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Often my clients feel unclear about what kind of work they would feel passionate about. For example, Sue came to me for private coaching because she felt confused and stuck.
Sue explained, “When I started this career, I thought I really liked it. But every day I have to make myself go to work. I wrestle with boredom, I hate my boss micro managing our department, and I resent working long hours. I don’t feel passionate about anything.”
“Let’s take a closer look at what you do want. If you could redesign your current job to suit you, how would you do that?” I asked.
She started by clarifying what she didn’t want, “I work with clients over the phone. I solve their problems and if I have done a good job, I never hear from them again. I don’t get to see how things worked out so I don’t feel any sense of accomplishment.”
“Would, you would feel more satisfied if you could have a longer-term relationship with your clients?”
“Yes, I would feel more satisfied if I could see the results of the work we did. And, I don’t want my boss telling me how it should be done.”
“Would you want to work more autonomously and have more opportunity to think for yourself?”
“That would be wonderful. I have so many ideas but don’t feel like I have permission to use them. I wouldn’t even mind working the long hours, if I just felt what I did mattered.”
“If you could work more creatively and autonomously with clients with whom you have longer-term relationships, would you want to stay in the same line of work?
“I am not sure. Besides, my boss would never let me change things like that. The company doesn’t operate that way and I could never ask him for more time with clients. Around he
autonomously and have more opportunity to think for youre nobody gets what they want.”
“Sue, can you hear the negativity in what you just said? As you explore what you really want and begin to feel more hopeful, I want to you know that your inner critic will try to interrupt the process by speaking to you like that. Don’t pay any attention to it you are creating something new. Just keep going.”
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