Symptom

Reality-check questions

You and your development

The challenge has gone. The skills that felt difficult when you began it are now easy – too easy.

You know you could do more. You are conscious that you have skills you are under-using

The job has too much routine in it.

You no longer feel proud to say what your job is. Somehow it doesn’t seem to sit well with the core of who you really are. Your real energy is going into leisure activities.

Have you

... checked whether others share your perception that you are performing brilliantly at the 99th percentile?

... explored whether your job could be expanded to fit your under-used skills?

... considered delegating the routine tasks?

Your boss

You have lost any respect you once had for your boss. Reasons could be a mixture of: you think he is under-performing; his style with people is toxic; he does not give you the support and challenge you need; he does not practise what he preaches.

Have you

... tried talking this through with your boss? For instance, if you want a better relationship, have you asked for it as clearly as you make your complaints about him to your friends? Are you sure that you’re not prepared to accommodate and negotiate?

The team around you

You don’t rate them. You are doing work that they should be doing.

Or they seem to be excluding you.

Have you

... checked this perception with them or with others who know the team and its members well?

... made it clear that you want to be included?

The organisation

Perhaps there has been a significant change. Whatever the change, the organisational culture feels increasingly out of kilter with your own values and needs.

When people ask you where you work, you hesitate to say.

Have you

... waited to see whether this apparent change is real and permanent?

... wondered whether what you really dislike is the uncertainty and that by increasing your tolerance for ambiguity, you might feel happier?

'Deliver more with less'

There is increasing pressure to deliver. If it doesn’t feel possible, then the personal price – on health, or on private life – may seem too high.

Have you

... clarified what is really expected of you? Asked for more resources, or more reasonable deadlines?

Power and influence

Your freedom has been clipped in ways that matter to you.

You are being managed on a short leash. Parts of your job have disappeared or have been handed to others. Decisions are being made without you

You have been given a ‘special projects’ role but it’s not clear what.

Have you

... taken a cool look at what is going on here? These symptoms are typical of what organisations do when there are doubts about an employee’s performance. What hints might you have been given? Look this one in the eye. Ask for straightforward feedback, consider it calmly and if you want to keep your job, look for training or other support.

The physical environment

It is unpleasant – too hot, too cold, too cramped, too noisy, too dirty, horrible views.

It takes too long to get to work and the journey is stressful.

Have you

... realised this factor alone is not usually enough to drive us out of a job. Have you considered what else might be going on to change the way you feel about work?

Reward

Others seem to have more money, more status, more recognition. The balance between what you give and what you get in return feels wrong.

Have you

... asked yourself what would seem fair; considered how you might get what you want by staying put?