Losing Mojo at Work !(Part 1)

We often find ourselves at a crossroads in our career, where the job we once loved, now feels like a daily grind! It's a situation many of us can relate to at some point in our professional lives. The passion and enthusiasm we once had for our work can wane over time due to various factors, leaving us feeling disengaged. And the quick verdict is that the “Workplace sucks”, so time to move on. My own experiments with career transitions has now inspired me to write a series of blogs titled "Mojo At Work"( this one being the 1st of the series is about Losing Mojo at Work!)

The year on year Gallup engagement research shows the actively engaged (those who are content with their jobs) at an abysmal  23%, which is less than 1/4th of the working population. To this effect most organizations also spend millions of dollars in driving employee engagement programs. Some of these initiatives do work for a miniscule set of people, however, most of them don’t create any impact. And unfortunately, organizations continue to remain lifeless, sad places, while employees seek one workplace after another in search of the paradise of happiness.

Within all of this, the employee lives with the feeling of career loss, and the grudge that the organization did not do enough. And above all of this , the larger issue is apathy towards work-life, loss of productivity and low sense of progress in life. In short, we have fallen out of love with our job

This phenomenon(of falling out of love with our job) is the Low Mojo or the No Mojo at work. It is not anymore about just organizational productivity or profitability, but a much more intimate issue. This is almost turning into an epidemic where professionals dread going back to work on a Monday morning, feel zero connect with the organization, live weekend to weekend, and become the robotic best version of themselves. The often sought after solace is either a new job ( for a lucky few and which eventually becomes a dead end once again) or imbibing a hobby (aka marathon , biking, hiking, travelling, etc).

So, where are we not getting it right at work?  The answer is not so simple. I feel that in this entire equation of employee engagement, there is one person who , inspite of spending 50% of her waking hours at work, is not taking any accountability for one’s own happiness and energy at work. This person is the employee - I and You.

Having spoken to multiple corporate professionals across levels, I see hopelessness, loss of control,  and I hear a flurry of  statements like “there is life beyond work”, “I just have a day job”, or “I wouldn’t do this job for a day more, if it wasn’t for the money” are the new normal. While I am a big proponent for displaying detachment to work or with one’s organization (I learnt it the hard way :) ) and I agree that we are right in expecting a supportive boss, or a good and healthy work environment, however, I am also of the belief that an employee will need to take charge of her engagement and work happiness in her own hands now. A company will not, and cannot, always be the provider of engagement and the employee cannot remain as the receiver of engagement.

There is a strong case today  for us to take responsibility of our own Mojo at work, without overly depending on the organization. Falling back in love with our work , will need to become our accountability.

 Let’s try and uncover some key reasons today, that is leading most of us to fall out of love with our jobs::

1. Lack of Purpose: Gallup has reported Sixty percent of people as being emotionally detached at work. Organizations ae short term /profitability/ quarterly earnings oriented, and the resultant view at the employee level is short-term.
2. Not feeling cared for: It is a well-known fact that most workplaces today have above average rates of burnout and overwork. The environment is such that people are struggling to set boundaries between work and personal life, leading to exhaustion and eventually reduced job happiness.
3. Job Insecurity: Every year a new record of layoffs is being set globally. Economic uncertainty, automation, and the gig economy have created a sense of job insecurity. And those who are lucky enough to have their jobs, live with a deep sense of ‘survivors syndrome’ (a.k.a. I am Next!)
4. Toxic manager – No explanation needed for this one :).  But this issue is increasing speedily!

The above list could go on, but it is important to understand that there is one thing in common in all of the above – they are all extrinsic factors, outside our control. We have, at some level, thrown the baby with the bath water. What I mean is that with these uncontrollables, we have also given up on the gift of zest that work brings for us!

However, regaining your "mojo" or enthusiasm at work can be a fulfilling journey that involves a combination of deep personal reflection as well as proactive actions.  It's a process that can bring a sense of fulfillment and zest back to your work and life. More than regaining, it is about rediscovering your Mojo. Rediscovering your mojo at work is like rebooting a computer that's been running slow. You might need to clear out the clutter, update your software (in this case, your skills and mindset), and give it a fresh start. Once you hit that metaphorical "restart" button, you'll find yourself running at peak performance and tackling tasks with renewed energy.

In my next blog, I will look forward to sharing with you some insights on steps one can take to rediscover one’s Mojo back, to find that perfect blend of purpose, relationships and motivation!