10 Questions for the Self-Aware & Healthy Professional

Here are 10 questions that us professional should ask ourselves on a regular basis.

Source: Lucas Amunategui

Only 50% of Americans are satisfied with their job (see Pew Research Center The State of American Jobs) - are you one of them?

Here are 10 questions that us professional should ask ourselves on a regular basis. The goal is to look at our work environment from various angles and take stock on how things are going.

1 - Are You Good at What You Do?

Are you proud of the professional you’ve become? Do you like what you know, the level of expertise you bring, the solutions you find, and the deals that you broker?

2 - Are Your Skills Being Applied to Their Fullest Potential?

Are you a genuine source of help? Are you the one they call to find a solution to a difficult problem? Do those around you see you as a valuable asset, a team player, somebody they can count on and a respected professional in your field?

3 - How Do You Feel About the Skills Available Around You?

Do you feel surrounded with the right people to get the job done? Do you leverage the help of those around you with difficult issues? Do you see them as valuable assets, team players and respected professionals?

4 - Do You Like Your Co-Workers?

Do you think you are surrounded by smart, caring, and giving co-workers? Are you proud of those around you? Do you look forward to company events or after-hour outings? Would you hire these people if you started your own company?

5 - Do You Respect Your Leadership?

Are you proud of your employer and your company? Do you find yourself describing the company you work for with pride and defending its practices to those around you? Do they give you space and trust to take on projects without micromanagement or oversight?

6 - Do You Still Surprise Yourself?

Do you surprise yourself with the challenges you take on and with the solutions you come up with? Are you finding the time and energy to keep up with new trends and new tools in your field?

7 - Do You Still Surprise Those Around You?

Do you surprise your team and your company? Are you surprising your employer with added value? Are you bringing in fresh solutions and new tools to solve your problems?

8 - Are You Investing in the Future of Your Field?

Do you see yourself at this company in 5 years? What about in the same profession? Are you encouraging and mentoring those around you to grow and move forward as well?

9 - Are You Building Your Brand?

Are you developing your brand as well as your company’s brand? Are you given the latitude to build it up through things like speaking engagements, going to conferences, writing papers, and publishing on GitHub (or whatever makes sense in your field)?

10 - Are You Still Excited?

Do you wake up in the morning and feel excited about work? Do your Monday mornings feel like your Friday afternoons? Do you encourage your friends to apply to your open jobs?

Conclusion

Unfortunately, this doesn’t end with an “if you said yes 8 or fewer times then you need to…”

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all measuring stick as we all have different needs, tolerances, and available opportunities. The key is to take a step back from time to time and assess whether you are where you want to be and that you are moving in the right direction.

The mere act of asking yourself these questions will bring a sense of situational awareness. These questions may also trigger whether or not action is required, whether to look elsewhere or to change things internally.

Sometimes, a little extra engagement, mentoring or communication can go a long way in making a good situation even better.

Thanks for reading! And please share this article with a friend or colleague or two :-)

Best!
Manuel Amunategui,
Curator @ amunategui.github.io and ViralML