MPW Insider is one of several online communities where the biggest names in business answer timely career and leadership questions. Today’s answer for “How do you stay excited about your job?” is written by Pascale Witz, Executive Vice President of Global Divisions at Sanofi.
I’ve spent 25 years of my career in healthcare, including GE Healthcare and now Sanofi. Throughout my career, I’ve found you have to focus on the broader impact of your work to stay driven and excited. In the healthcare industry, we develop medicines and solutions with the goal of ultimately improving the quality of life for millions of people worldwide. Every day, in everything I do, I feel that I’m working to improve people’s health. Here are a few things that continue to keep me inspired:
Making an impact
I assume that every employee in the healthcare environment experiences the same rewarding feeling, whatever role they play. I know my team is motivated by the work that we do, and how it could eventually help a patient manage a chronic condition, like diabetes, or prevent an epidemic, like dengue fever. Of course, keeping motivated is not a given, even when you work in the healthcare industry. You can get diluted by daily processes or frustrated by setbacks, especially when performing activities that do not seem directly linked to helping patients. In this context, it is extremely important not to lose sight of our larger goal – helping patients. This focus on changing lives for the better and motivating people working towards that goal are definitely a driving force for me.
Surrounding yourself with the right people
Of course, it’s easier to stay inspired when you work with a group of smart, dedicated, and driven people. I’m lucky to work with so many passionate people, and all of my colleagues share the same goal. Whatever your career, it’s important to surround yourself with people who are equally committed and enthusiastic about their work. I learn from my coworkers every day and they constantly motivate me to do better.
Meeting your key stakeholders
I always make sure to participate in patient meetings. It’s a great way to learn more about the challenges they face in their day-to-day life, to understand their disease and how they manage it. Meeting these key stakeholders and making a real connection with them always reminds me of why I’m doing my job and gives me a true sense of purpose.
Of course, some days I feel like I am not making enough progress, or that my impact is not big enough. And there are moment of doubts. But when I go home and tell my children about my job, I can see that in their eyes, I am a kind of a super hero. And that definitely keeps me motivated!
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