Robin Fielder, leadership strategist, LDL, www.ldl.co.uk
You’re not alone in finding yourself in the position of holding back effort that you could be releasing at work. To understand what’s gone wrong, think back to a time when you felt really excited by and interested in your job. Was the work more challenging? Did you have greater contact with other people? Perhaps you just got more praise and positive feedback.

Once you’ve identified what’s missing, search out new challenges and opportunities to fill the gaps. Ask your boss to support you by helping you to set new objectives for the next three months. Create objectives that will not just stretch you at work but also personally, by giving you more responsibility and a chance to learn new skills.

It might be that you particularly enjoy working with other people and find it hard to motivate yourself when others are away on holiday. If so, ask to be put on a new project with people outside your immediate team during the summer.

Your boss should be keen to inspire you to succeed, not least because once your energy levels pick up he’ll find his job more enjoyable as well.

Dr Harry Freedman, chief executive, Career Energy, www.careerenergy.co.uk
It may be that you are tired and need a well-deserved break, or more fundamentally, that there is a mismatch between you and your job. Good weather generally puts people in a good mood, so you should expect to be motivated to perform better at this time of year.

Take a step back and think about yourself. Which of your skills do you really enjoy using? What would you like to accomplish with your work? What would a job have to offer you to make a positive contribution to your life? Then look at your job. If it allows you to use the skills you enjoy, and if you feel that the job is making a positive contribution, then there is nothing seriously wrong — book a holiday.

But if the problem lies within the job itself, then it is time to consider a change, possibly into another field. Most people are in the wrong job and there is no reason for you to be one of them. A career change is a big step, but it is possible. It requires thought to get it right, and might take you some time. But once you start thinking positively about your future, the short-term difficulties will be far less distressing.

Do you agree with this advice? Write to us at: career@thetimes.co.uk

Times Recommends

• Inspirational leadership
• How to get a new job
• The reluctant CEO