Get more satisfaction at work by acknowledging your own personal needs.

When I reflect on my own needs, I’m immediately drawn to applying them in relation to my personal life. We don’t, however, leave our needs at the door when we get to the office. Getting our needs met at work is fundamental to our performance and attending to those needs can be hugely beneficial in helping you navigate your way through complex situations at work.

When your needs are being satisfied, you will be grounded, confident and more likely to enjoy your work. You’ll be able to handle situations, conversations and conflict with more strength and self-belief.

One of your needs, as an example, may be to ‘make things happen’. At home, this is quite straightforward and within your control to act upon. If there are things you want to do, it’s up to you (and probably one or two other family members) to get them done. In a work scenario, this can be challenging when there are things standing in the way of you getting on. There are usually more people to consult, layers of decision making, conflicting priorities, areas of sensitivity and colleagues with differing paces of productivity. This slows down the speed at which you make progress and leads to feeling frustrated and agitated. It can also reduce productivity when you feel that your hands are tied, and ultimately, impact on your relationships.

Rather than ignoring it, and getting more pent up, acknowledge your need to ‘make things happen’. This will help regain control in getting this need met. Think about what is within your power to help you in satisfying your need. Can you communicate this need to others so they can help you overcome barriers? Are there other things you can work in the meantime? Are there ground rules to lay at the outset of the project to avoid this scenario next time round?

Think about your needs. How do they get met at work? Is there one that isn’t being satisfied right now? What can you do to take control of this?

#careers #personaldevelopment #wellbeingatwork #coaching #needs

---

Gemma Brown Coaching

Gemma Brown is a certified coach working with people to navigate successfully through transitions - be it career, relationships or life in general. Her belief is that when we confidently bring our whole selves to all areas of life, anything is possible. Transitions exist in both our personal and business life, and so often, the two fiercely overlap. Coaching with Gemma focuses on you as a whole, enabling you to identify your strengths, build confidence and to live a life with increased purpose and direction. Gemma is based in Cambridgeshire and carries out face to face coaching in the area as well as 1-2-1 coaching via Skype and Zoom. For more about Gemma, visit her 'About' page or contact her directly.