Recently I contacted a manager who is a direct report about meeting with her. Each week I carve out time to sit down with key leaders and cover anything/everything that is on their mind.  When our scheduled time arrived, this leader and I spent our time covering a few different topics. The final thing on her mind centered around what to do when it feels like you are mastering your area and are able to execute your job very effectively each day. AKA how do keep from growing stagnant or from getting bored when your growth level begins to flatten?

As someone who has worked in the same business for over 14 years, including 10 straight years in the current role/location, this is certainly a question that I have had to ask and answer innumerable times. I articulated this reality to this leader in our meeting, and then launched into my opinions on this topic for her.

So, what should you do when you begin to plateau? How do you avoid growing stagnant at work?

Preventing Plateauing

1. Focus on DETAILS! There are literally hundreds if not thousands of small details in each job that can be updated, systematized, or focused on more. Just because most things are being done fairly well does not mean that there are not plenty of small details that can and should be shored up. We must be aware of the reality that details are the #1 difference between being GOOD and being GREAT. Look for things that bother you, look for pain points, and then do something about it!
2. Focus on the BIG PICTURE. There are always investments that can and should be made now that will prepare you to win in the future. But if no one is looking for those opportunities and investing in them then it’s a missed opportunity. Just because things are going smoothly today certainly does not guarantee that this will be the case in the future. Look for big picture opportunities, look for things that will cause issues later on if not addressed now, and then do something about it!
3. Focus on CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. Whether small details or big picture, you should not only ask “Are we winning today?”, but also ask “How can we get BETTER?!”. This is what C.I. is all about. What new systems can be created that will streamline your processes? What just isn’t working as well as it could be? What new idea can you implement, just to see if it will work? Identify these kinds of improvements and then do something about it!

Author Pete Davis says that “The two forces that keep us going in life are novelty and purpose. We get out of bed in the morning because something new or something purposeful might happen”. The purpose portion of this equation is another article for another day. But as it pertains to novelty, you can keep the newness level HIGH through focusing on details, the big picture, and continuous improvement!

In Closing

Are you effectively focusing on small details each day? Are you carving out time to think big picture? How are you working to maintain a cadence of continuous improvement?