We've probably all heard about the Bureau of Labor Statistics stating that of workers aged 18-44, the 21st century employee is likely to change jobs an average of 11 times during their lifetime. If you haven't, it probably doesn't take too much of a stretch of imagination to guess as much given the general unrest and low job satisfaction we witness personally on a daily basis in the workplace. In fact, we very well may be contributing to that calculation.
While these changes, or "shifts in gear," may be attributed on an individual basis to a number of different causes, the impact is the same: a person leaves one situation and moves on to another, desperately hoping that the change will be "better" for them. And what criteria do we use when assessing if a situation is "better" or not? Most studies will show that people associate the following attributes with job satisfaction: a job they like, that holds their interest (variety of tasks), and contributes in a meaningful way to the overall mission of the organization; has a good work environment (both in the physical workspace, and in terms of location and vicinity with respect to being convenient to means of transportation to and from their place of business); presence of a fair, and competent boss; having convenient work hours and reasonable expectations.
Last but certainly not least, people want to know about pay and opportunities for advancement. We, after all, do want to have our cake and to eat it too -- not to mention that slice of American apple pie that says if we work hard enough we can have/achieve anything we want, including the big house with the white picket fence, two car garages, the ability to pay for our children's college educations, etc.
But how much of this ever really materializes these days - at least, on the terms that we feel it should take place? We expect to be employed under the ideal work conditions, having all criteria satisfied: our interests' constantly stimulated, our egos continuously stroked, our wallets always content and growing (I know, tall order there), and our sense of purpose never in doubt. All this we expect, however, in addition to an expectation to be able to go home at the end of a reasonable work day to enjoy the presence of our family and loved ones, and engage in some of the more enjoyable hobbies of life (being able to take family vacations, going fishing, throwing incredible parties that are just "the talk of the town"). It takes us then a bit by surprise when economics (supply and demand) actually influences what our pay rate will be (not exactly to our liking), the long hours or the lay-offs that impact us, and the fact that no one tells us that the company's administration has one or two maniac depressives at the helm who are apparently off of their medication for prolonged periods of time.
The other day my eyebrows were raised by reading the title of an article on the front page of Newsweek magazine, "Is College a Lousy Investment?" Now, it is not as though every working individual doesn't periodically ask themselves the self-same question when glancing at their pay stub or checking their balance online on payday. It's just that to me this signaled a change in overall view with regard to exactly how much value we now placed on a paper which we previously felt was so important to acquire. And we felt comfortable enough about it to talk about it publicly.
But this is not the focus of this particular entry. I can't quantify the value of your degree or certificate or educational investments, as a whole. I can't ascertain if it was actually worth it for you to pursue - or to choose not to - pursue that higher degree, because that, indeed, for all the statistics we can quote, is still an individual choice and his or her prerogative. What I can say is that in the workplace, regardless of our educational preparedness with relation to our specific job profile, we are still expected to perform some sort of function to some level of proficiency. And this is where it gets dicey.
Another changing of the parameters: I will not speak on whether or not one should pursue training after getting the job to help them to do it better, or more proficiently. No, my focus is on the motivation side of things (yes, for you critics out there, I punked out).What do you do when you are unchallenged, or bored out of your mind with the monotony of the tasks you are responsible for? Do you ignore the fact that you're bored? (You dare not tell your boss you're bored out of your mind unless you know for certain that there is promotion territory in clear view - and closer than just on the horizon.) In fact, we usually just grin and bear it - until we move on to the next job. But what should we do.
I'm just old-fashioned I guess in that I believe that one of the most important ingredients to making a successful work environment is an individual's willingness to motivate his or her self unprompted by the powers-that-be. So that may, in fact, mean that some extra training is in order, or taking a class or two a year in the degree area closest to your actual job (if you have the time in your personal life for it) might be in order. However, it may just be that you need to find a creative nook in your daily work.
Yes, it is just that simple. So long as it is not illegal, you just may need to self-prescribe an activity that challenges you to do something that engages another part of your brain other than the dominant one that you use all of the time. Some people choose to do puzzles; others set up chess competitions during lunch hours; others' pastime include acquiring witty or funny cartoons and quotes and posting them in a common break room. (Notice I didn't talk about baking or cooking because that can really be a little touchy since you could be seen as contributing to added weight gain by your colleagues, hence encouraging a love-hate relationship: they'll love you for bringing in that sock-it-to-me cake (so moist and decadent); they'll hate you however when they are privately trading the number of pounds they've put on (and how you don't seem to put on an ounce) and are now no longer able to fit into their favorite slacks at work without causing quite a stir.
Don't be that person. (Smile. :)) Finding ways to express yourself creatively is essential to satisfying our need for stimulation, and motivation. Unfortunately, not enough workplace environments have paid attention to the great labor and management theorists who warned that motivation - even beyond physical capacity for productivity - is critical to having and maintaining a superior workforce. However, just because we are not motivated does not mean that we need to through the source of our "bread-and-butter" away altogether. Sometimes, as workers, our challenge is to still occupy the role that early modern day workers had to, which was to contribute/invest in our own contentment and happiness. It was this human component within the work environment that made it feel like a "family."
So ask yourself if you are doing "contentment and happiness." If not, you could be missing out on a large part of a more fulfilled life. I wish you Happy Motivations.
