My previous article was about my own area of fulfillment and I want now to help you find yours.
"Why am I doing this? »
Who among you has never wondered: "But why am I doing this?" This question can arise at any time, including the most absurd ones: when you are immersed in the depths of an Excel spreadsheet that nobody understands any more; when you find yourself in an air-conditioned hotel room at 18°C on a hot summer day; when you waste an infinite amount of time scanning carpark tickets for ridiculously small amounts of money, but which are required by the expense reimbursement procedure; when you brush your teeth at 4.30 a.m. for the second time this week. Examples like these are endless because, by definition, they are unique to each of us.
Listen to your little voices.
These questions, these niggles, are all attempts by your little voice to challenge the meaning of your role or of your contribution. This little voice is most likely a sign that you have not yet fully found your area of fulfillment. Listen to what it has to say as it is often good advice.
The 3 circles.
Starting a dialog with your little voice, this new friend, begins by looking at the content of each of your circles. What would you put in each of them? As a reminder, here they are:
- What you love doing: what do you enjoy doing? What could you not stop doing without missing it? What is meaningful to you? What makes you happy?
- What you do well: what areas or activities are you good at? Where are you better than others? This last question is not necessarily to be taken with any competitive connotation, but rather as your own added value. Where do you make a difference?
- What creates value: what is driving value? What is valued and recognized by your company? In your context? The word "value" has two meanings here. Firstly, in a financial sense: what generates revenues or has a market value? And also in a societal sense. At a time where corporate social responsibility is gaining ground, we can no longer limit the notion of value to its monetary dimension. By way of illustration, I would hope that making money by polluting the environment cannot remain in this circle for long!
Let's now have a look at the intersections of these different circles.
The satisfaction area: what I love doing and do well.
The satisfaction are is the intersection between what you love doing and what you do well: when you're successful in doing something you enjoy doing, you are happy and get satisfaction from it.
The recognition area: what I do well and has value.
The recognition area is the intersection between what you're doing well and what brings value: you're good at doing things that are valued by others because of the value they generate. These achievements trigger recognition.
The interest area: what I love doing and has value.
The interest area lies at the intersection between what you love doing and what creates value: activities that fall within these two circles are of interest to you (because you enjoy doing them) and to others (because they create value).
The fulfillment area: combining appetite, skills and value.
The fulfillment area is the intersection of the three circles: once you are good at things you love and which are perceived as creating value, you can fully blossom in your activities.
Up to you!
Let's start... Grab a pen and paper, sit down in a quiet place you like and let your desires, your sources of pride and your reflection guide you. Your little voices will thank you and perhaps show you the way.
