Getting your needs met at work is the foundation of job satisfaction and performance. Attending to those needs can be hugely beneficial in navigating complex (and daily) situations at work. But we don't always consider our personal needs in a work environment.
When your needs are satisfied, you will be grounded, confident and more likely to enjoy your work. You’ll handle situations, conversations and conflict with strength and self-belief.
One of your needs may be to ‘make things happen’. At home, this may be within your control. At work, there are colleagues to consult, layers of decision making, conflicting priorities, areas of sensitivity and colleagues with differing paces of productivity. This slows down the speed at which you make progress and leads to feeling frustrated and agitated. It reduces productivity when you feel that your hands are tied, and impacts your relationships.
Rather than ignoring it, acknowledge your need to ‘make things happen’. Think about what is within your power to satisfy your need. Can you communicate this need to others to overcome barriers? Can you work on something else in the meantime? Are there ground rules to set to avoid this scenario in future?
How often do you think about your needs at work?
Gemma Brown is an associate certified coach with the International Coach Federation, working with people to navigate successfully through transitions - be it career, relationships or life in general. Her belief is that when we confidently bring our whole selves to all areas of life, anything is possible. Transitions exist in both our personal and business life, and so often, the two fiercely overlap. Coaching with Gemma focuses on you as a whole, enabling you to identify your strengths, build confidence and to live a life with increased purpose and direction. Gemma is based in Cambridgeshire and carries out face to face coaching in the area as well as 1-2-1 coaching via Skype and Zoom. For more about Gemma, visit her 'About' page or contact her directly.