What to do when you feel under-utilised

By Goretti Kimani

The journey to a successful career is full of ups and downs. One such downtime is the feeling of under utilisation. This situation leaves job seekers with redundant skills – feeling like they are operating below their potential, real or imagined.

The causal factors can be classified into either intrinsic or extrinsic.

Intrinsic factors are those relating directly or indirectly to the jobholder. For instance, due to jobs scarcity, some job seekers are forced to take the first job they find irrespective of the fit.

While this may work in the short run, reality soon sets in. The individual may start to feel under-utilised. Other cases may involve non-performing staff allocated lower cadre jobs as a disciplinary measure.

In other cases, individuals join certain jobs with high expectations, only to realise that the actual operations are different.

While some causes may be due to illusions based on blind comparison with peers in other companies, to others, they are caused by flawed and selfish expectations at work.

Extrinsic causes emanate from outside, but end up affecting the individual’s job purpose and description. Top on the list under this category is internal reorganisations caused by strategic changes, spin-offs, mergers and acquisitions and political factors among others.

More problems

When such changes knock, any employee may find their job affected. No one is immune.

Irrespective of the cause, the feeling of under-utilisation comes with consequences.

They may include low morale, injured self-esteem, stress and insecurity issues. This in turn affects the performance and helps propagate the vicious cycle of problems. In the end, the affected individual may soon be jobless, to say the least.

Do you feel under-utilised? If yes, begin with an honest evaluation to isolate the real causes. In case you are the cause, it is much easier to make changes and hopefully, redeem the situation.

These changes may include working on your attitude, expectations, leadership skills and teamwork.

You will also need to work extra hard in all respects to make a personal statement about the new you.

In this case, genuine actions and not pretence or mere words are required. Where extrinsic factors are concerned, it is critical to first appreciate your job. Remember there are thousands of jobless people who will be happy to embrace your job. You also need to ask yourself what you can do to improve the situation.

This may include working on your interpersonal and problem solving skills. Seek to understand the unique circumstances affecting the organisation.

Quit complaining and start working hard, while positively seeking growth within the current set-up. A friendly, optimistic and open-minded attitude comes in handy at such times. Should you feel like changing jobs, avoid undue haste, but seek to leverage on the lessons learnt in your current job to forestall a repeat of this scenario.

Whatever you do, always remember that the culture of personal excellence at work remains your greatest asset in building a successful career.

—The writer is a human resource specialist with Peoplelink Consultants Ltd. Email: goretti@peoplelink.co.ke