One of the things I hate most about self-help articles is when they tell you to do some writing that is “essential” to the learning process. So why am I going to ask you to do the very same thing? Because I hope (if you choose to do it this way) that a written personal assessment will help you get a more honest & in-your-face picture of how your job feels — and what you might do to help.
Putting thoughts down on a page somehow makes them seem more solid, more real. And it also gives you a chance to go back later and maybe dig a little deeper. Or change anything that isn’t real enough. Just remember to be honest with yourself in your responses so you see a whole picture emerge that may be greater than the sum of its parts.
Part 1: Personal assessment
Self-Inventory A — How You Approach Things
Take an inventory of your own work behaviors and attitudes. They play a big role in how your job feels. Focus on the way you approach assignments, work relationships, and work in general.
Take the time to honestly see yourself as others see you as well as how you see yourself. Be totally real with yourself and objective. Please don’t be afraid to look at the stuff that might not make you proud. It’s often those problem areas where you will find the most material for growth.
Zoom in on times when things went wrong and how you reacted. Or think about how you deal with people you dislike or who make you uncomfortable. It’s important to look at all your qualities, both good and bad. But for this particular exercise, I want you to particularly focus on the things that might stand in your way. And in the way of making your job work.
Example: My own personal assessment
I am resourceful, creative, quick to assess a situation, willing to take chances, and able to get along with most people. Where possible, I try to see the whole picture as well as the details. I’m solution-oriented and will pursue an assignment to completion.
I approach things with a positive attitude (usually … I am only human) and try to get others on my team to see that there’s always a way to get where we need to go. And I’m not afraid to admit when I don’t know something and go to others for help.
On the other hand…
Often I can be too quick to judge. And sometimes jump to conclusions. But on the good side of that, I’m also willing to say I was wrong and change my mind. I’ve learned the hard way that this can open up more possibilities to succeed.
Sometimes I take things too personally and focus on what someone thinks of me rather than the task at hand. (Puts the power outside of yourself.) I hate being disliked and that can get in the way of speaking up at times. Although my co-workers might be surprised to hear that.
I procrastinate more often than I care to admit and can also be put off by the enormity of a task. At times I am taken aback by too many details, sometimes avoiding them to a point that goes beyond reason. But once I start the job I’ve been avoiding, it’s almost always less difficult than I initially thought it was. Step by step things can feel less daunting.
Self-Inventory B — Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda
The second part of your personal assessment is to make a list of some situations where things went wrong or where you felt you weren’t treated fairly. Or you just blew it. Try your best to think of things you could have done differently in each situation.
And sometimes looking at things from a different perspective can help you see how you might have handled things better if you hadn’t been so caught up in the emotion of it all. Doing that with some of your own experiences is a good beginning toward changing the way your stories turn out for you in the future.
What’s the point of all this?
Admittedly, you won’t suddenly become perfect. And you won’t stop all your problem behaviors. But once you become more aware of what’s going on inside you, you’ll learn how to handle them so they don’t get in the way … at least as often. And you’ll get a better grasp of what you can do about how your job feels.
The main point is getting to know yourself as you really are in the workplace. A good variation is to approach this exercise as if one of your co-workers or even your boss was writing it. Be as brutally honest as possible. This is only for your eyes and will be a tool for you to use for change.
Part 2: Job assessment
Take a moment to think about your job and, if you are doing this as a writing exercise, write down some of the answers to the following questions:
- What are the good things about the job? If “nothing” is your answer, please try again to find something. Remember back to why you took it in the first place. Come up with at least three things.
- Now what are the bad things? (This list will probably be longer than the first.)
- Who annoys you?
- And who do you turn to for help?
- What is your relationship to your co-workers?
- Which projects/assignments have you enjoyed most?
- What have you enjoyed the least?
- Does the job challenge you enough?
- Is there something you wish you would be allowed to do that you aren’t given the chance to do?
- Is there someone you think might help you, but for some reason you’ve never approached him or her?
- What one thing would you change immediately if you could, other than leaving the job, and why haven’t you been able to make this change?
Again, there are many more questions you could ask yourself, but these are a good start. Now you can work from this framework that gives a picture of you and the job. And how you might find areas that you yourself can begin to improve.
NOTE: While this is about trying to make the job you’re in work better, the assessment is also useful if you’re thinking about the next job. Helps you find a new job that fits you well and maybe helps you handle things more effectively next time.
Part 3: Boss assessment
Bosses play a huge role in how your job feels. So it helps to write about your boss. Approach it from how they treat you, treat the other staff, handle assignments, handle interpersonal relationships, and their management style in general.
Think about the person as you see them and as others see them, including your thoughts on what makes them a good or bad boss. Finish with some thoughts on areas you might be able to personally address in order to strengthen the relationship between the two of you.
Odds are you can’t change your boss (unless you leave or they leave), but you do have some control of how you interact with them. And you can also work on how much you let emotional triggers affect how your job feels to you on a daily basis.
End of personal assessment
Okay, the hard work is over for now. By the way, did you write down your thoughts or did you take the easier alternative approach? Note that if you took the easy approach, this has to be added to your personal assessment, since it might be something to work on!
And, if you did do it all in your head, please feel free to choose to go back at some point and take the time to write down your answers. It might offer an extra useful insight or two. That’s one habit you can change if you so choose … and an easy win when it comes to doing things thoroughly.
Now that you have a basic picture of you, your boss, and the job, you have some key elements to map your own path toward changing jobs from the inside. The inventory you just put together should offer helpful clues. And now that you have the questions to ask or things to notice more carefully you can also add to your self-portrait as you go along.
Posts to help with change
Real Problem (Maybe) If Your Job Feels Wrong
When Emotions Take Over In the Workplace
Job Morphing: 20 Ways You Can Improve Your Job & Career
What To Do If Your Job Makes You Miserable
Why Do I Always Pick the Wrong Job?
Why Being Good at Your Job Isn’t Always Enough
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