The same old job…
We all have our pet “obsessions” in life. One of these is to complain and moan about our jobs. It is no surprise that most of us could find something in our jobs that we are currently dissatisfied with. Look at these facts for instance:
The American Workplace Survey, recently conducted by Harris Interactive for Melville, NY based Adecco Group, found that two-thirds (66 percent) of workers are not satisfied with their compensation, 78 percent are not satisfied with their company’s overall retention efforts and 76 percent are unhappy with future career growth.
Why is it a challenge to fall in love with your job?
1. Choosing the wrong job
There is truth in the saying that our choices affect our future. I have seen so many people go into jobs without considering the impact (positive and negative) of the job on their life. It is easy to make the wrong job choice when you are under pressure, financial or otherwise. And I have sympathy for those of us who have been in that position.
2. Unrealistic Expectations
Another big reason is to have expectations that can often be impossible for our work to meet. I was a victim of it myself when I had quite naively relied on jobs to help me achieve some ‘unrealistic’ goals in life. I believe this has a lot to do with our mindset and attitude, which is greatly influenced by our upbringing and popular culture that we are exposed to.
3. Effort – Reward Imbalance
This is one of the commonest reasons for feeling dissatisfied with our work. We feel that our rewards are not commensurate with the effort we put into our work. The rewards that we see as not forthcoming may be – financial, appreciation, positive feedback etc.
4. Time – Money Needs
In my experience time and money are two very practical needs most of us have. We often have to trade off one for the other. People who are employed or self-employed will know what I am talking about.
When we do not have work we can have a lot of time in our hands but be money poor but the opposite could be true for a lot of people in jobs with more money than time in their hands. Often a lack of balance between these two needs can lead to a lot of work dissatisfaction.
5. Unhealthy workplace environment
Any form of negativity at the workplace can be quite contagious. It is only with great difficulty that one can continue to remain positive or even “neutral” in a negative environment. I have seen people whine and moan about their jobs only to get more of what they desperately were trying to avoid! (remember “law of attraction”).
So what can be done to change and improve our feelings about our work?
5 things that will set you up to succeed and love your work!
1. Start with the end in mind. Consider the reasons why.
Identify what your goals and expectations are before taking on any job assignment. Do your research. Find out as much as you can before accepting a job offer. Also let your employer/business partner be clear about what you are bringing to the table, to avoid any unreasonable expectations on their part.
I am still surprised at how little time people invest in preliminary job research, whereas they may spend weeks deciding on what car they might want to buy.
If you are already in a job role review your initial goals and expectations. You may want to re-align them based on the experience you’ve gained by working in your role so far. I would say that it is not enough just setting goals but having value-driven outcomes that would inspire and motivate you to pursue those goals and giving your best, at every step.
It is also quite important to see ahead one or two years into the job. This will help you be solution-focused about future challenges.
2. Learn the fundamentals of Time Management
There is a hunger in our society for more time and money. The truth about time is – it is a finite resource. So if you are at a stage wishing for more time in your life, you need to consider the following:
- We all have 24 hours in a day regardless of what jobs we are in, regardless of our socio-economic status.
- Learn to use time smartly.
- Only trade time for money if you are getting a “net positive return” i.e. getting the right value (fulfilment, financial rewards, experience, networking opportunities etc.) for your time investment.
- Delegate, give up the DIY (do-it-yourself) mentality – getting somebody else to do a job (i.e. outsourcing) may cost less than the time value you would gain by doing so.
- If you work with a team use the team! I often used to feel guilty about “inconveniencing” others to do a task that I could do myself. I’ve since learnt to ask my team and allocate tasks based on individual expertise.
People are often very grateful for giving them responsibilities and holding them to higher standards. This contributes to their own sense of wellbeing and being satisfied in their job roles.
3. Examine your beliefs
Check your beliefs about your current job – are they empowering or limiting you? If your beliefs are limiting in nature, address them.
Examine your beliefs about money – positive or negative. Where do these originate from, are these your beliefs? Have your beliefs been influenced by your family, friends, the culture you grew up in and so on?
Changing or adapting your beliefs and rules for how things should be are the most effective ways of changing thoughts and the way you feel (i.e. your emotions).
4. Be the change you want to see…
Nothing can change unless we are prepared to change ourselves.
A good attitude makes a good job. Adopt the right mental attitude and welcome new experiences to constantly learn and grow.
Make constant, incremental progress towards your goals. Keep the “big picture” in mind to feel assured that you are headed in the right direction.
5. Enjoy what you do!
If you take life seriously you probably take your work seriously too. Take time to replenish and nourish your mind and soul. Give yourself credit for the progress and positive changes you create at work and in life.
Remember, you are at your creative best when you bring fun to your work!
This post was written by Suraj Gogoi, our guest author. Suraj is a psychiatrist, business investor, online entrepreneur and blogger. He will be writing in our blog frequently, sharing his indepth knowledge on human relationships, psychology, mindset and related topics. He also writes in his own online marketing blog.
