Play Outside of Your Sandbox, 7/4/13

Play Outside of Your Sandbox

Post#2

July 4, 2013

When was the last time you did something at work that you truly loved? Often we have jobs we enjoy and then the fun ends because of a lack of recognition or advancement.

These are the times to consider moving forward with new plans outside your "formal scope of work." The Organizational Freelancer perceives issues in their field or expertise as well as identifies tangible solutions for their "client." The client maybe some of the people they work with in their larger organization and outside of their immediate work group.

The benefit of implementing changes, solutions and work for the benefit of other groups allows you to focus on meaningful work opposite of your routine daily tasks. They may be challenging, allow you to work with diverse groups and enhance your resume with skills that you want to maintain.

For example, if you are a graphic artist in your main group and know there are others in your company in need of graphic art work, you can readily offer your services to meet their needs. This will allow you to support other organizations goals and indulge in your passion- graphic art projects that inspire you at your job. Also, your portfolio skills will expand because people will spread the word about your amazing talent.

This is referred to as "Motivation to Play Outside of Your Sandbox." Complacency stifles creativity when some people get stuck in a work rut that paralyzes their ability to show initiative. When you play outside your sandbox by sharing your expertise with others in your larger organization you have the ability to help those understaffed, underfunded and still have some fun at work.

Motivation to freelance within your organization also includes managing your time wisely. You may be the most creative person in the room, however if you lack time management skills it will impact your primary role in the organization as well as those you wish to provide your freelance skills on demand.

How can one freelance at work and still meet their primary work goals? Prioritize your work to meet your immediate manager's needs as well as your additional internal clients' timelines. This may create an overwhelming abundance of work for some or a challenge to rise to the occasion about the great opportunities generated based on your talents.

Playing outside your sandbox at work also affords the opportunity to meet and network with new people. Routine work may include routine meetings and working with on the same projects. This can become really dull for those who seek to inject new energy into their work life. It also limits one’s ability to obtain professional development.

An Organizational Freelancer may work among many groups based on her or his talents, communication skills and the ability to manage business relationships. Keeping your "internal clients" informed about their project deadlines is critical to your success. In addition, check in periodically with people you provided freelance work for in the past because it’s good to maintain contact. Also, it may be lead to the next big opportunity in your career. Sometimes internal freelance work may lead to an opportunity to participate in a rotational assignment, new friends, obtain a new mentor or work on something exciting and new.

Lastly, one of the biggest motivators to freelance inside your organization is having fun. When was the last time you had fun at your job? When did you last laugh during a work assignment you knew was going to become a challenge for you, but your "freelance team" was ready to get the job done right? If you can’t remember when you had fun on a work project, it may be time to play outside of your sandbox.