DO YOU HATE YOUR JOB?
If you do, you’re in good company. A recent Oprah show cited a study by CareerBuilder.com that said 84% of Americans are unhappy at work. Many of us despise our jobs.
YIKES! DID YOU SAY 84%?
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Spending our precious life doing things we hate brings unnecessary negativity into our lives. It’s bad for our bodies and mental health, and it drags down people we care about.
So, what can you do about it? A first step is to diagnose the problem and see what’s missing. Make a report card for your job, giving grades (on the scale of A – F) on your satisfaction in these areas.
STRENGTHS
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The career coach who appeared on Oprah’s show correctly stated the importance of having a job that focuses on the things that make us feel invigorated, energized, and focused. It’s hard to feel fulfilled if our job demands from us what we’re not.
GRADE ____
But let’s go beyond his analysis of focusing on your strengths and examine other key factors.
MISSION
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Why are you here on this earth? Many people feel they have a calling in life. Often, this stems from a “wound” or negative life experience. Helping others to read, protecting the environment, fighting for social justice, helping people to be financially secure. Are you in synch with your calling? GRADE ____
MONEY
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If we don’t feel that we’re paid what we’re worth, we can resent it, and feel unmotivated. How happy are you with your compensation package? GRADE ____
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
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Is there room for you to get better at what you to, to build your strengths and skills? Does the company encourage professional development?
GRADE _____
RIGHT RESPONSIBILITY
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Are you appropriately challenged by your job, or do you find yourself bored? Alternatively, are you overwhelmed most of the time?
GRADE_____
CORPORATE / ORGANIZATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
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Does the company you work for support your mission? Do they treat people as you would like to be treated? Is the company ethical?
GRADE_____
GEOGRAPHY
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Do you like the area of the city/country/world where you live and work? Is your commute acceptable?
GRADE _____
NOW, HOW DOES YOUR PRESENT SITUATION ADD UP?
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Add up your scores. Look at the areas that get low grades. Are they fixable with the right conversations? Here’s how a few people fixed their situations:
Jenny found that paperwork requirements exhausted her and robbed her of productivity and job satisfaction. She formed a committee which eliminated or streamlined the paperwork, and radically changed her job and her satisfaction.
George would have loved his job—except that he was grossly underpaid—and seething about it. But instead of continuing to stew or quitting in a huff, he documented his contributions, and made a request for a substantial raise and bonus. He got the money plus the flexibility to work at home three days per week, cutting down on his commute time.
Lilly was working seven days a week, trying to do the work of two people. She diplomatically drew a line in the sand, demanding that she have an assistant so she could also have a personal life. The job now works for her.
Mark, however, found his job report card filled mostly with C’s and D’s—and there were no A’s. He decided to stop putting up with it, and got in action. Even though he didn’t know what he really wanted to do, he consulted with a coach to help him decide what move would make him happy.
If you’re one of the 84% who’s unhappy at work, take action today. Think of the difference it would make in your life to be one of the other 16%.
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