Employees yearn to find the job that gives them the most happiness. A career itself is a journey of ever-changing ups and downs. It’s like a roller coaster that never stops. Keeping employees satisfied at work is one of the key components to retaining your employees. The rest are just bonus points. According to Indeed, “being satisfied at work is of utmost importance for an employee’s personal success and happiness.” Generally, job satisfaction refers to the level of contentment an employee has with their job in terms of what they do and whom they work with. The higher the satisfaction, the better it is for the company they work in. This blog will uncover the best methods for you to increase job satisfaction and retain your employees for as long as possible.
Elements of Job Satisfaction
According to Entrepreneur, “happy employees are more loyal to the company and its objectives, they go the extra mile to achieve goals and take pride in their jobs, their teams, and their achievements.” Job satisfaction features two main metrics – affective (emotional) satisfaction and cognitive (evaluative) satisfaction. Affective satisfaction refers to the emotional side of job satisfaction – company culture, managers, and motivation. On the other hand, cognitive satisfaction refers to the evaluative side – salary, development opportunities, and promotions. Let’s dive deeper.
Know Yourself
Before you embark on your career journey, you need to figure out what you value for yourself at work and outside of work. If it helps, write it down. Penning down your thoughts will remind you how far you’ve come and why you are the way you are. Your thoughts should also include your own expectations of the job. You need to ask yourself, what do I wish to look for in this job? Is it a well-paid salary? Job security? Independence? Promotions? The world is your oyster.
Keep Calm and Collected at Work
Situations of conflict are inevitable at work. If your manager starts raising, it does not mean you add fuel to the fire and raise your voice along with them. Keeping your voice calm will allow you to control your emotions and deal with the conflict with a peaceful state of mind. According to Fox Business, “your calm demeanor will reflect on them and will help them to settle down.” Anger is nothing but a misguided sense of fear. Sometimes employees get frustrated from their workload because they’re bored with it. However, your anger and frustration will always give you an opportunity to learn more about yourself and your needs at work. Look for those hidden opportunities for you to grow and keep up to your true potential. Who knows? You may find something new to discover and learn for yourself!
Do Not Ignore the Red Flags
Work is not always an environment of unicorns and rainbows. Believe it or not, there are so many hidden and unhidden red flags that an employee experiences throughout their journey. According to LinkedIn, “if you are increasingly dissatisfied with the kind of work you are doing, you should consider a career change or ask your supervisor for new responsibilities.” Employees want to feel excited about coming to work every day. They want to feel reassured that the time given to the organization for the day was worth it. Red flags could come across your radar in all forms, including distrust in leadership, disrespectful co-workers, unfair pay…etc. If a job doesn’t treat you the way you want to be treated, then it isn’t worth it. Choose a job that allows you to be yourself both personally and professionally.
Find that Work-Life Balance
Everyone needs a break from work once in a while. Ever since the pandemic hit, many professions have been limited to working from home all day, every day, while others have been under extra stress to stay healthy and safe while going into in-person workplaces. It is crucial to find things to look forward to during the day. This way, employees can help tackle any possible causes of workplace burnout. A lot of people, especially new employees, have the belief that they are supposed to enjoy themselves only on the weekends. This does not have to be true. You are allowed to plan your day to ensure you stay productive and efficient with your workload.
Strive for Those Development Opportunities
When young people enter and progress through the working world, it’s important for them to have the support and resources to find and pursue professional development opportunities. According to Forbes, “being a professional means constantly seeking out opportunities to grow in the industry and advance your career.” Professional development means finding opportunities for growth when it comes to skills and knowledge in the working world. These opportunities can refer to continuous education or training programs within or outside the organization an employee works in such as networking events, post-graduate education, personal growth, internships, online certification courses…etc.
Be Open to Change
Adaptability is a great plus point that hiring managers look for in a candidate. Change doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. Sometimes things just don’t work out. According to Indeed, “It’s important to not get too attached to your habits or methods so that you can shift your focus, technique or system to better serve your goals.” Building your self-awareness skills can help you identify areas in your routine that could use a change for the better. This could include your work schedule, daily routine, the way you interact with your teammates, your work ethic, approach towards assignments…etc.
Measuring Job Satisfaction with PxidaEX
Employees want to feel validated and appreciated at work every day. With the support of PxidaEX, you can figure out what they desire and expect out of the job that they wish to pursue. Sign up for a free trial today!