I first heard the term job crafting on the Happiness Lab Podcast. Job crafting refers to the actions employees take in their jobs that foster job satisfaction through positive experiences. Research has shown that people who job craft are engaged, happy, and thriving. It's no secret that many educators have been struggling to feel happiness at work. From daily workload to classroom management to assessments - things have been tough. After listening to the podcast, I was thinking about education and how job crafting could be one solution to our daily struggles. How can educators redesign daily work for positive experiences that leave us feeling less overwhelmed and more blissful?
What Brings You Joy?
Start by identifying what brings you happiness and joy. Make a list of these things. This list might include social relationships, creating, designing, brainstorming, listening, problem solving, singing, acting, facilitating, humor/laughter, observing, playing, making someone smile, and being outside.
Your Daily Tasks At Work
Now think of your daily tasks at work. Create a list of these tasks. When looking at this list, reflect on how each task makes you feel. Consider which tasks you can let go of completely and which ones you can minimize. Limiting our daily tasks can minimize overwhelm and burnout. Some tasks you simply cannot eliminate, so think about how you might change the way you do those tasks. Refer to your "Happy List." How can you craft these tasks to incorporate the things that bring you joy? Take the time to be creative with this part - consider crafting tasks with the thing that brings you the most happiness.
Your Interactions At Work
Next, reflect on your interactions with others at work. Create a chart that includes those you interact with and then list what the interactions are generally like. For example, your chart will most likely include students, teachers, coaches, administrators, and parents. After listing these interactions, consider where you can make improvements. Considering the things that bring you joy, how might you alter these interactions to make them more meaningful and energizing? Reflect on how you might change these interactions to positively contribute to others with your talents. Consider how you can use your passions to expand your role to make a positive impact on your organization.
Your Thoughts About Work
Lastly, reflect on your thoughts about work. Create a list of these thoughts. Now think again about your passion and what brings you joy. How can you reframe the purpose of your job to align to your passion? Think about tasks as they contribute to the overall success of your position. Reframing your perception helps you see the tasks as a contribution to the work you're doing rather than a list of items to be done. What is your purpose? What is your goal? Align your purpose and goals with your passion and talents.
New Year, Happier You
Job crafting can improve your disposition at work and your perception of the work you do. We all deserve autonomy, purpose, and happiness. Use your passion and talents to craft your role into the job that brings you bliss.
More On Job Crafting
Berg, Grant, and Johnson (2008). When callings are calling: Crafting work and leisure in pursuit of unanswered occupational calling.
Wrzesniekwki & Dutton (2001). Crafting a job: Revisioning employees as active crafters of their work.
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