The concept of job crafting first arose with research conducted by Professor Amy Wrzesniewku (Yale School of Management) and Jane Dutton (University of Michigan Ross School of Business) over 20 years ago. It is the process of proactively and consciously adjusting and redesigning one’s job in order to better align it (i) with one’s most important values, skills, talents and personality, and further, (ii) to honor one’s sense of inner purpose and afford substantial meaning.

“Task crafting” is examining and amending the types of tasks comprising job responsibilities – identifying, assessing, grouping and then determining opportunities to do more of what is desired and less of what is not, within the parameters of the organization’s culture and structure.

“Relational crafting” arises when people discover they are getting too much of, or not enough of human relational engagement, stimulation or collaboration, or that they find they want to relate to others outside of their immediate scope of work.

“Cognitive crafting” means adjusting one’s job to better align with emotional well-being, inner values, ideals, passions, meaning and purpose. 

Generally, companies and organizations have not been generally set up to encourage employees to personalize their jobs. However, in a post-pandemic job market, more employees and professionals are pressing for the discretion to customize their jobs to meet their highest needs, often starting with the need to work remotely or flexibly in and out of regular office hours.

While there is a substantial amount of research literature on job crafting, the following are valid conclusions:

• Encourages you to deeply consider and experience your job in a new or different way, unlocking creativity and self-initiative, putting you in more conscious control of what you do and why you do it. With focus, there are always more resources at your disposal within any given role.

• It enables you to position yourself well for the next step in your chosen career, or provide the basis for altering your course, based on the continuous, conscious observation (rolls into “Career Sculpting”)

• Provides you with inner guidelines as to what to say “Yes” and “No”, and why, as others attempt to influence your job role or direction.

• Allows you to operate in the “zone” or “sweet spot” of your work more often and deeply, which enlivens you, emitting more positive energy, productivity and added value to others. Also can reduce stress.

• When encouraged by an employer or firm, it can increase retention or decrease the need to flee, due to restlessness or dissatisfaction.

• Is consistent with the trend to empower people to work in their own way to get the desired results, which in turn, leads to higher productivity (note: during the pandemic, there are few material instances of productivity suffering, as people were able to flexibly work and handle other aspects of their lives without compromising their work responsibilities.

• Helps you resourcefully use and alter elements in your job to make your work more engaging and fulfilling.

If this resonates, let’s Explore this Together!