Starting a new job is never easy. The first few days or weeks adjusting to the new environment are crucial. While it is important to feel a sense of belonging in the new job position, acclimating to the organisation does not mean becoming too comfortable.
A sign of professional growth is when you are motivated to clock in more hours to finish the task at hand.
But true professional growth happens when you encounter a certain level of discomfort in the job that forces you to take innovative approaches.
You can produce ground-breaking results when you work to develop your skills and expertise. Hence, getting too comfortable in a job can be counterproductive.
Excessive comfort may reduce the number of responsibilities you’re willing to take on and it can lower the rate of your professional development, thus reducing your professional growth.
1. You outwardly reject new responsibilities
“It’s impossible to do this!” Being too comfortable can often lead to reactions like this when faced with a challenge. It may also indicate lethargy, unreliability and the inability to handle crucial tasks.
When you catch yourself feeling pessimistic and unmotivated, redouble your efforts to reach your goals. Isn’t this what you did when you were new to the job?
Supervisors believe their employees are capable of the responsibilities they are assigned. Therefore, no task is too big or too stressful for anyone. However, if you feel unmotivated, remember that “with great power, comes great responsibility”.
2. You take the easy way out
The next sign is holding back from striving for the ultimate result and being content to settle for the most convenient solution.
Most new employees push their organisation and themselves to obtain the best possible results.
However, when you’ve become too comfortable with your job, you just want to finish the day and go home earlier.
These actions are indicative of your disinterest, which in turn can lead to few or no promotions, and even dismissal from the organisation.
3. You show disinterest in looking for better jobs
Another sign you’ve got too comfortable with your current job is when you stop looking for better jobs in the market.
You also stop participating in networking events, updating your career information and checking for new online job posts.
Remember, networking is extremely important for building connections with the individuals who can contribute to your career enhancement.
By not doing some outreach, you could miss out on better job positions with higher salaries and bonuses.
An employee’s biggest worry is being laid off, and if this happens, getting back on your career path will be difficult if networks have not been maintained.
4. You feel content with monotony
You feel perfectly okay with your monotonous daily routine at work and professional responsibilities.
However, this can lead to decreased motivation and the undermining of your hidden skills and potential. This lack of motivation can ruin your job performance.
The ultimate disadvantage is when others notice your limitations.
After recognising some of the small but crucial symptoms of being too comfortable, implement this step-by-step strategy to examine the situation and decide if there is a need to take action.
Three remedial actions to take
- Determine whether being excessively comfortable is a result of internal or external forces.
- Figure out your top priority. Is it supported by being excessively comfortable in the job?
- Look at the big-picture job market. Is the situation similar to employees in other organisations? Will taking life-changing decisions to change a too comfortable situation do any good?
If the reason for excessive comfort lies with you, have a discussion with your supervisor and ask for more challenging responsibilities.
Remember that you can experience great professional growth in your career by staying motivated and taking risks.
Krista Bourne, president of Houston Gulf Coast Region at Verizon Wireless, says risk is the ultimate solution to prevent getting too comfortable in a job.
Taking a risk, in this case, might mean getting a new job, working from home or starting a business. How, or if, you choose to take a risk career-wise depends on the outcome of your step-by-step strategy.
For instance, a move from an excessively comfortable job may not be good for your career if you don’t have the right skills for the job market or if being jobless for a while would put financial pressure on your lifestyle.
This article first appeared in The New Savvy
The New Savvy is Asia’s leading financial, investments and career platform for women. Our bold vision is to empower 100 million women to achieve financial happiness. We deliver high-quality content through conferences, e-learning platforms, personal finance apps and e-commerce stores.
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