Every job has certain aspects that suit your strengths and give you energy, and aspects that don’t. Even in a ‘dream job’ you will sometimes have to do things that aren’t very fulfilling. This means there is always room for improvement. Good news; you have more control in shaping your job than you might think. There are 4 dimensions of job crafting that help you to suit your daily work to your qualities and drives:
- Task crafting
Don’t just let your to-do list run your day. Take some time to have a good look at which to-do’s give you energy and which ones don’t. Then decide what you can do to pull tasks towards you or push them away. Some tasks are part of your job function, but that doesn’t mean that it always has to be. Maybe one of your colleagues would be more than happy to do your task instead of one of their own. See what you can swap with your colleagues, for a win-win situation. Another great way to do some task crafting is to do one thing a week, that you really love. Don’t see this as an extra to-do, but as an investment in your own work satisfaction; this should be high on your priority list. Last but not least, don’t be afraid to let some energy draining tasks go; delegate those as much as you can. - Context crafting
Your job is more than the activities or tasks that you do. Your work-environment has a big influence on your productivity and wellness. take a moment to ask yourself; do I prefer to work by myself in silence or with my colleagues around me? Does it depends on the task I’m doing, and if so, when do I prefer what? Do I like working at the same desk every day or would I like to alternate between different locations? Am I more productive in the mornings or evenings? Context crafting means making changes in your working conditions. Small things you can do are going outside more often during your workday or decorating your office. You cab also discuss with your employer if it would be possible to start work an hour earlier (if you are a morning person) or later (if you’re not). - Relational crafting
You probably spend a big part of your workweek with your colleagues and clients. Which makes it important to invest in a good relationship with them. Of course you get along more with certain people than with others, so make sure to focus on the people that make you feel good as much as you can. Small things you can consciously do are having lunch together with that colleague from a different department that you find inspiring. Or switch desks and sit next to a colleague that makes you laugh. Having good relationships with the people you work with, boosts your energy every day. - Cognitive crafting
The last dimension of job crafting is one that you have the most control over; it’s positive thinking. The way you look at your work is something that you can change and that will give you instant results. By paying attention to the things you love about your job and the things that went well during your workday you can actually increase your happiness. An easy way to do this is starting your day with writing down the 3 things that you look forward to the most; keep that positive vibe during your day.
Interested in reading more? Our (dutch) booktip: Aan de slag met Job Crafting – Mara Spruyt en Maria Dekker
