Is Coasting at Work the Best Thing for Your Career?
Busyness is a badge of honour that professionals are proud to show off. It would be the case back then. Is it still now? You might be surprised to know the answer.
According to research of our CV writers more employees are coasting at work, which is not a trend at all.
Many workloads seem unnecessary, which result to many employees overworking during their shift. And many employers are prioritising the well being of the employees, as they are hoping that they work for them for years to come. Coasting is a term that denotes an employee not doing much during his (or her) shift. You may suspect that this is an intention by certain employees, who envy their colleagues who are more determined to climb up the career ladder at a faster rate. Resentment can be used as motivation, which some athletes would do. Companies didn't intend it, but there's something that needs to be cleared out.
Coasting may or may not be initiated by employers, and it doesn't mean that you would frequent Notting Hill and search for a fairy-tale life. It doesn't give you the authority to engage in non-work topics like the shallowness of Americans, which would reflect on social media. And you won't be one of those die-hard fans of "Oh My Disney!". (No one would understand what you've been saying, as no one in the office didn't go to a movie theatre recently. Not one don't have a clue about "Ralph Breaks the Internet".) And it didn't give you more time to engage in addictive activities. (You become restless whenever you pass by Blackwell Store.) This post comes from a business standpoint, so let's look at the pros and cons of this so-called (new) phenomenon.
The Upside of Coaching
You get to do more at less time. Some professionals would dispute this statement, which is more of a fact and less than an argument. If you happen to be a smart employee, then you know that you don't need to do a set of daily tasks in nine hours and an extra hour or two. (You can do the most challenging task during your first hour in the office.) If you finish ahead of your last hour (in the office), then your thoughts might drift to Christmas., (And you still haven't allotted a fraction of your salary to Christmas gifts to your family and mates.) You can think of professional growth instead. It should help you from stalling. Talk to your employer about it.
A work-life balance becomes a reality. If you've been resenting your colleagues for overwork (and ranting about it), then coasting should make you less stressed about the workplace. It should enable you to do better. (Nothing like a good mood.) You must be warned about complacency, which you won't be aware of it at first. Think of a hobby where you have no time for it. There's no excuse for not indulging in it, but keep a close eye on it. You might find opportunities. This can lead to a dilemma, if not a conflict of interest. Think it over.
There are more opportunities that await you. Coasting can be a golden opportunity, but you may not notice it until you become restless at the workplace. It can lead to contempt, prompting to do less. (Some employees would justify it after they think back of the days when they become too occupied from the tasks, which had no end.) You may become obsessed about trivia, hoping to face Jeremy Clarkson one day. It would be far from a golden opportunity, though. On the other hand, you might be inclined to catch up on the Mary Poppins series. You have forgotten P.L. Travers, which is good for a professional who has a School-of-Arts background. You could be the only one to figure it out, as you become more observant of the workplace. You become more attentive to your colleagues. And you study the trends and forecasts. You can make your big move, which doesn't have to be another word starting with R.
The Downside of Coasting
You may turn restless after you realise that you haven't set foot on the new mall that is several blocks away from the office. You become anxious about your small town, where you may not live long enough to see it gobbled by London. (You might have read Philip Reeve's bestselling quartet one too many.) You lose your competitive drive after a few months, which your colleagues have noticed for some time. You're fearful that your boss might have known it as well. Dismissal may (or may not) be far away. You don't have to think about all of it (and much more) if you look at coasting thoughtfully. In other words, you're not about to slack off from the job.
If you're coasting, then you might have done an exemplary job in the past. Think twice if you sense that it's something more than you suspect.
