Diagnosis
Your job is wonderful, but it's lost that spark.
Prescription
Follow these five simple steps to restore your passion.
It was late on a Friday afternoon when Anna had a realization: She missed her old job. While this may be common, for Anna
it was a surprise. She has been a district manager for about two years – a job she fought to earn and loved from day one.
She was passionate about her work, proud of her team and confident in her position. Her district led the region in several
key areas. She was a winning manager with a bright future and a pile of papers that seemed to lack purpose that Friday afternoon.
As her Friday at the office slipped into evening, she found herself thinking, "This is not the job I thought it would be."
For many like Anna, a manager position is the culmination of years of nonstop calls, postcall notes, team meetings, extra
responsibilities packaged as leadership opportunities and a touch of self-promotion. She wanted the job, worked hard for it
and lobbied for the opportunity. Why then, was she so disenchanted after a few years? The answer rests partly in the personality of high achievers and partly in the nature of the manager job itself. Managers
were once extremely competitive sales representatives who worked hard to earn their positions. Once they master their new
responsibilities, they may look around and wonder, "What is the next big thing?" Even for those not scrambling for the next
step on the ladder of success, job enthusiasm can pale as training opportunities drop off. After initial manager training,
many pharmaceutical companies use POA meetings as their primary source of training for managers. Not traveling for training
sessions may feel like a huge bonus to some managers. For others, they miss the camaraderie, best practices and new ideas
that go along with training.
How can managers recapture the passion and joy that came with those first few months on the job? How can they pull themselves
out from under e-mails, voice mails and business plans with more pages than a Harry Potter book? How can they fall back in
love with their job?
Here are some strategies that can alter your attitude, improve your perspective and help you keep your passion for your job.
STEP ONE: Connect with colleagues
One of the most rewarding parts of any job can be working with motivated coworkers. Some managers miss the fun of being an
equal on a team. While leading a team is a dream job, it can leave some personalities feeling alienated and dreaming of their
old job. Network with coworkers and share best practices and challenges. And when you start networking, focus on coworkers
who are enthusiastic and positive about their jobs. Enthusiasm is contagious; it can open you up to new approaches and renew
your commitment to your work.
Fresh direct
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If you miss the camaraderie of working on a team, try pulling together a group project. Working with a group offers you the
chance to collaborate with your colleagues and exchange ideas. It also promotes a sense of responsibility toward one another.
Group work is also a fun way to accomplish a project that you may not be able to complete alone.
STEP TWO: Motivate yourself
Keeping yourself motivated is a key component in any career. Motivation is what drives success and improves skills. Find what
it is that motivates you and keep it front and center. Good managers know how to motivate sales representatives. Great managers
know how to motivate themselves.
