5 Questions on Job Satisfaction
Some people are never happy --- more work and income than they can poke a stick at and still they grumble and complain. Others scrape to make a living, yet whistle away and smile all the time.
How does that work?
Well, it's either something they put in the tea or only one group gets the whole "satisfaction and fulfillment" thing.
Here's the scoop:
We all have a means of adjusting our own level of satisfaction, but in order to do so we first have to understand what makes us tick (aka: whistle and smile).
What follows is a short series of questions that can help tease out your present level of satisfaction and fulfillment and importantly highlight any areas that need work.
Ok, here we go.
Instructions: Please read the following statements and give yourself a 1-5 rating on how your current status aligns with what's said, where 1 means "Fat chance" and 5 is "Yup, that's me!" Either add the numbers in your head as you go along or if you don't do that kind of thing any more, jot them down in your Blackberry and email them to your Virtual Assistant for calculation and extrapolation.
- "My work is varied and interesting and causes me to stretch and grow."
- "I am financially rewarded to an acceptable level as a consequence of my work. I am not underpaid, nor do I undercharge."
- "I feel connected to the world and am in sufficient contact with like-minded individuals."
- "My life is in balance. I spend quality time with my friends, colleagues and family."
- "In front of me I see an exciting and challenging future."
In the style of those annoying trash mag tests, here's my assessment:
- 20-25 --- Well done! You're doing well. Take yourself out for lunch.
- 15-19 --- Pretty damn good. Pay attention to your weakest areas though. Eat in.
- 10-14 --- Something needs to change. Time to get some plans in place.
- Below 10 --- As above, but with more urgency. Give yourself priority.
So which is it to be? (Here's some follow-up reading.)