Making a Way Where There Is None: Jobcrafting

In 2019, a global poll by Gallup revealed that out of the world’s 1 billion full-time workers, 85% of them are not engaged in their jobs. One reason for this is a lack of fulfillment from a job.

While a job can’t be the only source of fulfillment one’s life, there is a way to make it more fulfilling, so if this sounds like you, keep reading to learn about job crafting.

What is job crafting and what’s the point of it?

Job crafting is the practice of finding opportunities at work to customize one’s job by actively changing tasks and interactions. It’s a way of changing your situation from the inside out, and it can be very powerful.

Harvard Business Review describes three types of job crafting – task crafting (changing the tasks that make up your job), relational crafting (changing who you interact with), and cognitive crafting (changing how you perceive the work you do).

Job crafting can not only make you happier at work, but it can also make others happier – if you find someone who is willing to take exchange tasks with you, you create a symbiotic, mutual job crafting environment. In addition, it adds value to the organization – the more people with diverse skillsets, the more clients an organization can service (and it gives you leverage for a raise, later!). Finally, job crafting creates a culture of collaboration as departments break down siloes and become more integrated.

You’re in – How do I do it?

The most difficult part of job crafting is deciding you want to do it and initiating the conversation.

Once you do decide to do it, take the opportunity to look inward at your strengths and values, whether with a coach, mentor, friend or other colleague. What am I good at? What can I improve upon? What do I like to do? What would I prefer not to do?

Then, think about what your organization or department needs – find the gaps, and figure out where you fit. For example, if you work in logistics but have an interest in marketing, see if there’s a way you can apply logistics frameworks to your company’s marketing departments. Or look and see if there is something you are already naturally doing that you enjoy and see if there are other areas of the organization where you can apply your unofficial role.

In my job coordinating startup programs at the University of Pennsylvania, I realized that I was already mentoring and coaching students on a daily basis. This gave me the idea to start a pilot coaching program within the university for founders.

When you find the gap, initiate the conversation with your manager or supervisor. Approach them and make your case by discussing how much you value the organization and how you want to apply your skill set to the area where you see the gap. Make sure that your idea makes sense for the business – Irrelevant ideas won’t get as much attention.

What if I reach a dead end?

If your supervisors say no or you don’t see a gap, this can be discouraging. The best thing you can do in this scenario is find other areas of your life to craft.

Take a communications course and apply your learnings to family group chats; Start freelancing to develop and share your skills in the way you want; Join Human Resources professional development groups and network at events. Big or small, there are many ways you can still job craft outside of your organization.

With patience, you may even feel confident enough to move on from your organization or start a side hustle. The important thing is that you try.

Warmly,

Anne Stamer

President and CEO

Stamer Coaching & Consulting