How our Jobs impact our worlds and our well-being.
After digging into this, I realized that job satisfaction comes from a few very simple things.
Things that are key to the success of any human relationship actually.
That’s the thing with a job, we often manage to stay longer and keep going, not because of what we're doing, but rather because of who we're doing it with.
We keep surviving and pushing through, because of the team we are part of.
When asking a few members of the international community how they feel about their current employment, the majority of the 30 odd people indicated they loved their jobs, but could no longer manage the politics. When asked to deliberate on what they meant by the politics, three things came to light.
Communication.
Team work.
Gratitude.
It’s easy to assume that these things are simple expectations for a good working environment. As they should be.
So often however, they dwindle and where people once knew what was expected of them, a cloud of confusion and frustration appears.
The reason for this has to do with a variety of things. Most certainly the recent pandemic plays a part.
Let’s try and perceive it logically. The international community went from fast-paced living to isolation and virtual entrapment within their homes. A forced adjustment. After 21 odd days most of us managed to be fairly happy in our slower paced lives.
Now, without time to adjust, we are expected to be social butterflies once more, return to the fast-paced living and rush from point A to B.
This is leaving most of us overwhelmed and struggling.
We went from having to communicate with the masses, to simply meeting deadlines, communicating with far less people, and had to adhere to less red tape. Now however, BOOM! It’s all back.
Take that into consideration when you evaluate how you are doing with all the readjustment.
That being said, let’s see how trying to adjust whilst facing the three highlighted problems may affect you.
Let’s have a look at how communication, or a lack of effective communication in the work place, affects us holistically .
Communication is key to all healthy relationships. In the work place it’s mostly about how information is given and how it is received.
There are 4 main ways of communicating,
namely, Aggressive, Passive Aggressive, Passive and Assertive communication.
Let’s have a look how that is broken down into what the communicator feels for others and how they communicate.
Aggressive communication takes the form of speaking loudly, using demanding language and blame. This often leads to the receiver feeling like they are not respected. The sender of this message often has a low regard for others.
Passive aggressive communication uses sarcasm to communicate, often their actions and deeds don’t match up and they would prefer to deny any difficult issues. The sender of this type of message not only has a low regard for others, but also for themselves.
Passive communication is often associated with people who struggle to articulate what they are hoping to express. They often don’t feel like their needs are being met and become resentful towards others. This form of communication often takes place with people who have a high regard for others, but a low regard for themselves.
Assertive communicators tend to stay calm, they refrain from using accusatory language and stand up for themselves and others. This type of communication happens by people who have a high regard for themselves and others.
How does all this play out in the work place.
Human interactions are always complex and perceptions can be difficult to manage at any given moment. However, if you have a team leader who communicates assertively, is clear in their instructions, has realistic expectations, and is involved without micromanaging, you find subordinates who feel respected and trusted. They know that not only are they spoken to with tact and respect, but they would feel that they are able to ask for guidance and help. This results in a work space that can be considered safe with a growth mindset.
Our jobs take up between 6 and 8 hours of our day. If we have been spending that amount of time being disrespected, unmotivated and surrounded by toxic communication, we are bound to become upset, negative and partly toxic ourselves.
It’s natural, we become what we surround ourselves with. Thus our work life influences our interactions with all people we come in contact with.
That brings me to team work.
Since we spend so much time in our work place, team work is a natural part of our day.
We all take up a space within a team that no other person can fill. We are all unique and we do all contribute a little of our own sparkle, no matter where or in what we are involved.
Team work is essential in any work force. So what is effective team work truly?
It's a buy-in from all members working toward the same goal, showing interest and being willing to compromise on thoughts and ideas. It’s transparency, resulting in trust developing amongst the members, clear and effective communication, with set tasks and deadlines.
To develop a better team and get the most out of constructive team work, implement the following;
Relinquishing the blame game, mistakes are bound to be made, but work together to support and correct errors. Rather than calling out the individual who may have faltered. Remember above all team work is about support and development of ideas and concepts, believe it or not 2 or more does really make the load lighter and allows for vastly more perspectives to be reached.
Whether you are the team lead or merely a member of the team , praise your team mates' triumphs while remaining objective and take note of where things can be improved upon. If you witness a successful process or task completion, congratulate the person in charge, if there is something that can be bettered on, share that information too, but do it tactfully.
Throughout the entire process support your team members whilst remaining on task and focused.Refrain from pestering your team mates, trust them to do what they have been assigned to do within the time frame they have been provided.
Most importantly spend time with your team mates, take note of their opinions and creative thoughts, they may have better ways to execute expected tasks. It’s best not just to provide instructions and isolate yourself, but be involved and engaged working together toward the final outcome.
Often being involved with the entire team is the only gratitude that is required. That involvement is a subconscious manner of showing that your time is worth the same as that of the team.
Gratitude is a strange thing. We all show it differently and we all receive it differently. At the end of the day, the thank you and camaraderie are what make employees willing to make the effort again.
A mere note or text of thanks for the effort is all it takes to make someone realise their time was appreciated and their efforts noticed.
These things are essential in a work place. As mentioned already, we spend up to 8 hours a day working for a common goal: reaching a deadline, balancing the books, or teaching someone else’s child. Our end goal is to do it to the best of our ability, and to keep the name of the institution we are associated with high.
Like an octopus each and every member of staff is a tentacle that helps with the forward movement of an institution. If there is a tentacle that isn’t part of the force, progress isn’t made or even worse yet, the octopus dies.
Thus evaluate your situation.
Take note of the communication and manner there of in your work space. Be sure you can continue to endure the form of communication you're exposed to daily.
Be aware of the team spirit. Make sure that somewhere in it all, you are acknowledged. Otherwise, it’s time to evaluate whether your efforts and well-being are worth less to you than the job you are currently holding.
Most importantly, be sure to be grateful whilst taking note of the gratitude shown to yourself.
In short:
Take note of the type of communication you are surrounded with.
Ask yourself whether your team is actually uplifting you.
Lastly, no matter what - keep showing gratitude while being critical about the reality of being appreciated.
Take care and remember you are so much more than what you do from 9-5.
Xx