Wednesday 4 June 2014

Unhappy With Your Job? How to Know if You Should Stay or Leave:-

Organizations depend upon engaged workers to create a high-performing culture and deliver superior results. Yet, the vast majority of people are unhappy at work. Numerous job-satisfaction studies indicate that more than 75% of people are dissatisfied with their job. This dissatisfaction is a global issue that spans industries, generations, income levels, and cultures. According to some estimates, it costs the global economy more than $1 trillion annually, in addition to the immeasurable impact it has on employees.
The fundamental question is whether these widespread issues at work are employer-specific or employee-driven. Given the pervasiveness of the problem, it may be that some issues are employee-driven. This raises the question of whether you should consider changing employers or your perspective. A good initial step to finding greater fulfillment is to understand which cohort you belong to:
  • Engaged (15-20%): "Happy" and passionately devoted to your job every day.
  • Disengaged (30-40%): "Ambivalent" and adding limited value.
  • Disruptive (30-40%): "Actively unhappy" and detrimental to the organization and co-workers.
It is concerning that there are four times more dissatisfied employees than satisfied ones.
If you are unhappy, it is critical to identify the key issues driving your dissatisfaction. Otherwise, you are at risk of trading one unfulfilling job for another, and damaging your resume. With more than 75% of people unhappy at work, it is reasonable to speculate whether we have realistic expectations. Expecting more is not wrong, but perhaps we must exert more effort in order to reach our desired level of happiness.
It is important to note that few experiences have long-term positive effects on our state of happiness. Moreover, people do not fully understand the events that bring happiness. In some cases, changing jobs may provide a temporary surge of fulfillment, but ultimately the change does not address the root of the problem. Your outlook, positive or negative, has the greatest impact on your satisfaction at work. Changing your attitude gives you the best chance of finding both increased satisfaction and success at work.
Clearly, staying at a job where you are disengaged and disruptive is not viable. Remaining in a suspended state of disengagement is not healthy for the company or you. If you find yourself unhappy at work, it is important to consider one of two paths:
  1. Change Perspective & Re-Engage: This path is for those who find their unhappiness comes from within themselves or from factors that are commonplace across most employers. It is important to reinvigorate yourself by finding new meaning either at or outside of work. Design a life and career in which you can engage in activities you are passionate about. Most employers will not do that for you.
  2. Change Employers: People should choose this path when the majority of their dissatisfaction comes from factors specific to the employer. These factors can include a "toxic" manager or co-worker, skill and ability mismatch, and organizational viability. Regardless of the issue, ensure that your next employer does not exhibit the same flaws.
Whichever path you choose, it is important to give career choices considerable thought. Career satisfaction for most people takes a "U" shape. We often begin with enthusiasm, question our path, and then ultimately return to reasonable satisfaction. We must actively take control of our own happiness. If you are happy, there is no limit to what you can accomplish.

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