“Job crafting creates a path to meaningful work.”
-Amy Wrzesniewski, Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior, Yale School of Management
Chances are, you don’t really remember (and can’t even find) your original job description. As time goes on, roles and responsibilities tend to flex and adapt to the needs of the current moment, especially in the education and nonprofit fields. Tasks, responsibilities, and “other duties as assigned” can all shift on and off your plate.
That’s why learning how to personalize your role can be so meaningful. Every day, there are simple ways to introduce the mindset and skill of job crafting so your job feels energizing to you and stays relevant. According to a recent survey of 5,000 U.S. households by The Conference Board, only 45% of those polled say they are satisfied with their jobs—down from about 60% in 1987, the first year the survey was conducted. If you’re feeling unfulfilled and a little burnt-out with your role, how can you make job crafting work for you?
- Personalize Your Tasks Ask to take on more or fewer tasks or change how your tasks are performed. If you like the challenge of creating beautiful content, see if you can help with social media creation. If you prefer meeting with new clients and your coworker would rather develop Excel charts, propose a swap.
- Change Your Perceptions. You can reframe the purpose of certain parts of your role or the job as a whole. Instead of slogging through boring data-entry, you’re making sure the wheels on the whole operation don’t go careening off track. Instead of simply managing projects, you’re advancing your organization’s mission.
- Switch Up Your Relationships If you have the opportunity, changing who you work with on different tasks or who you engage with on a regular basis can be a source of energy. Brainstorming with the teacher you never get to talk with or meeting with a colleague from a different department can unlock creative solutions to old problems while building trust among the organization’s staff.
DID YOU KNOW?…
When 1,000 business leaders and 2,000 workers around the world were interviewed about the impact of using job crafting in their organizations, 92% of participants who engaged in job crafting post-pandemic experienced a more satisfying work life and increased personal satisfaction.
