U-Turn Ahead

Okay, your burned out, feeling unmotivated, and maybe considering a career change. But do you really need to change jobs? Maybe what you really need is a change in your current work situation. It might be a promotion or a transfer, or it could also be a much simpler change.

Here are four simple steps to getting changes in the workplace:

1. Identify the source of your frustration. Are you bored? Is the work too challenging or easy? Are co-workers a problem? Are the tools and resources you need not available or of inferior quality? Take a good look at why you are unhappy and try to pinpoint what it is that needs to change.

2. Decide who can make the change happen. Once you know the source of your dissatisfaction at work, you can then identify the person who can make the change you desire. Most often this person will be your boss. It’s usually the boss who controls office assignments, allocation of resources, work partners, and job duties. Be sure you know who it is that controls the thing you want changed.

3. Find out what is important to that person. Now that you’ve decided who holds the key to making the change, you need to find out what is important to them. You need to know their motivators. For most people, they are motivated by looking good to their supervisor. Other motivators could be making their job easier, having a positive relationship with coworkers, and making more money. Find their motivator and you will have the key to making workplace changes.

4. Use the motivator to convince them to make the change. Simply stated, you need to sell them on the idea. When requesting the change, be sure to explain how the change will benefit them. Don’t focus on your needs, but show them how the change will make things better for them.

Yes, the steps are really that simple. Figure out what needs to change, who controls it, what motivates them, and then use the motivator to convince them to make the change.

For a humorous example of creating change at work, visit JobSchmob.com and see how Doug got his boss act on the change Doug desired. Doug definitely knew what would motivate his boss. By the way, I don’t recommend Doug’s strategy, but it makes the point. Read Doug’s story>>>