Are You In A Groove Or A Rut?

Ruts: the routines in our work and lives that have become uninteresting and bothersome.

Everyone has a favorite rut or two. They are comfortable, familiar and undemanding. If you stay in them long enough you begin to equate them with who you are and buy in to the belief that remaining steadfastly in them is all you can expect out of life.

Ruts are furrows, gullies, creases and (dare I say) wrinkles where we tend to live life cheerfully and without much thought. We find one way of doing something, and continue the pattern. It does not matter whether it is the best or logical way, we keep on doing things in a certain manner, like taking the same route to work, or going to the same restaurant for lunch and ordering the same identical meal every time.

Just in case you do not think this applies to your situation, here are a few ways to tell if you are in a rut:

Grooves: Innovative paths where talent and tradition merge with affinity and enjoyment to create challenging, interesting and rewarding outcomes.

When you are in a groove, you are able to create and see things differently. Grooves are characterized by:

Turn Your Ruts into Grooves

Based on the descriptions above, are you currently in a groove or a rut? Which one do you want to be in at this time? The choice is yours and it is not difficult to make. You will have to count the cost and sacrifices associated with getting out of your current rut-whether on the job or at home, and determine if you are willing to pay the price to get in and stay in a perpetual groove.

If you are currently in a groove, resist the urge to pat yourself on the back. Instead, evaluate your groove regularly to make sure it has not quietly turned into a rut. Celebrate your accomplishments and prepare to use what you have learned to help others turn their ruts into grooves.

Althea DeBrule, entrepreneur and seasoned human resources executive, has focused for more than 30 years on helping people achieve their career goals. Creator of The Extreme-Career-Makeover? and a founding partner of RADSGroup Organizational Consultants, she is recognized for her bottom line and practical application of career development and management strategies in a way that penetrates hearts and compels action. She speaks and teaches with inspired talent, humor and contagious zeal at management conferences and leadership retreats nationwide, and has been featured in CFO Magazine, Strategy@Work, Human Resource Executive Magazine. Althea is the author of Bosses & Orchards, a compelling and candid book about how to make your work relationship with your boss succeed. To discover how you can take your career to a new level, visit http://www.extreme-career-makeover.com/