What would make your job better? - Jo VanEvery Careers

I want to plant a seed that can slowly germinate in the back of your mind.

What would it mean to you for your job to be “better”?

Is there anything you have control over that might make a difference?

What is the smallest thing you could do?

If thinking about your job feels like a dead-end, try going bigger (what would make your life better) or smaller (what would make next semester better, or what would make next week better).

gremlin — Image by Amy Crook, Antemortem Arts, used with permission

If this little guy turns up…

… try being curious.

Write down what he says without judgement. Just listen. Use this colouring page.

Then go back to the other questions, but maybe phrase them this way:

Even if it’s impossible to change anything, what would “better” look like for me?

Even though I don’t have control over anything significant, is there anything, however small, that I do have control over that might make a difference?

Even if small things feel thoroughly insignificant, what is one small step I could try?

Experiment

There are better and worse ways of doing things but there is rarely One Right Way that works for everyone. Whatever it is that you want to do, you need to decide the best way for you. Researching your options can help narrow things down, but there comes a point when you need to experiment.

Although you normally apply the scientific method to large data sets (if you use it directly at all), the principles apply even when n=1.