Due to the corona pandemic, the climate crisis, the economic situation and the Ukraine war, many have begun to question their job and working conditions thoroughly. Does the day-to-day work fulfill me? What do I actually need in order to be able to work effectively, purposefully and with joy? Mr W. asked himself the same thing.
By Reinhild Furstenberg
Mr. W.* is 46 years old and a food technician in a large company. He has been working for the same company for 13 years, knows all the products and processes, has been promoted in the meantime and is valued by his colleagues for his open and helpful nature. He also thinks the relationship with his colleagues is great, some of whom he has known since he started at the company.
During the corona pandemic, Mr. W. was on short-time work a lot. This was very unusual for him at first and also a little scary. He had practically worked through the last few years, often with a lot of stress and anger and little time during the week to catch his breath. And with that, little time for yourself. All of a sudden he had to learn what it was like not to drive to work in the morning as usual and to have a structured daily routine ahead of him.
With more and more distance to his work, Mr. W. began to think about what his job actually meant to him and what he still lacked for his professional happiness. Did he want to continue working like this for the next few years? Was his ability challenged enough? Did he still enjoy his projects? Mr. W. noticed that he had worked like a hamster wheel for a long time and felt more and more exhausted and helpless.
When he and his colleagues were able to return to the company, his mood did not improve. He began to brood more and more and realized that he wouldn’t be able to get any further on his own with his chaos of thoughts. Because actually he had been satisfied. What was going on? Finally, Mr. W. called us and made an appointment.
Too much work, not enough sense
At the first meeting, Mr. W. is visibly excited. The counselor calmly asks: What exactly is it that bothers Mr. W. about his work and what is important to him for the future of his job? Where are the doubts coming from? It turns out that Mr. W. increasingly has the feeling that his work makes no sense. Routine day in and day out – he lacks inspiration and challenge. He also works far too much overtime, often feels too numbers-driven and stressed, which also affects his private life. The shift work is also becoming increasingly difficult for him. He doesn’t feel well anymore. At the same time, the thought of changing jobs now scares him. Especially when he thinks of the many rising costs and increasing crises that are currently keeping the world on its toes. He can’t find a way out and can’t get himself sorted.
Mr. W. should now imagine what his ideal work could look like. He immediately thinks of a small, more family-run company that might deal with organic products and bring exciting new items to the market. Maybe also makes vegetarian and vegan alternatives. Or special food for the sick. He sees many possibilities. And I want to make a difference and make a difference.
The counselor and Mr. W. consider together what he might miss or what the disadvantages might be if he gave up his secure and well-paid job. Maybe he wouldn’t earn as much in a small company anymore. And he would lose his colleagues with whom he is so well attuned and familiar. The counselor also asks whether he has already tried to solve the existing problems in the current company and, for example, to discuss them with his manager. And whether the pattern of escaping the situation rather than tackling the job problems within his company could be repeated in the new job.
Mr. W. thinks about it and has to admit that he hasn’t really tried to address his wishes and concerns in his company. The problem of numbers and the often meaningless tasks would still be there, but that could also occur in a small company. From the rain in the eaves? Mr W. is undecided. He is considering whether self-employment might also be an option.
Three tasks for Mr W.
The counselor gives Mr. W. three tasks for the next meeting: First, she advises him to speak openly and honestly with his manager. Maybe he can reduce his hours to take some stress out of the workday. He can figure that out at his leisure. He can also clarify whether he can move within the company to the department that develops new products and where more creativity is required. Under no circumstances should Mr. W. simply resign, as old patterns and behavior can recur in the new job.
Secondly, the counselor recommends looking through current job offers. To do this, they jointly develop a catalog of criteria to check whether their needs can be found in the job advertisements: How is the team set up? Is the payment right? Does the work make sense and what are the routes like, for example? As a third point, Mr. W. should pursue the topic of self-employment and create a first, small business plan. The task here is to be more specific and thus to get an initial idea of what self-employment can mean.
With all the thoughts, it is important not to take the 2nd step before the 1st and to sort yourself thoroughly. In this way, Mr. W. can effectively start the exploratory phase and pursue his ideas in peace. You should always take requests and impulses seriously, because they help to develop further and that is always good and valuable. Just not out of pure emotions, but with care and planning.
Finally, the counselor advises him to consider whether he can find the purpose he misses at work through a hobby. Sometimes interests can also be covered in the private sphere. In addition, Mr. W. can consider what meaningful work means for him in concrete terms.
Mr. W. and the counselor make a new appointment and are curious to see how things will go for Mr. W. and what he decides to do. At the end of the conversation, Mr. W. says that a few things have become clear to him and that it helps him to finally be specific about his wishes and ideas. Both options – to stay in his company or to bring about a change – seem good and feasible to him at this moment. He seems satisfied and knows that he has to act, but at the same time has the freedom to choose what is best for himself and his professional future.
Here are my tips for you:
- Never quit your job on impulse or emotion. Take the time and rest that it takes because you are making an important decision. Be careful and get enough information beforehand.
- Make a list: What do you need to work well and what prevents you from being able to do your job successfully and with pleasure?
- If you are unhappy, speak openly and honestly with your manager. What options are there for doing the job differently?
- When looking for a job, compare your personal catalog of criteria with reality. Do your wishes and requirements match the content of the job advertisements?
- If you would like to delve a little deeper into the topic, a SWOT analysis – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats – can also help. It is an effective instrument of strategic planning and deals with the analysis of one’s own abilities and position.
* Case study from the consulting practice of the Fürstenberg Institute. The case was anonymized with the consent of the person concerned.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
