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You
found a job. You earn income. But
you are not happy.
Is
there something you can do about it?
Probably.
There are few things that need to be said about
"work satisfaction:"
-
it is relative;
-
it is a symptom; and
-
it will fluctuate, no matter where you go.
Work satisfaction can have severe consequences
on a person's performance at work and on a
person's personal life. At the office, if
you are not happy with the work that you do, you
will not feel motivated and your mood with
probably contaminate your relationship with your
coworkers. We all go through good times
and bad times, but if you've been miserable for
months or if you just dread going to work, you
need to re-evaluate your situation.
Ask yourself what makes you miserable at work or
what you would like to change. Is it a
co-worker, the work itself, the commute, the
expectations, the long hours? Once you
have narrowed down on the problem or problems,
ask yourself what would it take to fix it.
At this point, you will come up with a range of
solutions. Brainstorm and put down in
writing all your thoughts, even though they may
initially seem ridiculous.
You now have a list of problems and a series of
solutions for each problem. Go through
each solution and discard the ones that are not
realistic. Once you have narrowed the
solutions down to a few, let it rest for a week.
In
the meantime, ask yourself if you were to start
over again in life, what would you do? Try
to be realistic if possible... Once that
is done, ask yourself what prevents you from
doing those things? Let it rest for a
week.
A
week later...
Look at your notes and see if they still reflect
your current thoughts. See if you've
changed your mind on some issues. You now
have two lists. One that reflects your
current circumstance and suggests ways to
improve it. One that reflects your dreams
and aspirations. Each list is at one
extreme. What can you compromise on?
As you try to find your middle ground, you will
find solutions for yourself as to what you can
do to improve your work satisfaction and take
control of your life again. |
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Employee Recognition Can Go a Long Way
Monday, September 17,
2007
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 64% of Americans quit
because they don't feel appreciated at work. On the same topic, The
Gallup Organization reveals that 70% of U.S. workers believe they
receive no recognition for the effort they put in.
To see a slideshow on the rewards of recognition, please click
here.
To read the article, please click
here.
Tips to Increase Your Work Happiness
Ratio
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Carly Chynoweth gives 10 simple tips to make your life at
work happier. Following is how she summarizes them:
- "Keep things in perspective."
- "Recognise the possibility of happiness."
- "Change your focus."
- "Surround yourself with happy people..."
- "Accept reality."
- "Do the best you can."
- "Balance."
- "Take a break."
- "Take control."
- "Be honest with yourself."
How to... Be Happy
(The pursuit of happiness in the workplace is
as much of a holy grail as it is in life, but there are ways to make
that pursuit a happier experience.) (Times Online)
Think You Can Increase Your Job
Satisfaction? Think Again (by Jeffrey Garton)
Monday, July 16, 2007
This article unravels a mystery. Why after decades of trying
thousands of employers from around the globe cannot eliminate job
dissatisfaction. Some things can't be fixed or increased, unless you
try looking at it from another perspective. The solution is so
simple it's profound.
What enables your satisfaction on the job varies for each person. It
might be things extrinsic to your job like the industry, work
location, pay, benefits, co-workers, working conditions, resources,
supervision and training, or it might be things that are intrinsic
to your job like the type of work, your challenges and ability to
influence results, make a contribution, and the pride, recognition
and enjoyment derived from a job well done.
Simple enough, but what's often overlooked is the fact your job
satisfaction is dependent first and always on having a job. It would
not exist except for the employer making it possible for you to work
and be rewarded, and this applies regardless if your satisfaction is
intrinsic or extrinsic. It's also co-dependent on what you do in
exchange for the rewards the employer decides to offer or not take
away.
To read the rest of this article, please click
here.
"6 Myths About Work" by Penelope
Trunk
Tuesday,
June 12, 2007
Penelope Trunk discusses 6 myths about work, adapted from her new
book "Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success":
- Job Hopping Ruins Your Resume
- Getting a Promotion Is Good for You
- You'll Be Happier If You Have a Job You Like
- The Glass Ceiling Still Exists
- Going to Grad School Opens Doors
- Work Hard and Good Things Will Come
6 Myths About Work, Boston.com
Job Satisfaction Declines for U.S.
Workers
Saturday, February 24,
2007
According to a report by The Conference Board, Americans have
grown increasingly dissatisfied with their jobs over the past 20
years with no sign that the situation will reverse.
Less than half of Americans are satisfied with their jobs compared
to 61% twenty years ago:
- Americans under the age of 25: Less than 39% are satisfied.
- Americans between 55 and 64: Less than 45% are satisfied.
- Americans above 55: Close to half are satisfied.
From the numbers, it looks like the younger generation is struggling
to find its place in the workplace or there is something missing. As
mentioned by Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Consumer
Research Center, "the breadth of dissatisfaction is somewhat unsettling,
since it carries over from what attracts employees to a job to what
keeps them motivated and productive on the job."
The report shines more light on other issues bothering American
workers.
U.S. Job
Satisfaction Declines, Newswise
U.S. Workers' Growing Unhappiness
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Workers in the U.S. are growing more and more unhappy about their
work conditions. A 2006 Employee Review by Ranstad has found that
there is a growing gap between what employers say and what they
actually do.
According to the survey, employees want more opportunities for
career development, better work/life balance, and a need to feel
valued. Yet, many employers have not delivered on these
priorities.
There is a general sense that employers are not loyal to employees.
Many of those that feel this way have reciprocated in expressing the
same lack of commitment. Can there really be "loyalty" on the part
of employers? Or will their bottom line always prevail?
Unhappy Where You Are?
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
If you are unhappy at your current workplace, you aren't alone.
But what should you do? It all depends on your circumstances,
but no matter what, think it through.
The grass always looks greener on the other side, but is it
really? Be honest to yourself; take the time to reflect.
Consider what makes you happy (yes, happiness is important),
what are your strengths, are you willing to accept a pay cut, do
you really know what your dream job is all about, will you have
to relocate, etc.?
One final advice: make a slow transition, that will give you the
time to adapt.
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