What questions help you reflect on whether you are doing the right job?

Early in my career, I used to ask two questions:
- Am I making a difference?
- Do I have the opportunity to learn?

Later I added:
- Am I making the best use of my skills and capabilities?

These questions helped to guide the roles I applied for as well as the jobs I have moved on from.

Over time my definitions of making a difference and learning have changed. I have found myself focusing more on the small impacts I can have and the learning opportunities that present themselves every day.

This was a positive change but there is still something not quite right. Somehow work had become too central to how I defined my ‘success’. It wasn’t always like this but somewhere along the line, my work persona had become too central to my sense of self.

I’m now looking at the questions differently, realising they can also apply to other areas of my life. I have also become better at asking myself another question and that is “how are you?” I’m also doing better at listening to the answer.

I’d love to know if other people have questions they ask themselves to check in on their work and how they are doing.