4 Signs You Should Leave Your Job

4 Signs You Should Leave Your Job

We’ve all been there. We’ve experienced the feeling of dread, battling traffic as we drive to and from work. The lack of sleep Sunday night as your mind spins, thinking of ways to get out of work the next day. Constantly wishing you were doing something else, anything else, yet never feeling 100% clear that you’re meant to leave your job and find something else.


After all, other people at work seem happy. You earn a decent living, and you’ve got a roof over your head because of that job.

Now, I’m going to give you the four simple signs that you should get a better job. But first, here’s a bonus tell-tale sign: If you’re reading this article and got this far, you probably deserve a better job. The fact that you’re reading this tells me there’s some part of you that knows you can do better.

But, just for fun, let’s go through the four tell-tale signs you should get a better job:

1. You’re Doing What You “Should” Do

Woman thinks about leaving her job while working

Ever feel like you’re constantly doing things you “ought to do” instead of what you “want to do”? If the real reason you’re working is to appease your parents, impress your friends, or do what you think your great-great-grandfather would want you to do, then you’re not being true to yourself, and you’ll eventually snap. It’s time to tune into what you want in life and take steps today to pursue it.

2. You’re Incredibly Bored At Work

Young man looking bored at his desk and deciding whether he should get another job

There’s a difference between doing the occasional boring task during an otherwise enjoyable workweek and working an entire job that you’re bored with. If you’re daydreaming of better things to escape the mind-numbing boredom, then it’s time to make those dreams come true and find a job that’s fulfilling and plays to your strengths.

3. Your Co-Workers Bring You Down

Young professional upset at his desk while his coworker yells at him

People around us have a huge impact on our life, often much more than we realize. So, if you don’t get along with your team, find yourself picking up bad habits from your co-workers, or just can’t wait to get away from them, then that’s a pretty good sign the grass is greener elsewhere.

4. You Say “No” To This Question Too Many Days In A Row

Young professional woman looking stressed at her job, debating whether she should look for a new job

Here’s the really big, final, decisive sign. It’s from Steve Jobs’ famous Stanford commencement speech, and it goes like this:

“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: ‘If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.’ It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”

Powerful, isn’t it?

These tell-tale signs may have helped you come to terms with the fact that it’s time for a change. Yet, as you likely know, figuring that out is the easy part. The much more difficult part is gaining clarity on what to do, and having the courage to do it.

If you need help building the confidence to leave your current job, check out Work It Daily and all of our career resources. We’ll help you feel empowered in your job search so you can find the right job for you!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

12 Best Platforms to Hire Top Talent in 2022

12 Best Platforms to Hire Top Talent in 2022

Over the years, freelancing has become an increasingly popular career option for several professionals. It is rapidly growing as a mainstream job alternative that offers flexibility and a variety of opportunities not only to job seekers but also to companies across industries. Businesses of all sizes are now actively tapping into freelance platforms to find […]

The post 12 Best Platforms to Hire Top Talent in 2022 appeared first on Jobacle.com.

How To Learn From Failure

How To Learn From Failure

“Learn from failure.” You’ve probably heard that from countless articles, stories, and books. This article is to drive home some key points about learning from failure. Lessons you probably are very familiar with but need reminders about. Or, if you are new to this thing called “failure,” then it will serve as a springboard to better success (I hope).


You hear stories about failure. You hear stories about success. Everyone hears how failure is the mother of all successes. Yet, you are still fearful of failure as if it is a black mark that will appear on your report card of life if you do happen to fail. And fail you will if you are like the rest of us mere mortals. Does that mean you stop trying?

Here are some tips for learning from failure:

1. Take The Risk And Pay the Price

Work colleagues discuss possible failures

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You have to be willing to take the risk venture beyond your comfort zone regardless of what area you are in to gain some form of success. Think about the entrepreneurs, scientists, leaders, and businesses that took the path less trodden and how they were rewarded handsomely. If you are willing to pay the price with the risk you take, then the returns may just surprise you. “But, what if I fail?” you ask.

2. Know It’s Okay To Fail (Really)

Woman learns from failure

Yes, it’s okay to fail. The adage we learn from failure is true. Be open with your mind, eyes, and ears. The lessons are there for you to understand and do better next time. Think about what you have done right, what you can do better, and what you should stop doing. That is one of the easiest ways to analyze how to learn from failure.

One side point: in cases like these, I dislike using the word “failure.” “Setback” is my preferred word.

3. Realize Experience Is The Best Teacher

Team celebrates success after many failures

Think about this: if you do not fail in any of your endeavors, how do you learn to be better? How do you become wiser? People say experience is the best teacher. If you accept that to be true then you need to accept failure as one of the many lessons you gain from experience. So, you get to learn from failure. It’s that simple. Think about failures as lessons in the journey of life.

4. Allow Yourself The Freedom To Fail

Coworkers discuss successes and failures

Allow yourself the freedom to fail if you want to learn from failure. When you are too cautious, you do not allow yourself to take any risks. If you are safe all the time, then you are not giving yourself the opportunity to learn from failure. Give yourself the freedom to fail and see how the lessons of success open up for you.

5. Let The Fear Of Failure Help You Succeed

Man learns from failure

The fear of failure may not necessarily be a bad thing, as it can propel you to succeed. Some people use it as a motivating factor to ensure they succeed. As long as you do not get paralyzed into inaction and limit your appetite for taking risks, I believe the fear of failure as a propelling factor can be of good use.

6. Welcome Failure

Team celebrates successes and failures

There can be no success without failure. You should welcome failure as an opportunity to learn and you will learn from failure. The fees for learning from failure may seem too high sometimes, but in the long run, you will somehow discover it a worthwhile price to pay.

Ready to learn from failure so you can find career success?

Check out Work It Daily and all of our career resources. We’ll help you feel empowered in your career so you can bounce back from failure and get on the road to success!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.


Why Writing Is The Foundation Of Persuasion

Why Writing Is The Foundation Of Persuasion

If you’re hungry for success, persuasion is the skill you need to acquire.

It’s better to start learning the art of persuasion through writing, rather than talking. You have more time to organize your thoughts and your words and no one will interrupt you mid-flow.


Twenty years ago, I was working for the British Council. I was asked to prepare a needs analysis for a very specialized language course for military officers. I conducted my research and spent most of the weekend writing a detailed proposal. On Monday, I gave it to the project manager, who would pass it to the Defence Attaché in the British Embassy.

The project manager looked at it and said, “Great report, but do it again.”

He explained to me the key principles of persuasive writing. He learned them from his father, who was a military officer. He then practiced and developed them for many years as a freelance journalist.

The result:

Persuasion is a skill that can be learned. When I put these principles into action, I was complimented on the work I had done by senior staff, and they frequently asked me to write proposals for them.

My colleague explained that there are five key principles to observe: structure, paragraphs, headings, language, and editing.

5 Key Principles Of Persuasive Writing

Woman works on her persuasive writing skills

1. Structure

Most people start with an introduction, they write the main body, and they end with the conclusions. That’s not the way you write for people in a hurry. Decision-makers are always in a hurry!

Introduce the topic by briefly stating the situation and the problem. This should take no more than half a standard-sized sheet of paper (Letter / A4). State your conclusions and recommendations in bullet point form. These too should take no more than half a standard-sized sheet of paper.

Use the rest of the document to state all your arguments, evidence, and references to the source material. Use the bullet-pointed recommendations as headings to connect each point to the detailed arguments and evidence.

Once your readers have read the introduction and recommendations, they will decide if they want to read on further. These people are often interrupted by phone calls, meetings, or emails that can’t wait. If your recommendations are at the end, they might never get that far.

2. Paragraphs

These days, your readers will read your words on a screen, perhaps even on a mobile phone.

Make your paragraphs short. Massive blocks of text are difficult to read on screens. The eye needs space around the text to orient itself.

3. Headings

Headings also help to break up the text. Today, everyone uses websites, so they are used to consuming text in a non-linear fashion. Headings help your readers find the part they need to read.

I write the title and headings after I have written the whole manuscript. That way, I know exactly what I am presenting with my headings.

4. Language

Academically educated people often believe obscure words and long sentences are signs of sophistication. Senior managers are decision-makers, not university professors! They do not have time to read through vast academic texts.

It’s better to keep sentences short. Subordinate clauses require higher levels of concentration. To persuade someone, make your words easy to understand quickly.

Do you really need that adjective or adverb? Academics often add adverbs and adjectives to sentences that look good but contribute little to the meaning. Your bosses, customers, and suppliers are not interested in what you studied. They want to know what you propose to do.

The faster your target audience can process and understand your language, the faster they can make decisions. They will appreciate and respect your brevity.

5. Editing

You’ve done the research. You’ve martialled your arguments. You’ve written your text. You’ve added your headings. It’s ready to go. Or is it?

Once you hit that send button, it’s not coming back. The damage is done.

When I write, I take a “cooling off period” before I edit.

When you first write something, you’re often not ready to see its imperfections. It’s better to edit it after taking a break. You see it with a fresh pair of eyes.

Start by checking the word length, and aim to cut it by 10%. Read through your text. You know your subject better than your readers. Are you assuming your readers know something which they don’t? Are you using unnecessary explanations or examples to explain a point?

The Mindset Behind The Principles

Man works on his persuasive writing skills

Once you master these principles, you’ll find you can use them everywhere. This is a mindset.

In emails, apply the introduction, recommendation, and details formula. Watch your word length go down, and your response rate increase.

In PowerPoint presentations, make your first slide your introduction, your second slide your recommendations, then follow up with the details. Your presentations will be shorter and more memorable.

In meetings, make your first statement your description of the issue at hand, and your second statement your recommendations. Your audience will be engaged and you will come across as being a lot more confident. If you find out you have 20 minutes instead of an hour, it’s much easier to make your point in the time you’ve got.

Do It Yourself Tip #1: Reverse Engineering Your Writing

Woman tries to improve her persuasive writing skills

Try editing something you’ve written already. How many of these principles does it follow? Try rewriting it. What does it look like now? How would you react if you received it?

Take a look at some more of your writing, or your presentations, and do the same.

Do It Yourself Tip #2: Try It For Real!

Executive writes a persuasive email

Now try it on a real piece of writing. Start with a short email. Think about how it looks, and how your audience will receive it. Send it. See how they did receive it.

I’d love to know how you got on. Feel free to connect with me and tell me about it!



Get Creative, Get Quantitative: 8 Resume Writing Tips to Help You Stand Out

Get Creative, Get Quantitative: 8 Resume Writing Tips to Help You Stand Out

Your resume is the most important document regarding your job search. Think of a resume as a first impression. If you don’t show up on the hiring manager’s desk declaring that you’re the right person for the position, they’ll pass you up for someone else, even if you truly are the best fit. Your resume […]

The post Get Creative, Get Quantitative: 8 Resume Writing Tips to Help You Stand Out appeared first on Jobacle.com.

6 Ways To Deal With Family Asking About Your Job Search

6 Ways To Deal With Family Asking About Your Job Search

If you’re in the middle of a frustrating job search, the holidays can be the worst time of year for you. It may not exactly bring out the best in you when old Auntie June keeps asking why you haven’t found a job yet. So, what should you tell your family and friends over the holidays (or at any get-together) when they badger you about your job search?


Before you pull out your hair, check out these tips from our experts:

1. Move Away From The Subject

When you’re visiting with an old relative, there always seems to be that uncomfortable point in the conversation when you’re asked about your “situation” with work. Instead of grinding your teeth and getting upset, politely tell Uncle Roy you appreciate his concern, assure him you’re continuing your search, and tell him you’ll let him know when you’re situation changes for the better.

“Since it’s the holiday season, [tell them] you would prefer for the time to enjoy their company rather than focusing on job search activities,” says professional resume writer, Debra Wheatman.

“You can move away from the topic by shifting to something related to how they are doing and what is going on in their lives.” Lisa Adams, job search strategist and speaker, says to go about changing the subject gently, as they are only asking about your search because they care. Here’s how she handled the situation while her husband was in transition:

“I so appreciate you asking. We are doing fine. We have some things in the works but we are choosing not to discuss them at this time. When we have an offer and know where we will land, you will absolutely get the word.”

Then, Adams suggests tactically moving on to asking about them. “Talking about light-hearted topics that make everyone laugh or smile is always good,” she says. “Who couldn’t use that? I’ll tell a funny story about my youngest son who is a comedian by nature and is always doing something humorous. Give it a try.”

2. Realize They Do It Because They Care

Woman announces her husband is looking for a new job

After being asked about your job search efforts for the fifth time, it can be hard to remember that your family is just trying to help. “See the question for what it truly is: care and concern for your well-being,” says Ben Eubanks, founder of UpStartHR. “I remember getting tired of answering the question for people when I was job searching, but they only ask because they care about your career success. Use it as a chance to practice your elevator speech and enjoy the time with family and friends.” So, even if it’s hard, try to be patient and treat them with respect.

3. Make Them Feel Helpful

Family members ask about man's job search

Your friends and family probably have the best of intentions by asking about your job search, but it can be frustrating when they continue to badger you about your employment prospects. To keep the peace, thank them for checking in with you, but let them know that your job search is proving to be more challenging than you had hoped.

Amanda Haddaway, author of Destination Real World: Success After Graduation for New and Soon-to-Be College Graduates, suggests using their concern as a positive and asking them if they have any contacts in your field or know of any openings that might be in line with your skill set. “Chances are good they really do want to help, but don’t know how,” she says. “If you can engage them as a ‘job search helper,’ it might turn out to be a win-win situation.”

4. Keep Your Answers Short, But Positive

Man talks about his job search

When we say “short,” we don’t mean snappy, one-word answers. You can craft a short, to-the-point response that will satisfy most family members.

Leadership and management career coach Dorothy Tannahill-Moran says to keep your responses short and upbeat or they may slip into “problem-solving mode” if you aren’t careful. “If they continue to probe after your short answer,” she says, “remain consistent with short, upbeat responses. We often think under these circumstances that we need to get detailed but if you think about many other conversations, especially around Thanksgiving time (with loads of people), they are usually fairly superficial and short.”

Don Goodman, a certified resume writer, suggests saying something like this: “It’s going well, but I am being choosey about who I join next and I haven’t found the right firm yet.”

5. Set Boundaries

Woman talks to her family about her job search

“The most important thing is to recognize you don’t owe an explanation to anyone but your spouse about how your job search is going,” says executive job search coach Cheryl Simpson. “You can and should set boundaries with your extended family and friends by making clear what you will and won’t talk about.” Simpson suggests saying something along the lines of: “I appreciate your concern and interest about my career search. I don’t wish, however, to burden this gathering with details. Suffice it to say that my search is going well and I am pursuing a range of exciting opportunities.”

6. Think About It from Their Perspective

Woman hugs a family member at a party

“Questions like these can be frustrating to answer,” says Kristin Johnson, a certified job search coach. “You probably feel as if you sound like a broken record.” Once you think from their perspective, you’ll be able to answer the question with a genuine, appreciative question in return. It might sound something like this (using an admin position as an example):

“I’m looking to put my support skills to use in an office setting in the automotive industry. I have been looking at ABC and XYZ companies. I’d love to talk to someone at either of those. Do you have any contacts there? What suggestions do you have for me?”

“Eliciting specific information from your family will give you something to talk about and help them help you,” she says. “Definitely something to be thankful for!”

Looking for a job can be an incredibly frustrating and stressful experience, and feeling like you have to explain yourself to others only adds to it. Remember these six tips the next time your family or friends ask about your job search. You’ll successfully avoid any unpleasant conversations—or at least shorten their duration!

Struggling to find a job?

Check out Work It Daily and all of our career resources. We’ll help you feel empowered in your job search so you can land the right job for you.

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

31 Common Phone Interview Questions (With Answers)

31 Common Phone Interview Questions (With Answers)

Being prepared for common phone interview questions is a requirement if you want to stand out and land the job you want. With so many interviews being conducted remotely these days, being comfortable with this format is essential. This list of phone interview questions will help you get ready for the big day! 1. Tell […]

The post 31 Common Phone Interview Questions (With Answers) appeared first on Career Sherpa.

The 5 Things You Must Do To Become A Good Manager

The 5 Things You Must Do To Become A Good Manager

If you have never been a manager of people before, you are an individual contributor today and, who knows, you might even be part of Generation Z, and you might be interested in becoming a people manager. Let me share with you the key things that are going to help you immensely when you become a manager of people and a leader.


1. Gain Self-Awareness

What I mean by that is you have to know yourself before you’re able to promote and provide and help others. There are various things that you can do to gain self-awareness. For example, one of them could be you can do a DISC. This is a free personality assessment/test that you can find online. It will show you what your dominant areas of personality are. There are others of course that can be either self-interpreted or that can be done through a specialist. Remember that self-awareness is the first component of emotional intelligence and, therefore, once you understand what that is for you, you can understand your emotions, your strengths, your weaknesses, your needs, and your drives.

To assess where you are in this journey, you can go to insight-quiz.com created by Tasha Eurich.

2. Understand What Motivates You

There are two known avenues for all of us to get motivated: intrinsic (internal) or extrinsic/identified (external).

When it comes to internal or intrinsic motivation, think of the things we naturally want to do, just because we enjoy them! An example of this could be writing or journaling just because we see the value of reflecting, sharing, and including others in our thinking and learning.

If you consider extrinsic/identified motivation, these are the things we do because we have identified them as important to accomplish the goals that we want to achieve. An example of this could be: “I am studying how to become a world-class online facilitator,” or “I want to blog for Fast Company.”

How well do you know your motivations? Get on it! Once you become a people manager, if you know what motivates you, it will be part of your approach to management going forward!

3. Sharpen Your Active Listening Skills

Have you ever wondered why in the world we have two ears and one mouth?

The main reason is that to be our best selves going forward in both our professional and personal selves, to be our most effective selves, we need to listen twice as much as we speak. If you think about it, when we speak, we hear ourselves, our thoughts. When we listen, we learn. I know it is difficult to do for those of us who are extroverted and think our ideas out loud.

Try listening twice as much as you speak and see the difference! Ask, listen, pay attention.

4. Get A Mentor

You may wonder what a mentor is and why might you need one (or more) in preparation to become a manager (and going forward). A mentor is someone who knows more than you do about a given topic and whose opinion you respect. They are trusted advisors. And remember, there is also “reverse mentoring” which is mentoring from folks who are younger than you, yet they offer you a window into your current reality.

When you think about a mentoring relationship, both confidence and competence increase—on both ends—by mere conversation and acute listening. In mentoring relationships, we believe and care about each other. Mentoring relationships inspire us as we grow, evolve, and decide. They help us step into our potential.

Mentoring reduces limiting beliefs and assumptions. We explore alternatives, run experiments, and progress. Mentoring facilitates change, development, and growth. Lessons endure. Mentoring relationships keep us ever grateful and encourage lifelong approaches to helping others learn.

5. Get A Coach

The most effective executives, athletes, and other celebrities have had a coach or a variety of them. In the case of someone looking to develop and grow their career, the best investment is hiring an (executive) coach.

So, what is executive coaching? According to the International Coach Federation (ICF), coaching is defined as a partnership with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. Coaching is a client-driven process that’s distinct from other service professions, such as counseling, mentoring, consulting, and training. Powerful—right?

Would you like to partner with someone who can do that for and with you? If your answer is yes, or even, I’m not sure—feel free to reach out to me for a discovery session: Ana Smith – Your Coach

Leveraging Your Team’s Differences To Bring Out The Best

Leveraging Your Team’s Differences To Bring Out The Best

You’re meeting with your team about solving a problem and want to make sure the problem doesn’t happen again. One person suggests a solution, but there isn’t a lot of conversation. You may have come up with a solution, but it may only fix a symptom or be a workaround. There should have been more conversation to make sure the team came up with the best solution.


The conversation must be constructive and respectful, specifically since some ideas will be more feasible than others. In order to have a meaningful conversation: 1) team members need to feel safe to express their opinion to the group; and 2) the team should consist of individuals who are well-versed in their area of expertise. I think there is also a third item: to have diverse individuals.

And when I say diverse, gender and race are just the first steps. I also mean national origin, sexual orientation, and all of the other characteristics that make each of us different. Each individual has specific knowledge and work experience, and it’s shaped by things such as our personality, background, and even our childhood. All of these things give us a unique and valuable perspective.

Even a mundane question like “How to eat the best bowl of cereal?” has more than one answer. Most people pour a bowlful of cereal then add milk. Some will pour the milk first and then add the cereal. And others will pour a bowlful with two different kinds of cereal or prefer to use almond milk. You may not have considered some of these ideas, but individuals can rationalize why their way is best. So, you should challenge your assumptions and thought process by listening to (and trying) various ideas before making a final decision.

It’s similar when trying to come up with the best solution for a problem or strategy/plan. The more homogenous the team is, the more “groupthink” you’ll potentially have—because the group has a similar thinking style. But when you have a diverse team, you’re likely to have more of an innovative brainstorming session. When you have a diverse team, there will be perspectives that you may not have considered such as:

  1. Specific areas of the state have inadequate internet bandwidth compared to other areas which would limit trying to run certain programs
  2. You’re expanding and want to market your product/service to a new target audience (who is currently underrepresented)
  3. Screen design that doesn’t accommodate individuals who are red-green colorblind or have other special needs
  4. Terminology or graphics in a custom user manual that could be offensive or misinterpreted
  5. You’re making a presentation to an overseas client, but are there potential cultural differences you should be aware of?

How embarrassing would it be if a customer pointed out a major flaw? Especially if it could have been avoided if there wasn’t “groupthink”? Initially, some team members may feel out of their comfort zone, but with each success, they’ll get into a groove. The team learns to appreciate the diverse ideas and perspectives being contributed and celebrates the uniqueness that each team member brings. They’ll ultimately have more innovative and productive discussions and develop well-thought-out solutions. The team will realize that diversity makes them stronger, and to hold the door open for the next individual.

For more information on the benefits of a diverse team, follow me on LinkedIn!

#1 Reason You Don’t Obtain Job Offers

#1 Reason You Don’t Obtain Job Offers

It’s currently hard enough to obtain a job interview these types of days. But here’s your #1 reason why individuals don’t make it for you to the next round associated with interviews or have the job offer…


Interview Answers!

@j. t. odonnell No. 1 Cause You Don’t Get Work Offers #jobinterview #careertiktok #jobsearch #joblife #edutok #interviewtips ♬ original sound — J. T. O’Donnell

I always discuss about the Goldilocks theory. Remember how there’s way too little, too much, and simply right? Well, when this comes to interview responses, they need to become ideal. Too little info gives the impression that will you’re closed off. Associated with something to hide. If you’re not confident . Most likely shy. Something can really feel off. But if an individual give too much details, you might come throughout as narcissistic, supply the impact you love to listen to yourself talk, or anyone could sound a small flighty and all within the board with your terms.

If people have trouble finding out how to help answer interview questions, It is best to look up the the majority of common interview questions that you may get requested in a job employment interview and then write out there your answers and help to make sure they’re succinct. Provide employers the information they should know, but do that within a timely and succinct way.

By so doing, the key towards a successful interview (and getting more job offers) is good interview replies. Therefore whatever you perform, don’t skip that appointment prep!

Require Help Preparing For Your following Job Interview?

Young man mixtures hands with the employing manager before a job interview

Check out Work This Daily as well as our career resources. We’re going help you feel strengthened inside your job search therefore you can land the exact right job for everyone.

Summary Sunday: Issue #463

Summary Sunday: Issue #463

Transparency is a big thing right now. Companies are encouraged to be more transparent on pay, how they recruit, their culture and more. But you also need to be more transparent about what you’ve done and how you’ve made a difference and what’s important to you. This week’s summary includes articles that touch on transparency. […]

The post Summary Sunday: Issue #463 appeared first on Career Sherpa.

4 Wise Thoughts To Keep You Motivated At Work

4 Wise Thoughts To Keep You Motivated At Work

I’m not sure if you can classify these wise thoughts as powerful words that can keep you motivated at work. Perhaps they are more akin to an attitude, or way of being. But I believe if you remember these words, if you remember this advice in the workplace, you’ll be sure to get a boost of motivation at work.


1. Discuss, Don’t Complain

Co-workers work on a project together

How often do you catch yourself complaining about others at work? Or finding fault in others? You may think you have a legitimate reason, but all the complaining will not do you any good. In fact, all it does is keep you demotivated. When you do this, you keep reminding yourself of how bad your work environment is.

Here are the powerful words to remember: “discuss, don’t complain.” What’s the difference? Well, when you discuss, you try to understand the root cause, and you try to find a solution. When you complain, you only focus on the problem and find “pleasure” in dwelling on the faults of others.

2. Listen To Comprehend

Man listens to and understands his colleague

Another powerful phrase to remember in order to keep motivated at work is “listen to comprehend.” How often do you find yourself listening to your colleagues only to rebut what they say? When you have actions like that, how can you find a good work environment to keep motivated? Next time a colleague talks, truly listen to comprehend what they are saying.

3. Speak With Understanding

Woman compliments her work colleague

Have you analyzed your speech at work? Perhaps you should. How often do you hurt people with the words you say? When you use unkind words and often repeat gossip, you inevitably create an unhealthy environment for yourself and your colleagues.

More words to keep in mind in order to keep motivated at work are “speak with understanding.” Acknowledge people’s good qualities and praise them. When we focus on others’ good qualities, it also makes us feel happier. Do an experiment: speak well of others for a few weeks. A month if you can. Every day, compliment someone sincerely. Even someone you do not like. Then, see how much more motivated you feel at work.

4. Help, Don’t Hide

Woman helps her co-worker with a task

The three last powerful words to help you keep motivated at work are “help, don’t hide.” Whenever there is an opportunity to make yourself available for service to others, do it. The more time you spend helping others and not hiding away from them when help is needed, the happier you will be at work. What you are doing is strengthening your relationships and growing your network. These support systems will later come to your aid too when you are in need of help.

There are, of course, more powerful words that can help you keep motivated at work. But start with these. They may seem like a few small phrases, but they are not easy to do. It takes months and months of practice. But if you are able to do these for a stretch of time, you will see a difference in your motivation at work.

Are you still feeling unmotivated at work? It might be time for a change.

Check out Work It Daily and all of our career resources. We’ll help you feel empowered in your job search so you can land the right job for you.

This article was originally published at an earlier date.