Job satisfaction? Take action. Who's on your gift list this year?
By Bev Kaye
We often wait for other people to do something nice for us. What about doing something nice for yourself? Here are 26 ideas to choose from. These 26 ideas come from a study of workplace satisfaction issues as described in Love It, Don't Leave It: 26 Ways to Get What You Want at Work by Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans. Taking responsibility for any of these can help you get more of what you want at work. Choose one or more… and commit! You deserve it.
Ask…And you may receive.
Most people eventually realize that, no matter where or with whom they work, at times they want a bit more of something. The best way to get that something is to ask. Don't expect others to take the first step. Be clear, be prepared, and be collaborative - then ask for what you want.
Buck… Don't pass it.
Some people are tempted to hold others accountable for their work satisfaction. Ultimately you choose your career, your boss, your team, your organization. You decide how long to stay, and you have the power to improve your work. Accept that responsibility, complete with its challenges, and you'll get more of what you want from your work and your workplace.
Career… Chart your course.
Your career is your creation. When was the last time you really gave serious thought and time to planning it? Too many people delay or even paralyze their actions. They wait for their bosses to provide career maps. The truth is that only you can make the time and the decisions that put your career on the right course. The payoff is greater work satisfaction.
Dignity… Give it to get it.
If you don't feel respected, don't just wait and hope for your boss, colleagues, or employees to give it to you. Clarify what respect means to you. Find ways to get more respect, right where you are. We all deserve respect. Get your share by performing well, by asking for it, by continually improving, and by being willing to change YOU in small but significant ways.
Enrich… Energize your work.
In today's work environment there is almost always something new to learn, another approach to try, or a way to rekindle enthusiasm. Don't wait for someone to hand you an exciting project or something new to learn. Find a way to enrich your own work, negotiate for it, and then do it.
Family… Seen yours lately?
You might believe there is no way to excel at work and have quality time with your family. But many people effectively integrate career and family. Try something innovative, non-traditional or creative. You shouldn't have to choose between work and family.
Goals… Up is not the only way.
If you're waiting for your boss (or someone else) to define and then deliver your career path, you might wait a long time. Expanding your career options means considering moves you may not have taken seriously before. See what you could gain by moves other than up.
