accomplished and proud?
- Do you find your work monotonous and draining?
- Do you have a sense of relief when it’s over or a feeling of dread that you’ll have to do it all over again soon?
- Does your work rarely contribute to your skill development or career advancement?
These are all tough but necessary questions you need to honestly respond to.
Steps Business Women Can Take to Navigate Unchallenging Work
It’s quite possible that the ease in your work is a testament to your mastery, efficiency, and the systems you’ve put in place. It’s essential to enjoy the fruits of your labor and the processes you’ve established.
However, it’s equally crucial to ensure you’re not becoming too comfortable. Prolonged periods of unchallenging work can lead to professional stagnation which impacts your professional growth and personal fulfillment.
Think about the times you felt most alive and engaged with your work. I bet it was when you were pushing boundaries, learning, and growing.
If you’re no longer challenged by your work, consider the following:
- Shift your mindset. Remember, the value you contribute isn’t always determined by the difficulty of the work you’re engaged in. Challenging work can be an indicator of growth, but it isn’t the only marker.
- Sit with your feelings of discomfort. Are they stemming from mastery or inertia? If it’s the latter, then it’s time to reevaluate.
- Growth requires you to step out and actively identify challenges, rather than waiting for them to come to you. Get creative. Whether it’s a new project, skill, or mentoring others, there’s always opportunity for expansion.
- Take a moment to revisit and revise both your short-term and long-term goals. Maybe it’s time to set the bar higher.
I opened the podcast with a story about how I wasn’t being challenged at my job. I realized that it wasn’t the uninspiring work that made me uneasy.
It was the realization that I was wasting time and not pursuing my goal of becoming an entrepreneur. Which ultimately, what I’ve become.
If you’re experiencing career stagnation, embrace the moment and recognize it as a possible springboard to your next great career challenge!
Remember, you’re the solution to claiming what’s important to you.
