Guest Blog Post by: Todd Henry
Sometimes we take on projects out of obligation. Sometimes we do so because we’re required to as a function of our job. At other times, we take them on willingly but then shortly thereafter find that our passion has waned. What do you do when you have a slew of work on your plate that you have little to no passion for?
This is a question that many creatives wrestle with daily. The reality is that workloads are increasing and there is little we can do about the reality of expectation escalation. Yet in the midst of it, we’re expected to stay fresh, focused and brilliant. What can be done when your heart just isn’t in it any longer?
First, it’s probably a good idea to make sure that this is truly the case. Sometimes frustrations with co-workers, clients or others in our immediate sphere can cause us to become distracted from the value we are charged with bringing to the work. These frustrations cause us to lose focus and attribute it to a lack of interest in the work, when in reality it’s simply a matter of peripheral circumstance.
Second, we need to make sure that our lack of heart isn’t simply a function of our lack of ideas. When things aren’t clicking creatively it’s easy to abandon projects or divert our energy. This is what Scott Belsky calls the “project plateau” and it’s incredibly common among highly intelligent, creative workers. We need to push through these creative walls until we latch onto a new direction for the work that yields increased energy.
But if it is truly the case that a project is something you’ve lost your passion for, and you actually have the latitude to drop it, there is little use in keeping it on your priority plate when it’s likely never to get done. In this case it’s merely a distraction from the myriad of other creative priorities that are likely screaming for your attention. Just make sure that your lack of passion isn’t merely a result of your circumstances or lack of new ideas. That’s called avoidance.
As creatives, we must be committed to mature and encompassing analysis of our workload and our attitudes toward it. How we feel about our work informs much of our ability to succeed at it. Paying attention to these little attitudinal diagnostics can make the difference between decent work and brilliant work.
Todd Henry is the founder of Accidental Creative , a consultancy that helps creative people and teams generate brilliant ideas. He regularly speaks and consults with companies, both large and small, about how to develop practices and systems that lead to everyday brilliance. He’s the man behind a brand new teamwork tool: Idea Traction; and Todd’s first book, The Accidental Creative: How To Be Brilliant at a Moment’s Notice is getting killer reviews – it will be available in stores July 2011. He currently resides in Cincinnati, OH with his wife Rachel and their three children.