SINGAPORE: An employee took to Reddit to share how a seemingly ideal job with good work-life balance turned out to be unfulfilling and demoralising due to a lack of meaningful work and poor leadership.
In a post on the r/askSingapore forum, he explained that his daily responsibilities mainly consist of “basic administrative tasks” that require minimal effort or technical skill. Over time, he said, it became clear that the role does not support his long-term career ambitions.
He also mentioned that the leadership at his workplace has been quite disappointing. His immediate supervisor is usually too busy to give out meaningful tasks or provide proper guidance. Meanwhile, his team lead, whom he refers to as “B”, still handles a lot of the daily operational work, even though B is supposed to be focusing on higher-level management duties.
“I felt appalled and wondered how come B still exists,” he said. “Normally, bosses enjoy delegating work and seeing the output the employees produce.”
The employee further shared that he always feels a sense of “dread” before going to work, which is why he’s decided to apply for other jobs. Unfortunately, none of his applications have come through yet.
Feeling stuck and uncertain, he turned to the online community for advice, asking, “What should I do now to keep myself motivated? Am I in the wrong for not cherishing such a good opportunity?”
“Why not try to speak to your direct boss?”
In the comments, quite a few Singaporeans jumped in to offer their support and advice.
One individual encouraged the employee to focus on self-improvement, saying, “You should always pursue continuous growth; if it can’t be at work, pursue it outside. Just be the person who is growing every day.”
Another gave their thoughts on why the team lead might not be delegating tasks. They wrote, “Assuming your work is decent, then he is insecure. Either that, he has assigned before and got very bad results from you and had to redo.
Either way, easy mode for you if the pay is good. You can spend your free time to upskill yourself.”
A third commented, “You’re in a really good position now to slowly look for a job without the stress of having no income.
Of course, if you think that there is still a chance that you can achieve more in your current job, why not try to speak to your direct boss? No harm trying since you’re not opposed to leaving either if things go south.”
Four tips to help you get motivated at work
According to Career Directors International, these four quick tips can help you shake off the slump and feel more motivated at work.
1. Add a little fun to the grind
Not every task is going to be exciting, and that’s okay. Try playing your favourite playlist or putting on a show in the background while doing the boring stuff like sorting through emails. Even a little background noise can make things feel more enjoyable.
Also, if you’re working from home, you can opt to join a virtual coworking session or hop on a call with a friend who’s also working. A bit of shared company can make a big difference.
2. Make a game out of it
Huge tasks can feel like too much to handle all at once. So why not break them down into smaller, more manageable pieces? Just think of each step as a mini-level you need to beat.
3. Bribe yourself with small rewards
It might sound silly, but rewarding yourself works. After finishing a task, give yourself something to look forward to. It could be a cup of bubble tea, a short scroll on social media, or ten guilt-free minutes watching a YouTube video.
Everyone’s version of a treat is different, so choose something that makes you smile and gives you the motivation to keep going.
4. Change up your workspace
A change of scenery can do wonders for your mood. Even little things like sitting near a window or putting a plant on your desk can give you a boost and help you feel more refreshed.
Read also: SG worker shares new colleague is being bullied, asks if she should step in
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