Job fulfillment is a question that comes back over and over in my coaching conversations, or during random interactions. Looking back on my own experience, people who inspire me, and those who work around me, I can now trace back fulfillment to three core elements. So if you are longing for a more fulfilling work life, here are the ingredients you need in your mix.
First and foremost, everything starts with clarity. This is a dimension that I still see missing frequently, because we are just not used to dedicate time to it. We focus on achievement and improvement, on fixing problems and trying to balance it all. To stop to think about what we desire and what truly matters to us isn’t an exercise we are taught to do. We go straight to objectives, tactics and to-do-lists. So I suggest that before we even put the horse and the carriage, we sit down to think about where we care to go.
So ask yourself the big question: what is it that I truly want to do? If you think you don’t know, keep on reflecting. Carry a journal with you to take notes on what interests you, the persistent thoughts in your mind, the questions you are pondering. Clarity does not have to be instant. But it requires precision, and certainty. You know when you get it, there is no in-between. So take whatever time you need to get clear on your priorities, and what you want your work life to look like. Because everything gets much easier from there on. Try taking steps and actions without proper clarity. You eventually end up back there if you skip it, because you procrastinate, feel overwhelmed or frustrated.
The next building block for work fulfillment is authenticity. This word starts to get thrown around a lot, because it is linked to performance and brings some humanity to the things we do. Ask any successful business person the secret to their success, and authenticity will be on their list. This is simply because we all carry unique gifts that are waiting to be tapped into. And when we align our work with who we are, the magic starts to happen.
Authenticy is part easy, part challenging. On the one hand, it feels so natural and flowy as we are using our own style, values and ideas into our work. But on the other hand once we do, we encounter other people’s opinions and judgment which can quickly test us. We feel like shrinking back to some kind of ‘normal’ just to fit in. Or when our authentic self does not fit in with the rest, we consider quitting and forgetting our own goals. So authenticity comes as the constant, delicate balance between ourselves and the external world.
Clarity and authenticity get us on our way. But when you bring in some audacity into the mix, it gets you there ten times faster. Audacity is the catalyst that will turn your clarity and authenticity into an amazing result, that you would not have believed yourself. And that is where the gold is. Without audacity, you stay comfortable within your current parameters and safe limits. If fulfillment happened there, we would all be living and breathing it. But you are one step away from it until you take that action, make that decision and aim for something higher. I didn’t say aim for something crazy, massive or extraordinary. Audacious can be a small thing, as long as it makes you lean outside of your comfort zone.
To wrap it up: if you layer clarity with authenticity and take audacious action, you will be in fulfillment territory. It’s like mathematics in my books, because I have witnessed this happening with so many people including me. And from there, the same formula applies. When you no longer feel fulfilled in your work, ask yourself which one of the three you need the most. Intentionally focus on it and watch yourself thrive.
