You sense that cynicism grows inside you. Instead of trying to push it away and treat it as something to be avoided, you should accept it and see it as opportunities for improvement: of yourself and others. Your levels of cynicism will ebb and flow. When it reaches high tide, you must pay attention to it and be deliberate in using it for good. Of course, you need to bolster your emotional intelligence at those times because you don't want to speak rudely to the wrong people. Choose your words carefully.
Why do you feel cynical? Self reflect to ask yourself why. You might feel unchallenged at work despite your efforts to change this. You could view the people around you as insensitive to your needs. Perhaps your leaders where you work offer one self-served business fad after another. You could have other reasons. Whatever they may be, find them and write them down privately.
Let's suppose you take on a non-technical leadership role. You know you need to develop your soft skills, yet you yearn to invent exciting technologies. Your company's culture infers that employees in leadership roles focus on one project and refrain from spearheading side projects. You feel frustrated and feel your growth stagnates. This feeds your cynicism.
Who says you can't develop leadership skills while doing technical work? Why must you work on the big projects whose leadership cares only about meeting customer needs instead of trying to combine that with developing new technologies? You might feel like you can't ask these questions at your level within the organization.
How can you flip this upside down to a positive? Find people whom you trust and speak to them. In business, you should speak to your mentor or coach. Their perspectives will help you see things at different angles. You might think narrowly and miss the big picture. For example, a program manager frequently gives you critical feedback. Does this mean you perform poorly? A positive mindset sees these as opportunities for improvement. However, the cynical mind views them as personal attacks. The criticism means the end of the world because poor performance equates to a stagnant career.
How can other's perspectives transform a cynical mind to positive? Cynicism is a sign of a fixed mindset. Mentors point out that other paths to success exist. (Click to Tweet) Do the best you can, and you will develop a reputation as someone who cares about the quality of their work. What about the program manager who gives negative feedback? They strive to meet program goals, so they feel pressure to motivate their team to success. Not everyone knows how to communicate well, and this applies to giving feedback.
If someone gives you negative feedback that causes concern, you will need to confront that person. Be bold and reach out to your network. Your peers can guide you in expressing your concerns respectfully. Trusted advisors can help you figure out how to address this person's concerns. Remember, you focus on the positive, and you take action to help that person succeed.
What if you still yearn for other things you find lacking during your day job? Instead of moping around, take up a side hustle. Even if it starts as a hobby, it will take your mind off work. You might develop skills that you could apply in your current role, or discuss during interviews for alternative positions. Alternatively, give back to your community by volunteering. Take on a leadership role in your local church, synagogue, temple, or mosque. They need your assistance, and you will find joy in helping others.
Your best answer might be finding work somewhere else. It is one thing to feel cynical. It is another to allow this cynicism from blocking your best work. Take deep breaths. Relax. Do something else and go back to work the following day feeling refreshed. However you feel, you must do your best possible work. Your reputation depends on it. Even if you change jobs, you will tell your story of how you overcame adversity to succeed. Yes, you will hurt during the process, yet you will persevere. You will get through the difficulties. You will succeed.
Look, cynicism can prevent you from taking positive action at times when they matter the most. Nurturing one's tendency for introversion waters cynicism, and it grows in the darkness. Instead, you should practice extroversion to shed light on your cynicism. Positive light allows your growth mindset to flourish and minimizes cynicism.
