7 Steps to Connecting with Your Passion at Work

How to connect with your passion while your in-box is overflowing, the phone is ringing, and deadlines are coming fast and furious…

With numerous post-its, phones ringing off the hook and people filing in to have you solve their problems it is quite the challenge to feel or be in touch with any sort of passion or purpose at work. But fear not it can be done in bite-size steps and by harnessing your focus. Since the coaching experience is focused on simple bite-sized actions I have listed practical and easy to implement steps that have personally helped me and my clients rediscover some of the professional passion and vision that sometimes gets buried under mountains of memos and trade journals.

Beyond the paycheck and the duty to keep beans on the table, people go to work for other reasons. Don't believe me? How else do you explain millionaires who have all the money they need for a lifetime who still work 8-10 hour days. They certainly don't need the money and if you talk to them it doesn't come out of greed or fear. In actuality, their passion in their work comes from making a difference in the world.

Below are some strategies to minimize the stress you feel before, during, and after your workday and to tap into the great creativity resource we call passion.

BEFORE WORK- Getting yourself motivated to face the day and keep any road rage in check. You ever notice how road rage happens on the way home and not going to work.

1. REPLACE THE IDEA OF WORK WITH CONTRIBUTION - No-really instead of getting up in the morning at 8:45am and lamenting to anyone who will listen "why do I have to go to work?" simply replace it with "Why do I have to go contribute?" and you will be better able to focus on the day ahead and see that it really does have a larger purpose Simply view your day as a chance to contribute to the greater good beyond your paycheck and keeping food on the table. Even if you all you do turn one screw all day in a factory- focus instead on the families who will benefit from your little action and whose lives will be enriched. There is a ripple effect to any action no matter how small. Ask yourself: What can I do to contribute to the team/company today and reach the NEXTlevel of profitability and impact?

2. BLOCK OUT A BALANCED FRAMEWORK FOR YOUR DAY - This is getting pretty advanced, but if you don't have at least a framework of what you want to or have to accomplish-- you will find yourself at the end of the day saying "where does the time go" The framework idea is so your schedule isn't so rigid that it doesn't allow for flexibility for emergencies, but still you make progress on the major projects.

3. CONNECT WITH YOUR COWORKERS Do something to help your coworkers succeed in their day. It doesn't have to be huge-- show them a better way to organize something or let them know that you thought they did a good job on their last report. Talk about their families instead of the weather. Don't force your ideas on them, but you will be amazed how they feel they should return the favor to you. Advanced strategy: Talk to your 'rival' or someone you don't normally have an open relationship with in the office about their work in a positive way and watch the office politics melt away

4. DON'T IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO YOUR PHONE AND EMAIL Take an hour in the middle of the day to return phone calls and emails. Neither you email "in-box" nor your voicemail will explode if you wait to call someone back. It is hard at first to ignore the phone, but then it becomes a devious little pleasure that you don't have to answer the phone just because it is ringing. Also have some block time for your coworkers or staff so you don't shut them out. Ask yourself: How can I group my activities and projects into blocks of time? (i.e phone calls, staff meetings, etc..)

5. TAKE A BREAK! But, Andy- you say- I need to get this report done right away. I know there are deadlines (you may want to call them completion dates) but taking one minute out of your day to do nothing and just close your eyes and take a breath is not going to hurt. Create a "snack drawer" with healthy snacks for those of you for whom lunch breaks are a distant memory. You will feel much better and better able to concentrate for the rest of the day. I know you know this, but when you see the empty bags of doritos and your fourth cup of coffee you will understand why this is a good strategy. It doesn't have to be long or involved, but human beings work best according to scientific studies in 45 minute increments both learning, creativity, and of course passion drop off after that. Ask yourself: What is a great 5 minute micro-break idea I can use today? How can I keep my mind fresh throughout the day?

6. AFTER WORK, CREATE A DETHAW SPACE: Don't lunge for the answering machine or start paying bills. Take a walk with the dog or spend some time with your family. Reconnect with what you leave the house for 8-10 hours a day. More "spirited debates" have been avoided in my house with this strategy. We have a rule that no one talks about work or home challenges until we have both had a chance to reconnect with the passion for each other and slow down from the frenzied pace of the day. Even if you have carried work home- put it in a special place outside of the normal living area-- Ask yourself- What can I do to make my transition from work to home relaxing and connect with others?

7. REVIEW YOUR DAY - Complete the circle and see what you can improve on. Did you take enough time to connect with your purpose beyond your paycheck? Did you keep your energy high throughout the day? Did you control your schedule and complete or make progress on your projects? If you did - don't wait for your boss to reward you-- do it for yourself. Buy the latest bestseller, eat out without guilt, or make yourself a huge banana split. It's the gold star method that works just as well if not better in adulthood as it did in preschool.

I know these ideas may seem basic, but simple ideas get results----if you do them. A coach helps you do what you know consistently, but since I am a virtual coach right now I can only beg you to take some sort of action to get control at your place of employment and connect with the true impact you make on a daily basis. I wish you the best of life adventures.

This piece was originally submitted by Coach Andy, Executive and Personal Coach, who can be reached at coachandy@nextlevelcoaching.com or visited on the web. Coach Andy wants you to know: I help my clients create balance in busy schedules and take their lives to the next level. I offer a free 7 day e-seminar "7 steps to reaching The Next Level of your Life" that you can join by emailing results@activelists.com You can also claim 2 free coach sessions by contacting me at coachandy@nextlevelcoaching.com  .