4 Questions To Ask Yourself If Your Committed To Your Job Or Just Interested

I can sense when someone’s committed to their job versus interested. How? As an Executive Coach, I liken the former to being on the playing field and the latter watching from the sidelines.

Let me elaborate a little before I share the four questions.

The Playing Field

The playing field is where the action takes place, and the Player gets to showcase their talents and skills. If you’ve ever watched Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray or Novak Djokovic play, you know what I mean. They put the work in and practice until they craft their skills to a higher level.

Similarly, if you’ve seen the stars in your company, you will also recognise them. They vibe at a different level and seem to get things done, which brings them visibility, responsibility, confidence and respect.

Key characteristics of the Player on the Field

❇️They’re buzzing to achieving great things ❇️They adopt a win/win mindset ❇️They enjoy being challenged or challenging themselves ❇️They engage in continuous development ❇️They believe everything is figureoutable ❇️They adopt a win/win mindset ❇️They tend to go the extra mile ❇️They lead

The Sidelines

I see the Spectator on the sidelines. They’re interested but unwilling to roll up their sleeves and enter the trenches.

Here are some key characteristics of the Spectator:

✳️They play safe when it comes to taking action ✳️They avoid risks because they imbalance the equilibrium ✳️They hope others will recognise their efforts ✳️They’re involved in their jobs but only to a certain point ✳️They work hard, but not necessarily smart ✳️They end up achieving average outcomes ✳️They’re good team players/supporters

My Story

I’ve been on both sides. I’m not blowing my own trumpet here, but one of the managers in a Fortune 500 said I was a ‘dream employee’ because of my attitude and work. However, it wasn’t my dream job. I was interested in it but not committed. I enjoyed my time working for the company and met some nice professionals. Would I have missed the job if I left earlier? No.

On the other hand, I am 100% committed to my job as an Executive Coach. I love it. I know the difference and regularly shift gears.

Four Questions To Ask Yourself

1. How much time is spent delivering your objectives or dealing with distractions? 2. Would you miss this job if you were to leave tomorrow? 3. What does it take to go the extra mile? 4. Whose job is it to motivate you to do your job well?

Shift Mindset

When your purpose at work aligns with your values, you’ll be willing to go the extra mile.

So, what happens if you’re just interested and not committed? I’d say it’s time to do a career check involving a Career SWOT. See below.

Secondly, identify what makes you feel just interested. 1. Is it a lack of recognition for your contributions, a lack of opportunities for growth and development, or something else?

2. Once you know what the problem is, you can work on finding a solution. 3. Take initiative to improve your performance. Show your manager that you’re committed to your work and the organisation and are willing to put in the extra effort to improve things. 4. Ask for feedback and use it to improve. 5. Look for opportunities to network and connect with other professionals in your industry. Having a support system outside of your current workplace can be helpful. 6. Consider seeking Coaching to help you deal with the negative feelings related to feeling undervalued in the workplace. 7. Lastly, if you have tried all possible actions and still do not feel engaged, it might be time to consider looking for a new job where you can feel appreciated and valued as a professional.

Parting Comments

Success means different things to different people, but everyone wants to succeed at work, and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t. People want their contributions to count and make a difference, big or small. It’s the way we’re hardwired.

However, the workplace can feel like a treadmill sometimes, with highs and lows and plenty of blah blah thrown in for good measure. It’s hardly surprising that the drama, the grapevine gossip, and temperamental colleagues can distract us in many ways.

It’s ok to be a spectator and on the playing field at different stages of your growth, but if you are just interested, don’t wait for things to happen. One thing is for sure: you have more control than you think.

Thank you for your attention.

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Pervin

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