Are You Only Pretending to Be in the Right Job.
By: Bruce Kasanoff
Every day I come across people who are in the wrong job. You do, too. They
are sad, unhelpful and may seem incompetent. It's tempting to get mad at them,
but the more humane response is compassion. No one feels comfortable doing a job for which they are a bad fit.
These experiences are frustrating, which is why it's so refreshing to come
across someone who is in the right job. Glenn O'Neill, for example, is a middle
school teacher who has taught social studies to all three of my kids. He is
always upbeat, inspiring and insightful; the students love him, and the parents
do, too. Most importantly, he seems to love what he does.
In honor of this great teacher, I created The Glenn O'Neill Test. It will
help you understand if you are actually a good fit for your current job:
Do people seek you out? If others go out of their way to tap
into your expertise, it's a very good sign you are in the right position. To
test this, ask yourself a hard question: do people come to you for help because
they have to, or because they want to?
Do "customers" recommend you? Everyone has customers, even
if you don't call them that. Someone depends on you to do your job well. The
highest compliment is when these folks praise your skills to others. When people
recommend someone, they are putting their personal reputation on the line. Do
others respect the job you are doing enough to risk their reputation endorsing
you?
Does your job feel "just right?" It's not too easy, but it's
not too hard, either. You generally don't get either overwhelmed or bored. This
can be a really hard balance to sustain, and it's quite possible that the job
that was perfect for you two years ago is too basic for you today.
Do you have room - and the energy - to grow? Every year
should bring fresh challenges. It's a giant warning sign when your job
theoretically leaves you room to grow, but you lack the energy to tackle those
"challenges." Early in my career, I worked in an entry-level position for
WGBH/Boston, the public broadcasting station. My supervisor gave me a review
that said I still had plenty of room to master my basic responsibilities, but I
perceived those tasks were so far below my aspirations as to not be worth my
time. Her supervisor agreed, and pulled me out of the department to take on on a much more challenging position.
Are you eager to learn? People who think they know
everything there is to know about their job are at risk of getting old, jaded
and inflexible. The world is constantly changing, and there are always new
skills and insights to learn. If you don't feel this way, you're in the wrong
job.
Are you comfortable with your compensation? We all could use
more money, but it's critical that you are able to make things work on your
current income. Life is not always fair, and sometimes society doesn't value
highly enough the job you were born to do. You may have made other life
decisions - such as having four kids - that preclude you from being a good fit
for a job you otherwise would love. Few things eat away at your soul like
feeling that you are underpaid for the work that you do.
Does your job fit your self-image? Human beings are complicated. We don't just need money and something worthwhile to do. Many of us
need prestige, power, or respect. Some people care more about their influence
than their income. Others want to be in the room when big decisions are being
made. While your job won't satisfy all your needs, it should be a good fit with
who you really are.
Are you thankful? Gratitude is important. I feel bad for
people who don't know how lucky they are until they lose what they had. If you
are actively thankful for your job, the odds are good that others are also
thankful you are in your position.
By: Bruce Kasanoff
Every day I come across people who are in the wrong job. You do, too. They
are sad, unhelpful and may seem incompetent. It's tempting to get mad at them,
but the more humane response is compassion. No one feels comfortable doing a job for which they are a bad fit.
These experiences are frustrating, which is why it's so refreshing to come
across someone who is in the right job. Glenn O'Neill, for example, is a middle
school teacher who has taught social studies to all three of my kids. He is
always upbeat, inspiring and insightful; the students love him, and the parents
do, too. Most importantly, he seems to love what he does.
In honor of this great teacher, I created The Glenn O'Neill Test. It will
help you understand if you are actually a good fit for your current job:
Do people seek you out? If others go out of their way to tap
into your expertise, it's a very good sign you are in the right position. To
test this, ask yourself a hard question: do people come to you for help because
they have to, or because they want to?
Do "customers" recommend you? Everyone has customers, even
if you don't call them that. Someone depends on you to do your job well. The
highest compliment is when these folks praise your skills to others. When people
recommend someone, they are putting their personal reputation on the line. Do
others respect the job you are doing enough to risk their reputation endorsing
you?
Does your job feel "just right?" It's not too easy, but it's
not too hard, either. You generally don't get either overwhelmed or bored. This
can be a really hard balance to sustain, and it's quite possible that the job
that was perfect for you two years ago is too basic for you today.
Do you have room - and the energy - to grow? Every year
should bring fresh challenges. It's a giant warning sign when your job
theoretically leaves you room to grow, but you lack the energy to tackle those
"challenges." Early in my career, I worked in an entry-level position for
WGBH/Boston, the public broadcasting station. My supervisor gave me a review
that said I still had plenty of room to master my basic responsibilities, but I
perceived those tasks were so far below my aspirations as to not be worth my
time. Her supervisor agreed, and pulled me out of the department to take on on a much more challenging position.
Are you eager to learn? People who think they know
everything there is to know about their job are at risk of getting old, jaded
and inflexible. The world is constantly changing, and there are always new
skills and insights to learn. If you don't feel this way, you're in the wrong
job.
Are you comfortable with your compensation? We all could use
more money, but it's critical that you are able to make things work on your
current income. Life is not always fair, and sometimes society doesn't value
highly enough the job you were born to do. You may have made other life
decisions - such as having four kids - that preclude you from being a good fit
for a job you otherwise would love. Few things eat away at your soul like
feeling that you are underpaid for the work that you do.
Does your job fit your self-image? Human beings are complicated. We don't just need money and something worthwhile to do. Many of us
need prestige, power, or respect. Some people care more about their influence
than their income. Others want to be in the room when big decisions are being
made. While your job won't satisfy all your needs, it should be a good fit with
who you really are.
Are you thankful? Gratitude is important. I feel bad for
people who don't know how lucky they are until they lose what they had. If you
are actively thankful for your job, the odds are good that others are also
thankful you are in your position.
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