How to Reshape Your Career and Design Your Job

As the job outlook continues to flounder, you may want to give a second thought to looking for a new job. Many people are struggling to figure out how to make a lateral job move. But there's a new trend in business psychology that suggests workers may cognitively reprogram the way they approach their jobs. "Jobcrafting" focuses on helping workers reshape their job description, which in turn helps them regain a sense of control and purpose in their job. If you're lamenting the ills of your position, consider a different approach. Stay at your job and make it work for you. Redesign your job to emphasize your strengths and passions.

Things You'll Need

• A positive attitude

Instructions

1. Prioritize tasks by their importance or frequency. On your first day you were given a job description with a series of tasks that you are expected to complete. The reality on the job is that you are responsible for more than those tasks. Identify your primary tasks. What tasks must you complete each day to consider it an official work day? An administrative assistant must answer the phone and send email messages each day, while an executive may opt not to communicate with others to complete planning behind the scenes. Create a short task list of no more than three tasks. This priority list is based on what you actually do rather than on your job description.

2. Set time limits. After you've identified the three most important tasks, designate time for each one. Begin with 20 minutes for each task, then expand it. If a task takes more than an hour, it may not be one task but a group of tasks. Be sure to make sure it's only one task. Time is arguably your most important resource on a job. How you use it often determines your success.

3. Schedule your day. Many people fantasize about an ideal vacation day at a far-off location. Imagine your perfect work day. On a piece of paper, list the hours of your work day. Then schedule your primary tasks by hour. Be sure to include breaks and lunch. After you've scheduled your tasks, what will you do with your "free" time? By imagining an ideal work day, you'll begin to notice what or who stops you from completing tasks.

4. Predict your outcomes. Some people linger at jobs that bore or tire them because they've actually completed their initial goal for that job. You may hate your job because you've completed or lost motivation for a goal. Create a new goal. There is something to learn and experience at every job. What motivates you? Identify your goals and create a reasonable time frame to achieve them.

5. Identify your passions and strengths. Use your strengths to connect you with your passion. If you're not the computer tech but enjoy showing others how to use software, create a workshop for co-workers. If you prefer analyzing data to constant communication with co-workers, focus on data analysis in the morning when most co-workers are still getting into the day. Make your work matter by creating time for your passion each day.

6. Reshape your role. After you've identified what you would like to do, rewrite your job description. Group your tasks by the roles you play instead of the individual tasks. Visual learners may prefer a storyboard that represents a newly defined role. For the next month, change the way you approach your job. If this approach works for you, consider discussing your performance with your employer after three months. By this time you will want to rid yourself of some tasks to take on another set of responsibilities. Get those small tasks off your plate to shine at your larger endeavors. You may even consider redesigning your job description and your title. Crafting your job empowers you to meld your passion with your responsibilities.

Tips & Warnings

• Share your redesigned role with your employer after you can show measurable outcomes.

References

• Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship: Jobcrafting Exercise