Dear PR Matters,
I like reading your column because I learn a lot of new things even if my work is not in PR. Some of the topics you cover can be helpful to many other professions.
Many times, we are told that one of the things we can do to get ahead is to get out of our comfort zones, which can be very difficult.
Can you share with us some tips on how we can do this and recharge our career?
Sincerely,
Lillian G.
Dear Lillian,
Thank you for your letter. It is indeed very tempting to settle into our comfort zones—because it is, well, so comfortable. But staying in this can be dangerous and lead to a career rut. Before one knows it, everyone else has gone ahead and we don’t understand why.
In an article “Stuck in a Rut? Here are 5 Ways to Breathe New Life into Your Career or Business” in Inc. com, Amy Vetter said taking time to enjoy your success and sit back is a good thing, “but it’s important not to get too comfortable for too long in any phase of your business.”
Before you know it, “you may settle into a safe routine where you no longer strive to improve and grow, and you may miss critical opportunities…and get into a rut.”
She warned, however, that signs of being in a rut are not obvious, and there are warning signs that we should pay attention to. These include:
- n You don’t feel excitement for your work.
- n You have trouble keeping your focus.
- n You often feel tired and find it hard to get motivated to go into the office.
- n You reminisce about the past.
- n You don’t think about the future.
While “being in a rut too long can be tough to escape from,” she shared with us five tips to “break free from maintenance mode and keep looking forward.”
- Revisit your goals—or make new ones. Vetter said that “goals are like maps that interconnect. Sometimes we focus only on our business goals, but don’t step back to assess our personal purpose and how it fits into our business vision and goals. Taking a little time to assess why you do what you do will help you to identify if you have gone off track in your business.
If you find that you have gotten off-track, it’s time to note where you have gone out of alignment. If you find yourself drifting away from your original intention, Vetter said, “it may be time to establish new goals.”
- Rediscover what inspires you. Look into yourself, and find out what or who gets you excited. Vetter said that personally, “I’ve found that focusing my attention on something inspiring—even if it is not related to my business or goals—can spark my attention and drive. Often, it helps me to do activities outside of work that create a feeling of joy and happiness, like playing guitar. Being creative helps to inspire me and take that renewed energy back into my workday.”
- Ask for feedback. When you are stuck, “reach out to a few colleagues and business associates and even close friends” to nudge you, Vetter said. “Confide in them on how you are doing, what you feel your current strengths and weaknesses are, on your ideas, and how you can improve.”
While it may be “tough to listen to honest feedback, it may be just what you need.”
- Step away from it all. When you find some distance in your life, Vetter said, “you can see things a little bit clearer.”
Actually, “the best way to gain a fresh perspective on your career is to step away for a while. Take a long vacation where you unplug the world and enjoy some time to yourself.”
Visit a destination on your bucket list, visit your old hometown, or go on a road trip with friends and family. When you come back to work, you will be refueled and ready to be creative again.
- Learn something new. Vetter believes—just like Eleanor Roosevelt—that you should do something that frightens you every day. Taking on a new challenge is a great rut-buster. In short, do not be afraid.
“Focus on something you have always wanted to do, especially if it’s outside your comfort zone,” Vetter said. “Not only will you be stimulated from learning a new skill, but it re-ignites your motivation and demonstrates how you can accomplish anything—and that there is still so much to do in your life.”
These can range from learning a new language, trying out a new sport, taking cooking lessons or taking yoga sessions.
After all, “everyone gets into ruts at times. But the best way to bust through them is to acknowledge when they occur and never ignore them. A rut can be a wake -up call and a golden opportunity to propel yourself toward a new, exciting direction.”
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the senior vice president for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chairman.
We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.
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