There’s no denying that sometimes work can take you through it. Long days, longer nights, non-stop emails, constantly ringing phones and work weeks as long as the Mississippi can take its toll on anyone. These stressors are amplified when you’re in a work environment that is less than ideal. Very few people wake up each morning overwhelmed with excitement at the thought of going to work; in fact, most of us just want to get in, get out, and get on with our lives. However, this desire can often make us miss the great opportunities that are presented in the midst of the storm that we call work. 

If we fixate on the present too much, we’ll miss the opportunity to prepare for our future. Every stop on the road to success, from that fast food job, to retail, to your first desk job, builds character, provides you with experience and fortifies your resilience. 

At work, there will always be situations and circumstances that will be less than ideal. You may work with a person who has a bad attitude and doesn’t know how to talk to people; you may work for a boss who steals your work product and pawns it off as his/her own; you may think you’ve outgrown your position and desire something more, or you may just feel overworked and underpaid. But that is the time to dig deep, step up, and rise to the challenge. This is the time to expand your portfolio, increase the number of bullet points on your resume, and become greater-greater at what you do and greater in how you do it.

So often, people respond to challenges by becoming lazy, putting forth less effort or shutting down. We do the bare minimum, find fewer and fewer reasons to come to work, and generally walk around with a lousy attitude because we just don’t want to be there, doing this stuff anymore; but it doesn’t have to be this way. The good news is that you have all the tools you need to pull yourself out of the rut. You can seek out new assignments that may be interesting to you, do some research on topics that may be interesting to you and helpful to the company, and find new ways to reengage with the company. Not only will this energize you, it will also show that you are a team player who is committed to the success of the company, willing to go above and beyond to ensure that success, and possibly lead to your next pay raise or great professional opportunity. So next time you feel like you just can’t take it anymore and want to walk away from it all, the good people of Diplomatic Enterprises, LLC encourage you to rise to the challenge!

To help you Rise to the Challenge, we’ve provided 5 tips to make the most out of a less than ideal work situation:

1. Chronicle what you do 

If you’re like most people, you probably aren’t always able to readily recall every detail of what you do and how you do it. The remedy: write it down. Be sure to keep the proprietary and confidential company/client information private, but keep a journal or running list to detail what you do; it will help you paint a better picture of yourself in your resume, cover letter and interviews. 

2. Do more

If you’re currently overwhelmed with the amount of work on your desk and the little time you have to address it, this may not apply to you. We encourage happy, healthy work situations. Although, if you can find the extra time, this applies to you as well. If you’re underworked, underutilized and feel like you can and should do more--ask and it’s likely that you shall receive. This may help you like your job better and will definitely make your more marketable so you can make your next move your best move.

3. Never say never

Don’t be afraid to take on a project or task outside of your wheelhouse because, well, it’s outside of your wheelhouse. If your desired future landing spot entails knowing anything about this area, now is the time to get to know it. Take on assignments that stretch you because in that stretch you’re expanding your skill set and utility. 

4. Take your job for what it is

Unless you’re a principal, partner, CEO, or another high-ranking executive, it’s very likely that you’re unhappy with much of what you do. Understand and appreciate what you’re doing, what it means to the grand plan and that it won’t last forever. Don’t get bogged down on how imperfect things are right now and consider how much better of a candidate you’ll be for your future job.

5. Continue to look forward

It’s very likely that at some point, likely the 1st week, you liked, loved and thoroughly enjoyed your job. Somewhere between then and now, the love was lost. For most people, in most industries, and at most companies, this is inevitable. As such, you should always keep an eye out for the next opportunity. No, you shouldn’t actively scan the Classifieds a day after you’re hired or engage a head hunter before you’ve even put a picture of your pet on the desk. However, once you’ve gotten settled in, gained some valuable experience, and established yourself as someone who provides a great work product, do keep an eye out for the next great thing. You can’t wait until you’re unhappy or max out at your place of employment to move on. 

Diplomatic Enterprises, LLC prides itself on providing effective, results-driven service to all of our clients and partners in the pursuit of their goals. If you’re interested in working with us, schedule a consultation today and we promise not to break any of our own rules. #TeamDiplomat