There is a reason my tagline is, “You can thrive and not just survive at work.”

I truly believe you can find work where you feel good all through your 8 hours work day.

I have experienced it, so I know it can happen.

When a job is a good fit, the day goes by quickly. You are engaged in your work. You feel you are making an impact.

You feel happy.

When I was in a job where I was thriving, I didn’t bring my daily issues home to my spouse and children. I could leave work at work and focus on my family at home. My spouse saw the difference and was happy not to hear my angst about what happened to me that day.

Aligning Skills Is One Key to Thriving At Work

There are several ways to ensure you can thrive at work. Today I will discuss finding a job where you are using the right skills. Skills are what we learn to do well over time. Most of us have many skills. They can be as varied as being able to troubleshoot car issues, negotiate a raise, or smell the difference between types of ground pepper.

When it comes to jobs, we gravitate to some positions over others because we see it as asking for skills we know we can do well. We think we will enjoy a job better (and be more successful) when using skills that are comfortable for us. We may even be interested in a position where we can become proficient in a skill and know we can get better with a role that will enable us to use it more.

Yet, be aware that there is more to know about thriving in a job than using skills you are good at or want to learn.

Motivational Skills

Some skills motivate us. We enjoy doing them and want to do them consistently. For each person, those skills may be different. As an example, I love to organize my space. Give me a project that calls for organizing my linen closet, and I am happy. I am good at it, and I enjoy doing it. I get a great sense of satisfaction figuring out how to configure the closet and getting my sheets, towels, and other items in the right place.

For you, it could be collaborating with others, researching a problem, mentoring, estimating for installing plantation shutters, coming up with innovative strategies, or selling. 

When we understand our motivating skills, we can look for jobs where these motivating skills are a large part of the job. Doing these preferred skills will make us happier and feel engaged in our careers.

Burnout Skills

Just as there are motivational skills that we are happy to do, there are also skills that do not interest us. One thing to note is that you can be disinterested in a skill but be really good at it.

One of my burnout skills is meditating. As a former HR professional, I had to mediate between parties all the time. It was essential to the business that conflict be addressed and a plan of action made so the problem could be tackled and the company could move forward. Through training and practice, I became very good at this. Yet, if you asked me to do this daily as part of my job, I would be depressed. In fact, I would be looking for a new job soon. It would not be because I would be unsuccessful in the role. It would be because I was using a burnout skill for me. Every day, I would dread going to work, knowing what I would be asked to do.

Burnout skills are those that you do not enjoy using regularly. You may be okay using them occasionally, but if the job requires the use of the skill all of the time, you will be unhappy in your role.

Motivational Skills and Career Happiness

So you want to ensure that when you take a role, you understand your motivational and burnout skills before you start a job search.

Many people skip this step.

They do not sit and think about what skills they want to do as part of the everyday routine of their job. They look for a job title and think that is the title they want or read a job description that they think is interesting and apply. Then when they get the job, they wonder why they are so mentally exhausted when they finish their day and have the Sunday Scaries thinking about returning to work after the weekend.

They need to use their motivational skills more regularly in their work.

And unless their job responsibilities change, they will never be happy. When something is boring or not interesting, it just is. 

My Personal Story

I was in a job I loved. I was using motivational skills daily. I was energized when I came to work. I couldn’t ask for a better job.

Then my company was acquired. And the new organization changed my role.

My motivating skills included strategizing, innovating, and envisioning the future. I love to advise, collaborate,  and be able to research and analyze. In the new role, I was to do only a little of that. I was asked to run programs designed by others. I could troubleshoot issues, but they were not interested in my assessment of the programs and how to improve them. They definitely did not want me to create anything new.

The job I loved soon became my worst nightmare.

I soon left, and I created a job that allowed me to use my motivating skills. That is the job I am in now…a career coach.

So How To Identify Your Motivational Skills

There are several ways to identify your motivational skills.

1. Ask yourself the following questions.

• What activities or tasks energize and excite me?

• What tasks or skills come naturally to me and bring me a sense of accomplishment?

• What skills am I eager to learn?

• What tasks or projects have I initiated or taken the lead on in the past, and what skills did I use?

• When I have a goal, what skills do I use to achieve it?

2. Use the Knowdell Motivated Skills Card Sort® (https://www.careerplanner.com/Knowdell-Motivated-Skills-CardSort.cfm)

3. Purchase a YouMap® assessment tool and go through an exercise reviewing 52 different skills for motivational or burnout skills (https://www.myyoumap.com/events/youmap-r-career-profile-purchase This is an affiliate link).

Understanding our motivational skills is essential for finding fulfillment and happiness in our careers. These skills energize us, allowing us to feel accomplished and happy. Identifying your motivational skills before embarking on a job search helps us find jobs that align with our preferences, leading to increased engagement and satisfaction. 

Want to learn more about your motivational and burnout skills? As a certified YouMap® coach, I can help you understand your motivational skills, strengths, values, and personality-based interests. Let’s talk.