Good work vs. good vibes
Good work vs. good vibes
Finding joy in what you do.
At one point in my life, I was the go-to person at work. I could solve problems, make decisions, and “figure things out” when someone else got stuck. I understood the company’s product and industry very deeply.
For a long time, this was immensely satisfying. I got to work on cool, new projects and implement internal processes. I was promoted to a leadership role and had a team relying on me.
But then I hit a wall.
The projects I worked on as a product manager never took off due to an inadequate sales team and nonexistent marketing efforts. I couldn’t fix severe interpersonal problems between people when toxic behavior was tolerated by the executive team. And because I understood the product so well, even the most complex projects were no longer challenging.
Whether it was triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic or a mere coincidence, I hit the wall around mid-2020. I finished my work quickly throughout the day and spent the necessary time with my kids, home from school due to closures. I kept thinking that if I could last a few more years, the CEO would retire and things would change. I’d likely be promoted again, and maybe I’d find excitement in new responsibilities.
But as 2020 dragged on, a never-ending dark tunnel, I knew that even a role change wouldn’t be enough.
Being good at a job has limits
There’s a canyon-sized difference between being good at your job and enjoying the work you do. And sometimes, if you’re good at the work, it’s hard to recognize that you’re unhappy.
Any halfway decent company will reward good work with pay bumps and promotions. At a minimum, you’ll be praised for your contributions. You’ll feel good about the work itself — the output.
In the best-case scenario, you’re surrounded by a supportive team and manager. But good output can often mask bad inputs. Or maybe you feel that good outputs offset bad inputs, like difficult coworkers or an inflexible work environment. You’re proud of your work.
And that’s ok — to a point. But you’ll probably reach a point where “being good at the job” no longer fulfills you. You’ve outgrown the work or you’re tired of the lack of inputs.
In a Gartner article, Caitlin Duffy, Research Director in HR, says:
The intent to leave or stay in a job is only one of the things that people are questioning as part of the larger human story we are living.
You could call it the ‘Great Reflection’… it’s critical to deliver value and purpose.
Being “good at my job” carried me for a long time. But eventually, it lacked value and purpose. I wasn’t challenged. I didn’t like the work environment.
I thought a lot about finding a similar role at another company, but realized that I would be caught in a weird limbo between industry knowledge and “starting over” with a new team. The only way I thought I could truly challenge myself and find meaning in work again was to start over in a new industry.
People don’t talk about career pivots enough because they’re hard and scary. People share that they’re “looking for a new challenge” when they post on LinkedIn — and those new challenges often lead them to a new role at a new company.
If you feel stuck, you have to think about all of the reasons you are unfulfilled. Are you good at your job and a step up in responsibilities will be enough to give you the challenge you need? Are you stifled by your current role and need a new place where you can shine?
Or is the underlying work itself the problem?
Love what you do, not who you work for
A friend of mine was laid off from his job recently, the common theme in oh-so-many of my recent posts. Like so many other tech companies, his employer had been riding high over the past few years and it all came crashing down. He was crushed, because he really loved his team and his boss.
His boss reminded him: “Love what you do, not who you work for.”
That’s the minimum. You have to at least love the work you’re doing. You can like your team and the company, but if the work lacks the “value and purpose” that Duffy mentions, you’ll end up unfulfilled. It’s not enough.
I was intrigued by a company that promised an “uncommonly kind” team and generous donations to worthy causes. But the work itself was frustrating and unfulfilling. I was missing the output.
If you find that perfect balance of inputs (your team) and outputs (the work), be careful, as my friend’s boss cautions. At the end of the day, the company will always put itself first. You can pour your heart and soul into the work and be tossed aside.
So protect yourself.
Protecting myself led me to go out on my own. I was tired of looking for that perfect combination of good work and good vibes, and increasingly convinced that it didn’t exist. When I run across people who truly love everything about their jobs, I hope they know how lucky they are to have found that combination of inputs and outputs.
But I was drained. Self-employment seemed to be the best option. And I fully recognize that’s not the right path for everyone.
If you find that dream role on a dream team, don’t forget to hold the company at arm’s length. Don’t forget the advice from my friend’s former boss: love what you do, not where you work.
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