How can you create your perfect role? Imagine that your present job is okay - but it isn’t fulfilling. On the other hand, you know ‘What’ you do best and ‘How’ you work best. Promotion is a possibility, but the more status you get, the less time you spend doing what you love. You want to return to work that gives you a buzz. So how to find or create such a role? Three routes stand out. You can focus on your present role, craft a potential role or generate possible new audiences. Let’s explore these roads.

1) Present role.

You can try to use your ‘A’ talent more often in your present job. Sounds attractive but - unless you are already in your perfect role - the chances are around 5/10. Why? There are two reasons. First, roles are often ‘historical’. Today’s fast moving world calls for finding new ways to achieve success – but established organisations often stick to the old format. Second, roles consist of countless tasks that are ‘givens’. They are handed down from headquarters and may not fit your talents. Completing this grunt work leaves little time for doing great work.

How to rate the chances of fulfillment in your present role? One approach is to ask yourself: “Bearing in mind my strengths, what percentage of my time is devoted to doing what I do best?” The minimum figure must be 50% plus. You may then have a chance of expanding the role into one that is fulfilling. Try completing the following sentence.

The steps I can take to do more
satisfying work in my present role are:

*

*

*

Perhaps it is possible to do more fulfilling work by redefining your present role. If not, you may want to explore the second route.

2) Potential role.

You can craft a potential role that is a ‘Win-Win’ for both you and an employer. Providing you have enlightened employers, the chances are around 6/10. The key is convincing sponsors that they will benefit. How to make this happen? Decision-makers always want improve their profitability, product quality and people. So demonstrate how your suggestion will improve these factors. Focus on the ‘results’, rather than the role. One tip: do not go with an ‘idea’ - go with your first 3 customers.

“My manager was encouraging,” said one person, “but explained that I was too valuable in my present role. Moving me was too risky. So we agreed a contract to find and coach my successor. The recruitment process took 3 months, but eventually I moved to a role I found more fulfilling.”

People buy benefits: so show how crafting a new contribution will improve the business. Try completing the following sentence.

The steps I can take to find or create a
potential role that is more satisfying are:

*

*

*

Sometimes this approach works, sometimes you may move onto exploring the third route.

3) Possible new audiences.

You can find or generate new audiences - people who will pay for your ‘A’ talent. This is the route taken by many pioneers in business, the arts, sports and other fields. One key point: the new audience may be inside or outside your present organisation. Providing a person is prepared to work hard and use their imagination, the chances of success are 8+/10. Some people explore all 3 routes on the route towards employing their ‘A’ talent. Here’s an example of how it works in practice.

Imagine you are a backing-singer in the West End musical Chicago, but you want to earn a living singing soul music. You can inject soul into your nightly role, but it may not be fully satisfying. You can approach the Director to show how doing a solo spot will be a ‘win-win’ and contribute to achieving the musical’s goals. But ultimately you may need to generate an audience for your soul music. Performing in clubs on Sunday nights can build a following, sell records and eventually lead to your own show. Pioneers frequently take this third route - they find sponsors who will pay them for using their ‘A’ talent. Try completing the following sentence.

The steps I can take to find or generate possible
audiences who will pay me for doing satisfying work are:

*

*

*

“Sounds hard work,” somebody may say. That’s true - but it much more difficult doing something that isn’t fulfilling. It’s also exciting shaping your future. Providing you are prepared to be persistent, you will often find it is possible to create your perfect role.

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