How To Use Your Job To Transform As a Person
Stories have long showcased the potential for personal growth and transformation that can be found within our jobs.
There are examples all around us, from Clark Kent’s transformation into Superman to the iconic coming-of-age journey of Harry Potter.
In this article, we explore how you can harness the power of your own professional journey, using it as a catalyst for personal development, just like these beloved characters.
So, grab your metaphorical cape or wand, and let’s embark on an adventure that will unleash your inner hero and reveal the transformative magic that lies within your job.
Embarking on your career journey
Do you remember when you left school and were excited to start a new job, thinking you had left exams behind?
You may never have to write another exam.
However, you can be tested on your job every day.
Your peers and boss will judge you.
How you react to various situations at work can impact your career.
Professional development on the job is not just about where you see yourself five years from now or what position you will hold.
Learning is a continuous process.
When you take the time to observe yourself, you can transform as a person and experience growth – on both a professional and personal level.
Knowing others is intelligence. Knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power. – Lao Tzu
Use your job to transform as a person:
1. Evaluate yourself often.
Some companies offer annual employee reviews where you fill out a form for self-evaluation and then meet with your supervisor to discuss areas of improvement.
Why wait to evaluate yourself once a year?
Learning and development take time, and growth is a process of small steps.
You can evaluate yourself often – even daily – or at the moment.
Notice how you react to others when things are going well, compared to how you handle stressful times.
Is your mood dependent on outside circumstances?
Can you find something to be grateful for even when things aren’t going well?
Noticing your feelings allows you to take stock and acknowledge when you have done well.
It also helps you to identify areas where you could improve or grow.
2. Step outside of your comfort zone.
Sometimes, your job will take you outside of your comfort zone.
When you are feeling uncomfortable, it’s often a sign that you’re on the verge of transformation.
Think of something you have considered trying but are apprehensive about in your job.
For example, do you have an opportunity to try something new, such as training others or speaking at a conference?
When you put yourself outside of your comfort zone and try something new, you will learn from the experience.
You may even discover a talent you didn’t know you had!
3. Engage with others.
You can learn more about yourself by engaging with other people.
Interacting with your co-workers lets you learn more about them, their ideas, and their values.
Seek out and have conversations with people you might not have spent time with previously.
Keep an open mind that you will learn new things and may even have your views challenged.
Opening yourself up to new perspectives stimulates your creativity and encourages growth.
It will help you to become more discerning in your ideas, values, and needs.
4. Figure out what you don’t want.
Whether you are just starting your career or already a veteran, your professional needs will change over time.
You may have enjoyed a particular position for some time and find that you no longer feel challenged or fulfilled.
There may be certain tasks that you dread doing each day.
This doesn’t mean that you will drop all undesirable tasks immediately.
If you are spending most of your working day performing tasks that you do not enjoy, it signifies time for a change – either within the company or it’s time to move on altogether.
By identifying what you DON’T want, you get clarity on what you do want.
When you figure this out, it’s time to ask for what you need.
5. Ask for what you need.
You get to choose your path.
If you are in a good company, your manager will support you when you ask for what you need.
You are directing your career, nobody else.
Your needs can be short or long-term.
Perhaps you need support on a particular project because you are working long hours and need a break.
Or maybe you see yourself heading in a direction you had not intended, and it’s time to switch course.
Having a vision and a plan to get you from where you are to where you want to be, supports your professional and personal growth.
Allow for changes to the plan as well.
Use your job to promote lifelong learning
As you spend much of your time working, you have ample opportunity to learn more about yourself.
Too often, people start on a path to reach a particular career position or obtain a certain salary.
When they get there, they become complacent.
With complacency, you don’t allow yourself to reach your full potential.
Challenging yourself, learning from others, and being clear on your needs will facilitate your transformation.
Regular self-evaluation will set you on a clear path to maximize achievement, allowing for growth along the way.
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