Finding Your New 'Why' at Work

We’ll refrain from saying “Happy New Year” (as it probably isn’t socially acceptable to do so in February) but instead, we’re going to open this with a question to you: now that the dust has settled and you’re back in the swing of your role, do you have clarity on what you want to achieve this year or are you left in limbo? 

If the answer is the latter, then you aren’t alone. A new year can feel like you’ve hit the reset button in a positive way, but for some, it can leave you feeling resentful that you’re entering a new year not really knowing what you’re doing in your professional life. 

It’s time to sit and assess what your new why is, and what your purpose will be at work. It doesn’t have to be anything groundbreaking, either. Sometimes, when we think of targets and purpose it can be easy to get caught up in achieving a financial goal or getting a promotion. 

Not all of us are wired to think like this 24/7, and goals that feel completely unattainable (or “why’s” that just don’t fit with your personality) can do more damage than good.

Instead, strip it back and think of things that you want to do at work to feel more impactful, and things that will bring you joy when you clock off at the end of the day.

Here’s some food for thought: 

• Strengthening internal relationships: Your 'why' may be to build stronger connections. We’ve gone through a long period of disconnect due to the pandemic, so simply focusing some time each week on building a meaningful connection with people you may not interact with on a day-to-day basis can give you purpose beyond your responsibilities.
• Review your responsibilities and ask yourself “does this excite me”: Most reviews happen on a quarterly basis, and as we enter the second month of the quarter, sit down and review in-depth your responsibilities and think of some solutions that will help you to fulfil your new why. It may be getting involved in L&D more, or, it may be mentoring. 
• Putting yourself first: And no, doing this isn’t selfish or not being a “team player” – it’s prioritising your 'why' (which may be, I work remotely so I can spend more time with my children and do the school run). If you’ve entered 2022 and fallen into habits where you don’t feel your personal and professional life are aligned, put yourself first and make that a commitment to yourself.

And finally, talk to someone about how you’re feeling. We love communication at Orbis and always talk about its importance in our blogs, but you can’t underestimate the power of a good conversation to get your thoughts out into the open. 

Whether it’s with your manager or a peer, sometimes setting out how you feel can steer you to finding your 'why' quicker than you may think.