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Staying Motivated in Your Career Two Years into the COVID-19 Pandemic


Two years after businesses implemented short-term “work from home” protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many employees are still adapting to the remote work environment as their new normal. While working from home has its advantages—the elimination of the daily commute and greater flexibility, it also comes with many challenges and obstacles, particularly related to professional development and growth.

Office environments encouraged team collaboration and relationship building, often through daily meetings, seating arrangements, and coffee/lunch breaks. They provided opportunities for junior and middle level employees to interact with senior leadership and upper management on a regular basis. In addition, office settings fostered knowledge exchange and hands on training from managers or co-workers, resulting in continuous professional growth. Without these important to face-to-face interactions and visibility, many employees may feel apathetic towards their job and career path.

Feeling discouraged, stressed, or frustrated in your job or career ultimately leads to procrastination and prevents professional development. How do we mitigate the feeling of uncertainty, develop a growth mindset, and stay driven in our careers?

  1. Set Clear Goals: Determine detailed and quantifiable goals to create an actionable plan to motivate you for the long term and keep track of your progress. Regularly review your goals to measure your progress and remain committed to your plan.
  2. Learn New Skills: It’s important to evolve and expand your skillset to be successful and have a positive impact in your current and future roles. Learn new technology, take on a challenging project, enroll in free online training courses, obtain an industry certification, attend online seminars, or join a professional organization related to your industry. Be proactive, open to new experiences, and take advantage of these opportunities to stay competitive in your industry.
  3. Ask for feedback:  You need to grow in your job both personally and professionally which requires feedback. Not only will it prove to your manager that you care about your job and want to perform in your role, but you’ll feel more valued for the work you do, wanting to achieve more.
  4. Find a Mentor: Don’t underestimate the power of a mentor! Ask your manager if they know of a good candidate at your company to connect with. The advice, guidance, and perspective a mentor can provide is essential for career development.

Investing in your professional growth shows ambition, self-awareness, and humility. Stay focused on your career goals and always look for ways to expand your existing role to stay engaged, keep your brain sharp, and advance in your career.

For more information on methods to navigate and stay in motivated in your career, visit: https://www.valamis.com/hub/employee-development-methods

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/motivation-strategy

 

MaryKate Breslin
Associate Director, National Research & Analytics,
IHeartMedia

MaryKate is the Associate Director, National Research & Analytics at iHeartMedia where she is responsible for developing data based insights to inform brand messaging and strategy for cross media and digital marketing partnerships. Over the last 4 years at iHeartMedia, MaryKate has led custom based quantitative research projects from conceptualization through delivery to uncover new and emerging trends in consumer behaviors and has helped grow and expand the company’s digital and podcast footprint. Prior to joining iHeart in 2017, MaryKate worked at CBS Sports for 3 years focusing on broadcast and cable television. Her experience spans consumer insights, analytics, data mining, advertising effectiveness, social media measurement and across several key categories including Pharma, Entertainment, CPG, and retail. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Gettysburg College.