Celebrate your job anniversary

9 May 2018

Remember the first day in your current job?  That sense of anticipation, hope, and endless possibility.  Back then you knew you could make a difference, and you would be eminently useful and valuable.

It is good, every now and then to reconnect to that feeling.  To remember that fresh faced you, who hasn’t yet fallen into the routine and predictability of your role and is still able to see the job with naivety and curiosity.  To remember the difference, the usefulness and the value you bring.

An excellent way to do this is to remember your job anniversary.  We celebrate birthdays, relationship anniversaries, football grand finals, and all sorts of arbitrary dates. We do this because marking anniversaries elevates them in status and is a chance to celebrate, show respect and remind ourselves of how important something is in our lives. 

So how about you celebrate the anniversary of when you started in your current job?

On your job anniversary take the time to do some of the following:

• Note down what you have learnt since you started in the role
• Notice the added responsibility and trust you have gained
• Remind yourself of the achievements you have made
• Recall the people you have had impact upon
• Bring in a cake to celebrate with your team
• Invite colleagues for a celebratory coffee
• Recall with colleagues the hilarious/moving/high moments you have shared
• Remember that project you did that most engaged you
• Give yourself a little pat on the back for the difference you have made

In fact, if you are a manager, insist your people celebrate their job anniversaries.  Mark it in your diary, anticipate the anniversary of each of your people and use it as an opportunity to publically show you care about the impact each of them have.

As always wishing you a flourishing career.

Katherine