Lost your mojo or stuck in a rut?
You know that feeling. You’re comfortable staying right where you are and yet you often feel unfulfilled. Stuck within the bounds of your invisible hula hoop.
According to the State of the Service report on employee engagement in the APS, ‘An engaged workforce is likely to be more committed to organisational goals and (be) more productive.’ Employee engagement in the Australian Public Service, (APS), has remained consistent at 65% in both 2014 and 2015; but how does the APS classify engagement? Statistics don’t tell the full story when it comes to determining an individual’s personal engagement in their APS role.
“One area of the statistical analysis is based on the intention to leave. This does not reflect the fact that employees may just be staying in their current role due to financial circumstances or maintaining a feeling of security”, says Tania Bunk, a trained Life Coach and Human Resources professional, from Captured Communications.
“Employees may actually be disengaged from their role and are staying due to fear based reasons. Physically they are listed as ‘engaged’, yet mentally and emotionally they are not fulfilled.”
“On average, APS staff are only 65% engaged with their job. This could be seen as being quite high in terms of retention, but are individuals satisfied with their job rather than simply being listed as engaged?”
Tania says she has spoken to many women who are currently disengaged with their current roles in both the public and private sectors.
“This is due to many varied reasons – lack of job satisfaction, not feeling valued, wanting to work less hours to spend more time with family or dreaming of expanding their undervalued skills to their own businesses to help others and to benefit directly from the rewards.”
“The aim of searching for your new purpose isn’t to tell you to quit everything right now and run. It’s about discovering what you are suited to and how you can make decisions and take action to start taking baby steps toward your new journey whilst still maintaining the security of your current situation.”
Tania says life coaching sessions are one of the best ways to shift current fears around change, as hope conquers fear and small steps toward change become easier.
“It’s often people who appear to have it all that struggle to focus on what they really want. A recent client, Lynne, had a well paid job, a loving family and husband, a lovely house filled with beautiful things, but she wasn’t happy within herself because she was living the life expected of her rather than the one she wanted.”
Tania helped Lynne discover what she could do to fill that void and become truly engaged, but it wasn’t about prescribing solutions.
“I didn’t tell Lynne exactly what she needed to do. To be honest I don’t do a lot of talking in the sessions. I pose a series of questions to the client,” says Tania.
“The starting point of the journey toward change is defining one’s big picture dream goal and then breaking it down into tangible achievable processes. It is so satisfying experiencing the engagement and excitement a client feels as they weave their way through the coaching journey.”
Lynne is now transitioning to a start-up business and a whole new exciting chapter of her life, having gained the confidence to make a complete jump from her comfort zone and self awareness around her strengths and capabilities.
Captured Communications also provides services in the areas of journey guidance, career & life coaching, résumé design, selection criteria, interview strategies, self-esteem validation, skills analysis, casting services and design management. Visit capturedcommunications.com.au for more information.
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