Everyone dreads Monday mornings, and the first day back after holidays. It’s natural to want to continue the leisurely time you have just spent with your family. But do you feel something more than that ? Hate every day- In fact every minute. You are bored, there is no job satisfaction, and you are in a rut.

Maybe you need to reconsider your career direction altogether.

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Confucius
Perhaps you should think about new career goals and how to achieve them. But in today’s difficult job market, leaving a secure job is a brave decision, or even a foolish one!

Usually in any situation you get out what you put in. So maybe you need to re-evaluate your attitude and behaviour and turn the situation around in your current job. Perhaps you can alter your career direction without giving up your position.

Here are some steps you can take;-

1. Set career goals
Your career should develop and evolve during the course of your life, but you need to actively set goals,and develop a strategy to control its course. Career management is a process by which you can guide, direct and influence your career path. Identify the type of career you wish to pursue and make decisions consistent with that goal and preference. This might help you see why you are dissatisfied now, and motivate you to change the situation.

2. Write down all the things that are problematic for you about the job , and divide them into 3 sections

1. Things under my control
2. Things I may be able to influence
3. Things out of my control

It is energising to do this exercise and identify the things we can and can’t control.
Now cross out column C,you can’t do anything about these things so forget them.
Now focus on columns A and B . What can you do to remove or influence those obstacles? Come up with a plan to change your situation.

3. Change your behavior and attitude
Now work out a strategy to achieve, or at least work towards , your career goals, keeping in mind the factors you have identified as needing to change , and change your behavior and attitude accordingly. Use your performance management meetings to discuss your aspirations with your manager, and identify skills you can develop to move you towards your goals. Ask successful colleagues and mentors for help and advice, and copy their behaviors and attitudes.

4. Analyse the Way you communicate and represent yourself.
Do you create a good impression with management? Are you well thought of? How do people react to you? What is your reputation? How do you want to change that ?

Review your process after a month and ask yourself if people are reacting differently to your new behavior and attitude. Do you feel happier in yourself, less stressed? Can you build on that in the next few weeks?

“Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it.”
Katherine Whitehorn