Discontentment in the Workplace
While more people are finding employment, more employed workers are discontent and experiencing frustration. In most cases it can be boiled down to four factors: feeling undervalued, unappreciated and powerless, and world events.
You can possess a tremendous amount of creativity and skill, but if you aren’t given opportunities to utilize and express these qualities to their fullest, frustration can quickly set in. For most employees, there is a huge differential between what they can bring to the table and the responsibilities they have been given.
It’s rare that you hear of someone working a forty-hour week. These days, fifty and sixty-hour weeks have become commonplace. What hasn’t changed is your compensation. Working a sixty-hour week yet getting paid for forty can feel out of balance. It’s certainly not conducive to feeling appreciated.
If you are a manager, this may sound familiar: You are given responsibility over a project and direct reports, yet you have not been given the authority to produce positive change. As a result, you feel powerless. It’s similar to being the commander of a ship with tremendous responsibility, yet not allowed to enforce any rules or have any control over the environment.
World events have a pronounced effect on our emotions and the way we tend to approach life. It's been said that a butterfly flapping its wings in one part of the world affects life around the globe. We are all
interconnected. To look at the current state of increasing discontent and frustration among employees everywhere as an isolated event may not be an accurate reflection of reality.
A transformation is needed in the way employers view (and respect) their employees, and in the shaping of world events, for change in employee frustration to occur. A prevailing reason many people decide to go into business for themselves is because this transformation has not yet occurred. Despite the problems inherent in entrepreneurship and lingering world tensions, being able to express your creativity to the fullest and having greater control of your destiny speaks well to the self-employed scenario.
We should not give up looking for ways to mitigate employee frustration. The larger effort can engage us in the process of relating to one another with greater respect, trust and honor. Then we can begin the transformation in our professional and private lives to that which is profound and wonderful.
Copyright © 2005 TopDog Group All rights reserved.
About the Author
David Richter is a recognized authority in career coaching. His extensive knowledge and experience gained from many years in recruitment, outplacement and career management has allowed David to formulate powerful strategies anyone can use to secure interviews and receive offers. David holds Masters in both Engineering and Counseling Psychology. Visit: http://www.procareercoach.com
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