Beating the career blues

Employees at all levels are susceptible to the career blues, which occur when their work is rated good enough, but they devote neither all their time at work nor talents to their work. Their energy for work and efforts toward it are low they do not have a positive attitude about work, and their aspirations lie elsewhere. This article presents a TEA(2) diagnosis tool for determining the existence of the career blues. The framework consists of six attributes: time, talent, energy, effort, attitude, and aspiration. The concept of resonance is discussed at length as a novel approach to preempting the career blues, and to elevating one's work experience. Identifying resonance in one's life and recreating it at work is a powerful means for enjoying work more and being better at it. As a manager, conversations with employees about the blues and about resonance can be very beneficial in creating engaged employees where good enough is not enough.