Five Ways To Get Out of Rut in Your Job

Be it an unyielding superior or poor salary, the reasons for feeling miserable at work could be multiple and varied. But in a lacklustre job market, one can hardly hope to quit in the hope of getting something better. At such times, finding a mentor in your company, or taking a vacation to de-stress and introspect can help in deviating your attention from the vagaries of work. Anumeha Chaturvedi suggests how. 

1 Get Specific 

However tough things are, not everything about the workplace can be wrong, says Naveen Narayanan, global head of talent acquisition, HCL Technologies.“Give time to yourself to evaluate circumstances and identify specific things that bother you at work,” he says. “Once you have the problem statement, walk up to your colleagues for guidance and a way forward,” he says. 

2 Look for Solutions 

Instead of complaining about problems and running away, focus on finding solutions, suggests Narayanan. Marketing professional Shruti Sharma’s relationship with her boss was strained, and she reached out to seniors to understand what was lacking on her part and what she could do to build bridges. “These were people who had worked with him, and I got an insight into my boss’ working style. I could adapt myself accordingly this year,” she says. 

3 Distract Yourself Studies published in the book, ‘Wellbeing: The Five Essential Elements’ by Tom Rath  and James K Harter have shown that unhappy workers are at a greater risk of depression and heart ailments. “It might be worthwhile to go on a vacation to destress and energise,” says Sharma. She also relies on meditation and exercise, which calm her down and re-establish hope and confidence. 

4 Find a Mentor 

Lack of direction at work can also lead to dissatisfaction. Narayanan suggests looking for a mentor within your organisation. “It could be someone you admire. A mentor can be a senior person and not necessarily from the same chain of command. Mentoring helps in knowledge-sharing and professional development of an individual, increasing productivity and efficiency,” he says. 

5 Be Aware 

In a dismal job market, the chances of moving out for a better deal or offer are negligible. In such a scenario, it becomes important to stay abreast of market and industry developments. Often, gossip can lead one to feeling miserable and doubtful about surviving in an organisation. “Even if no one’s looking to hire immediately, talking to other people in the industry will help you gain confidence and a network, and establish whether the problems you face are inherent in your organisation or are an industry-wide trend,” says Sharma, adding, in case of the latter, worrying is uncalled for.

The Economic Times, Mumbai, 25-06-13

Five Ways To Get your Team to Work More Innovatively

You have a great team that performs well and does not disappoint you. They have accomplished many targets, at times before the deadline. They have won you awards and accolades across the organisation and even got you the promotion you aimed for. But it appears that they are stuck in a rut, and are refusing to innovate. Moresha Benjamin lists important tips to keep in mind to get your team to think out of the box.

Hire Dedicated Workers
“Select a team that is passionate about the work,” says Sunil Goel, director, GlobalHunt, an executive search firm. It is vital for the manager and organisation to get people on board who show keen interest and are excited about their work. When people are passionate about their work, innovation follows. The commitment to innovation is crucial and should be visible to the organisation.

Get All Hands On Deck
Innovation is about gaining different perspectives to address a challenge or an opportunity. It is good to create cross-functional teams that can work on time-bound projects. “Having people from various functions come together allows for cross-pollination of ideas and encourages individuals to think out of the box and beyond their function/roles,” says Pavan Dhamija, MD & CEO, DLF Pramerica Life Insurance. Also, identify how your team can do work differently on the same project in order to create or add value.

Make Room For Competition
“Setting ambitious yet achievable goals/ targets enhances team productivity and gives a moral boost to employees once they achieve their targets, so that they keep on coming up with better and innovative ideas,” says Sunil Singh, AVP, HR, Tulip Telecom. Promoting competitive learning amidst teams is important, as learning and unlearning is a continuous process, adds Singh.

Recognise Efforts
“A culture of recognition helps drive innovation. Team members should be encouraged to share their thoughts, and innovative suggestions/ ideas should be supported in every possible manner,” says Dhamija. “Even though all ideas and innovations may not be great, the manager should be receptive and encourage them,” says Goel.

Invest In Training
Companies can make investments to train employees to think innovatively by facilitating their participation in training programmes, giving them live case studies and projects to work upon, and so on. This is extremely satisfying for employees who are keen to contribute and make a mark, adds Dhamija. Another investment one can make is in procuring latest technology to keep your business growth steady and profitable. Technology breeds innovation. Suggest that your employees take up an existing product and work on it to make it better using technology.

(Courtesy: The Economic Times)