What do you need to have in place to be your best and do your best work?

For example, do you work best with a lot of structure or do you prefer a hands-off boss? Think back to past work and life experiences. When were you distressed? What was at the root of the stress? Perhaps you felt isolated? Unsupported? Continue to jot these down in your notebook.

Next, what is most important to you? What do you find yourself doing even though it’s not necessary or part of your job? What’s at the core of what you enjoy doing? Perhaps it’s creativity. Do you find yourself straightening out the supply room at work? What is it in particular that is satisfying? Seeing visible results? Is it fun to create order out of chaos? The appreciation you hear from your colleagues?

Jot down these insights and observations in your notebook.

List your skills and interests. For easy reflection, put all of the above discoveries on a spreadsheet with a column for each, such as column 1.

needs, 2. values, 3. skills, 4. interests, 5. ideas of possible jobs.

This week spend some time observing yourself, particularly when you have heightened emotions of joy or frustration. The joy is often experienced when we are living our values, and frustration shows itself when our needs aren’t being met. Both joy and frustration are equally important when we consider possibilities and opportunities.

To your success,

Gwyneth Anne