The secret to making your job and anything else you do FUN

Hello, everyone.

Welcome to the latest episode of the Intentional Career Podcast.

The podcast focused on helping ambitious professionals like me overcome the challenges, the barriers that stop you from having the career you truly deserve and earning the words that you deserve as well.

My name is Femi Akinyemi.

I'm the founder of the Unleashed Academy, as well as the host of The Unleashed Podcast network.

If I go on quick message to all my listeners and followers, if you've listened to any of these podcasts or this one, and you enjoyed, please leave a review, like it,share it with friends, family, anyone you think can benefit from this, more people like it, more feedback we get, the better we get and the more we can impact and help people in their career and have a career of intentionality.

This week we are talking about job crafting, and that's really about shaping your job to fit your career.

You see, the answer to the question isn't always to quit your job.

It's not always to move companies or move industries.

Sometimes it's really just about finding that nugget in the acre of diamonds.

Anyone familiar with that book, Acre of Diamonds?

Remember, I forget the gist, but there was a man who was looking for diamond, and he kept looking when he didn't realize in his own back garden which he sold there was a diamond, there was diamonds, and the same for your job. 

In the job you have instead of looking around.

It may very well be that in that job if you just re craft it, if you just make some changes, that same job can be the source of potential and promotion, rewards, adulation, job satisfaction, happiness.

And it only takes a little bit of tweaking, a little bit of thinking outside the books.

Reimagining your job, being innovative, something worth considering.

I remember when I was working in one of my previous roles and new job, new guy.

And just as I'm about to start, I've learned one of the things you can do.

Good tip, something I recommend everyone should do.

Actually, this tip I'm going to give you now, whenever you're starting a new job or a new engagement with someone, whoever is hiring you or bringing you onto the team, ask the question, Do you have any advice for me and what you need for me to be successful here?

So I asked that question.

I asked, What can I do to be successful?

And they said, Find one thing that you're really, really good at. Be known for one thing.

So I found something to be good at, and I became really good at that thing.

And for that reason, I stuck around a long, long time and it's the same.

But what I found out was that the person who did the job before me, they had a different approach.

They were good.

They had a different skill that way, really strong at.

I think they were quite strong at graphic design.

So all the presentations were really flashy and really smart and impactful. My strength or stakeholder management stakeholder relationships. So I build strong relationships with my customers and my stakeholders.

The person before the person before me who was good at graphics, she was really good at Excel spreadsheets.

So she was really analytical and she was really detailed in the way she did her job.

And that's something we cannot do.

We're all practicing something called job crafting.

The idea in job crafting is that many jobs are actually quite flexible, believe it or not.

Meaning by this is that their focus can be adjusted to fit the skills and preferences of the common job holder.

So whatever your job is, you can bring your strengths and your skills and present that job in a different light.

So by subtly redesigning your job like this, you play to your strengths and improve both your satisfaction and your client satisfaction and ultimately performance.

Because you shift the emphasis away from the things you don't like, and you focus on the things you really, really enjoy.

And that comes to light.

So number one, you become more joyful.

You become more impactful.

You enjoyed the job.

You take the job to another level.

That's what it's about.

And that's what job crafting is.

Simply massaging your job around the edges to make sure it fits you.

But it may seem like a simple idea, and it is.

But what makes it a really, really powerful tool is that it allows you to increase the control you have over your own professional life.

It allows you within a small space to make you feel like you know what?

I own this.

This is my world.

I shaped this.

I shape this is a canvas, and I've shaped this to fit my perception, my skill set.

And my way of doing things.

And at the same time, you while your employer because you add value because you're doing it the way you do it.

So practically any job can be crafted.

So whatever it is you do, practically, practically literally.

Any job you do can be job crafted.

Or if you're a blue collar worker, a white collar worker, whatever kind of job you do, if you're someone who is technical, you can elevate the technical side.

If you're someone who's more into the personal side, you can elevate the personal side so that people go, you know what he's really attentive, he really listens.

He adds value.

And if it's technical, you can make sure your output is always spot on and detailed.

So the greatest thing about it, though, is you can make these changes without necessarily having to consult managers and ask for permission, because you're simply playing to your own strengths, so you don't need to wait for approval to do this.

So here are some things to think about.

When you start crafting your job, decide what you want to change very quickly.

Look at your job.

Look at the thing about it and pick one thing you think you know what this one is something I can play and I can make a difference in.

Number two, think about how the change will impact you and your work environment.

Just don't dive in.

Think about the impact you will have.

Number three, Act to put positive changes in place.

It's no good thinking about these changes and thinking.

Go for it and be decisive, focused and add value.

Number four, check on progress.

Don't do these things in a vacuum.

Don't make these changes to your job or these changes to the way you do your job in a vacuum or when I say that, don't do it without thinking of the impact on other people.

Find out.

Get feedback from others.

What do you think of the way I've done this?

Are you happy with this?

And if they have any feedback or just continue?

Ultimately, what we are looking for is we are looking for a happy medium between you being satisfied, doing a great job and making sure what you're delivering is still within the parameters, the scope of a good job done at your job description.

So these are things to think about.

But bear in mind, crafting a job purpose doesn't involve any actual changes in the content of your work.

And while this can certainly add to your enjoyment of the job, it won't help you expand your skills or output.

So we're not necessarily talking about the job purpose.

We're talking about the two areas you need to focus on to craft and make your job just a lot better.

So really think about the impact on other people.

Put a positive impact change in place, and the benefit is you get a greater enjoyment from what you do at work.

It helps you approach your work with more energy and enthusiasm.

And we all know energy is infectious.

That's wrong.

They sink anywhere you go.

Always take the weather with you.

I shouldn't be thinking, but I am.

It encourages real personal development by improving skills.

And above all, you are taking ownership of your own career.

And that's the most powerful thing.

And that is what being intentional is all about.

You own your own career.

It feels like you know what?

It's a job I've been given, but I've owned it and of course, perfecting the art of job crafting can itself lead to more career opportunities going.

Someone else is going to see what you've done and say whatever you've done there, I want you to bring it to me.

So the key point is job crafting is something you have to decide to do and in order to change aspects of your current job. So it suits you better.

And these are the four basic steps you need to think about.

Do the steps and you will have a much more fulfilling career, a much more rewarding career. A career you enjoy, and it allows you to bloom where you're planted. 

This is Femi Akinyemi from The Unleashed Podcast, bringing you the Intentional Career.

Follow these steps, have an impact and have a great week.

Have an impact on others.

Smile when you go to work, own your career, and I'm wishing you wonderful mental health.

Have a great week.