Feeling overlooked and unappreciated at work can be a frustrating and demoralizing experience. It’s one of the reasons it took me so long to return to corporate work. It’s easy to lose sight of your purpose and become disengaged with your job when you feel like your contributions are going unrecognized. However, it is possible to find purpose and meaning in your work even when you feel overlooked. Here, I share some tips for finding purpose at your job when you feel overlooked and unappreciated:
Focus on your strengths and passions.
When you feel overlooked at work, it’s natural to start doubting your abilities and feeling like you don’t have anything to offer. However, this is often not the case. Instead of dwelling on your weaknesses or the things you feel you should be doing, try to focus on your strengths and passions. What are you naturally good at? What do you enjoy doing? Make a list and begin contemplating careers associated with the things you’ve written. By focusing on these things, you can find meaning and purpose in your work, even if you feel overlooked.
Set personal goals and accomplishments.
It’s important to have a sense of accomplishment and progress in your job, even if you feel like your contributions are not being recognized. Set personal goals for yourself and work towards achieving them. This can be something as small as learning a new skill or taking on a new project, or something bigger like getting a promotion or starting your own business. I set aside an hour each day to improve a certain skill that can help further my career and talent.
Another way to find purpose at work is to look for ways to make a difference, even if it’s on a small scale. This could be something as simple as helping a coworker with a task or taking on a community service project. Being nice generates amazing Karma.
Finding purpose by connecting with coworkers.
When you feel overlooked at work, it can be easy to feel isolated and disconnected from your coworkers. However, building relationships and connections with your coworkers can help you feel more engaged and invested in your job. Look for opportunities to connect with your coworkers, whether it’s through team-building activities or simply chatting over lunch. By building these connections, your network grows. And you’ve heard the saying, ‘your network is your net worth‘.
Seek feedback and ask for help. Sometimes, feeling overlooked at work can be due to a lack of communication or a lack of understanding of your role and responsibilities. If this is the case, it can be helpful to seek feedback from your manager or coworkers and ask for help when you need it. By doing this, you can better understand how you can contribute.
Find ways to challenge yourself.
Another way to find purpose in your work is to look for ways to challenge yourself and learn new things. This could be something as simple as taking on a new task or learning a new skill, or something more ambitious like pursuing additional education or training. By challenging yourself and growing as a professional, you can find purpose and meaning in your work, even if you feel overlooked.
Take breaks and engage in activities outside of work. It’s important to take care of yourself and find balance in your life, especially when you’re feeling overlooked at work. Make sure to take breaks and engage in activities outside of work that bring you joy and fulfillment. This could be something as simple as going for a walk or spending time with friends and family. That job will have your position on job boards a week after you die, so make time for self-care. You can come back to your job feeling refreshed and ready to find purpose and meaning in your work.
In conclusion, finding purpose at your job when you feel overlooked and unappreciated can be a challenging experience, but it is possible to refocus and find meaning in your work by focusing on your strengths and passions, setting personal goals, making a difference, connecting with coworkers, seeking feedback, challenging yourself, and taking breaks and engaging in activities outside of work. By implementing these strategies, you can find purpose and fulfillment in your job, even when you feel overlooked and unappreciated.
