I can't get no satisfaction
When you think about ‘job satisfaction’ it’s easy to think of the obvious factor – being in the right job!
I love musing about what makes me ‘me’, and what my place is in the world. So naturally, when I’m thinking about my jobs, I think about what my ideal job would be – something that motivates me, suits my personality, and allows me to make the best use of my skills. (A global travel writer, with a brief to spend whole months at a time with very interesting people, all over the world, and write about their lives. Obviously.)
Dealing with reality
Unfortunately, sometimes our ideal job just isn’t within reach. So how else can we achieve job satisfaction? Perhaps it might help to think about how we view the job we are in. Is it purely a means to paying the bills? Perhaps it’s one step on a career ladder of dreams and ambitions? Or maybe it’s something we feel ‘called’ to, a vocation. None of these are right or wrong responses to work. After all, everyone has to make a living, and we all have a lot to gain and a lot to give.
Like it or not, most of us have to spend some 40 hours of each week at work. So how do we make the best of it?
It's our choice
In most working environments there are factors that can make working life difficult or annoying – whether it’s difficulties with colleagues, employees or managers, a heavy workload, a window-less boxed-in work space, or endless reams of paperwork.
But despite external factors, we all have a choice about one thing: our attitude.
Whenever I catch myself feeling demotivated, stressed, irritated or bored, I find it helpful to take a few minutes to ask myself some questions:
- Why did I take this job in the first place?
- What are my natural skills, and am I using them?
- Am I taking pride in my work?
- Am I making an effort with my colleagues?
- Am I making a valuable contribution?
Great returns
If we are doing everything we can to maintain a positive attitude in our work, the chances are that we won’t be so caught up on the irritating factors which are beyond our control.
It follows naturally that if we take pride in our work, we’ll not only produce a better product, we’ll also gain a sense of achievement in a job done well. If we make the effort with our colleagues and aim to be a pleasure to work with ourselves, we’re likely to see that others will respond in kind.
And if we can manage to find a sense of purpose in the job we do, be it building a house, fixing a broken toilet, balancing budgets, or hanging out with juvenile delinquents, then everything will just flow so much better. There’s no greater satisfaction than doing a job with purpose, and doing it well.
Photo by O&C Photography
Written by Becky Williams. Posted on 30th April.
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