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Like many of you, I have not always been in my dream job. I also have not always been in my dream career, pursuing a path that brought me fulfillment or recognition. When I worked for a competitive bank I didn’t particularly love performing financial analyses or dealing with overly zealous and stuck-up senior officers. I knew I could survive the credit training program and successfully review company financial statements, yet I was a misfit with this industry. I was frustrated but knew I needed to make the most of the opportunity. Recognizing that this stop on my journey may not be for long, I decided to think of ways to make it bearable and grow. [Tweet “When we’re not in our dream jobs, we can still grow and learn.”] So maybe I didn’t “love” the job I was with, but I made a pact with myself to explore ways to not only make it palatable, but to look for parts of the job that I could add to my tool kit. We all need to grow that toolbox with all sorts of experiences and knowledge. Believe it or not, those very jobs that challenge us the most often teach us the most.

Don’t despair when you feel like you are in the wrong job for this is actually the perfect time to try out your leadership techniques.

COMMIT TO A LEARNING EXPERIENCE

We have two choices when we feel unsettled in a job: be a victim or take action. Some of us become paralyzed unable to make a move in a positive direction. Some of us acknowledge the less-than–perfect role and decide to discover ways to tackle new skills and opportunities. Be a doer and discover ways to grow.

DISSECT ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR JOB

A great way to begin to find ways to grow is to reflect on all of your job responsibilities and choose a few that may seem more appealing and align with your interests. I knew I needed to connect more with people than numbers, so I reviewed the elements of my position that led me to more people contacts. Locate those more intriguing tasks and decide how to lead with them.

 ASK FOR NEW RESPONSIBILITIES

Decide what new areas you want to become more skilled and speak up to find ways to creatively add those types of assignments. As we all know, sitting back and waiting for something to come our way is a waste of time. Being proactive and helping others to understand our project choices can often lead us to meaningful work. Tell others how you want to enrich your current position.

 PLAN FOR YOUR NEXT MOVE

We all deserve to dream and prepare for our next opportunity. What kind of job would you really love and what kind of organization would complement your style? As you find ways to grow in your present situation, never stop mapping out your next step. We need to leverage all the skills and knowledge we obtain in each job and choose wisely to help us build our story and career. Lead the charge to action.  

What have you done when you weren’t in the job you loved? How did you survive? How did you prepare for your next move?

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