Job crafting consists of shaping one's work to derive more satisfaction from it, increase motivation, combat boredom, and increase one's level of involvement in professional life. In other words, it means gradually adapting your work and the conditions in which you perform it so that it best fits your qualities, skills, and interests.
Therefore, and above all, Job & Sense advises you, if you haven't already done so, to follow the first two steps of the journey: taking stock of your current situation and getting to know yourself better.This way, you'll have a very detailed view of your current job and deeper self-knowledge.
Then, you need to adopt the right mindset. No, everything isn't set in stone; you can change certain things.
Try to define which aspects you could adapt on your own initiative and which ones require a discussion with your management or with someone from human resources.
Know that if your requests are realistic and positive, your management will certainly be open to listening to you. A happier worker will be a more engaged worker for their company and more productive. So go for it, don't hesitate, and take matters into your own hands.
This practice of "job crafting" was developed in the United States in the 2000s and has become widespread. However, it has always existed, with many people shaping their jobs without knowing it.
The University of Michigan, in its 2008 study "What is Job Crafting and Why does it matter?" concludes that there are four ways to shape your work by questioning:
The tasks you perform
You can try to change the number, type, nature of the tasks you perform, or the methodology you use to do them.
For example by:
- Emphasizing the task or tasks you like to do.
- Adding a task you would like to do but aren't currently doing.
- Removing tasks that weigh you down.
The perception of your work
The way you perceive your work can change many things. This could indeed add meaning to it and allow you, for example, to question the usefulness of the tasks you perform.
Every job, indeed, involves more or less tedious tasks or drawbacks, and the way you perceive them and give them meaning can make them more bearable.
Try to answer the question: "I help XXX to XXX by doing XXX"
For example: I help the company save money and entrepreneurs save time by doing their accounting, or: I help people emerge stronger from their burnout by coaching them and helping them know themselves better.
The quality of interpersonal relationships you have in the context of your work
You can change your daily work by changing the nature of your interpersonal relationships.
For example by:
- Trying to reduce your contacts with those who harm you.
- Making contact with other people, people in other departments, other functions for example.
- Creating closer relationships with your colleagues by helping and supporting them.
- Creating better relationships with your clients and/or beneficiaries.
The context in which you perform your work
Finally, context can affect your well-being at work.
There are things you can modify to feel better, such as asking to change offices in your company, if possible, working from home some days, increasing or decreasing your working hours, ...
Don't hesitate to reread the priorities you set for yourself in the taking stock of your current situation section to know what context will help you feel better.
