Passions Create Solutions

Use your passions to improve your work

STORYEMPLOYEEGROWTH

Todd Leadens

5/10/20232 min read

five gray spoons filled with assorted-color powders near chilli
five gray spoons filled with assorted-color powders near chilli

As a young professional, Amy had always struggled with feeling stuck in her career. She had started off with a passion for her field and an eagerness to learn, but as time went on, she found herself becoming bored with the same old routines and lack of innovation in her workplace. She knew that if she wanted to stay engaged and excited about her work, she needed to challenge herself to improvise and adapt in order to bring innovative solutions to her company.

Amy realized that she could draw inspiration from her personal life and hobbies to help her think outside of the box in the workplace. She had always loved cooking and experimenting with new recipes, so she decided to use that passion to challenge herself in her job. She started by looking at her company's current processes and asking herself: how could they be improved, simplified, or made more efficient?

One of the first areas she identified was in the company's customer service process. She had noticed that customers were often frustrated with long wait times and unclear communication. Drawing from her experience in the kitchen, she began to think about how she could streamline the process, much like she would when preparing a recipe. She created a step-by-step guide for customer service representatives to follow, which included clear language and prompts to keep the conversation on track. The new process was a hit, and customers began to leave positive feedback about the improved experience.

Encouraged by her success, Amy began to look for other ways to challenge herself and innovate in the workplace. She had always been an avid reader, so she decided to take on the task of revamping the company's employee training program. She had noticed that many of the employees were disengaged during training sessions and often struggled to remember the information. Drawing from her experience reading and retaining information, Amy designed a new training program that incorporated interactive activities and hands-on learning. The program was a hit, and the employees were more engaged and motivated than ever before.

But Amy didn't stop there. She realized that she could bring her love of photography into the workplace to help solve another problem. The company had been struggling with creating engaging content for their social media accounts, and Amy saw an opportunity to use her photography skills to help. She began to take pictures of the company's products and services in a new and creative way, and the photos quickly gained traction online. The company's social media presence grew, and they began to attract new customers.

As Amy continued to challenge herself to improvise and adapt in the workplace, she realized that her personal passions and hobbies had given her a unique perspective that allowed her to approach problems in a new way. She had learned that by stepping outside of her comfort zone and using her personal skills and interests, she could bring innovative solutions to her company and make a real impact.

If you're feeling stuck in your career and want to challenge yourself to bring innovative solutions to your workplace, take a page out of Amy's book. Think about your personal passions and hobbies and how they could be applied to your job. Whether it's cooking, reading, photography, or something else entirely, you never know what skills and perspectives you might bring to the table. With a little creativity and a willingness to adapt and improvise, you can break through the monotony of your job and make a real difference in your workplace.