Are you performing well at your job, but you just feel you could do so much more if everyone else around you were performing better?
Or would you like for someone else to walk in your shoes for only one day at the office, so maybe they would realize what your job really entails?
Have you been wondering what other parts of your organization do, and how that fits in with your own job?
If you’ve ever asked yourself any of these questions (haven’t we all), then you may have thought about doing a job rotation. As in trying someone else’s job. And having someone else juggle the many hats you may be dealing with at the office, for a change.
I mean, how many of us want to be stuck in a rut, and do the same work day in and day out. Not to mention the lack of leadership opportunities that comes as a result of it. According to this 2016 Deloitte Millenial Survey, one in four millennials will quit their jobs in the next year, citing as one of the main reasons the lack of leadership opportunities. Considering the recent trend of flattening organizations, whereby companies are eliminating levels of bureaucracy, the corporate ladder has become well…more of a horizontal playground. Translation: the opportunities for growth and advancement are limited. Which takes us back to feeling stuck at work…
Business Insider quoted this expert’s statement to the Washington Post: “The biggest driver of disengagement is people feeling like they’re stuck in a job, and there’s nothing for them there. It’s easier to quit your company and find a new job than find a new job within your own company.”
So what can you do when your organization or department’s structure is pretty flat, yet you still want to improve your career without jumping ship or waiting for the next winning lottery ticket? The answer can be as simple as looking and signing up for a job rotation. Here’s why:
You Get to See that Same Old Company With Brand New Eyes (And Actually be Excited About Your Job for a Change).
You know that feeling when you re-decorate your living room, and it looks like you’ve just stepped into a brand new place? Well, imagine the same feeling, but in your career. As in for once in a really long time, you may actually be jumping out of bed to go to…work (compare to the usual feet dragging and snooze button hitting). Plus the fact that you will better understand your organization as a whole, and be more open to collaborating.
You Get to Build New Connections On the Spot (think express networking).
Nothing like being part of a job rotation program to expand your network overnight, literally. It’s like having a new job while keeping your old one. Except here, you get to meet a whole new team, department, or even mini-organization and establish relationships right on the spot. Think of it as express dating, but at work, without having to split the bill…
You Get to DramaticallyImprove Your Skills (and Fast too) .
Yes, you may stay at your current job, take oodles of training and invest in countless certifications to learn and improve your skills. But there’s something about experiencing a job first-hand that makes you learn those skills ten times faster than you would through a training or class. A job rotation will help you improve your existing skills and acquire new ones in a record time.
You Get to Position Yourself For Success.
A job rotation not only exposes you to new areas of your company, new people, and new skills, but it also helps you position yourself for career success. How? By having access to information and networks you wouldn’t otherwise by doing the same job over and over again. The same people and groups you may get to rub elbows with on your new rotation, may also the ones who may vouch for you when it’s time to apply for that big leadership role. Or put in a good word or recommendation for you when it’s time to explore bigger and better opportunities, in or outside of the company.
In Conclusion…
Between quitting your job, resigning yourself to hating Monday mornings, or exploring potential job rotations, the latter may be the best (and maybe most enjoyable) option.Not sure that’s the right solution for you? Start looking for short-term rotations first, until you can fully commit to a longer-term one. Oh, and don’t forget to enjoy the process too…
Have you participated in a job rotation? What has your experience been?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
