Married to the Job, but looking to have an affair!
11 08 2008Ten to thirty years of a person’s life is spent in a place of business. Simply put, your employer is like a marriage partner. Are you satisfied in your professional marriage? If not, are you having an affair behind your company’s back or just going through the motions?
Come on…I know you’ve been thinking about it. Go ahead and blush. And don’t be shocked when you find out the person in the cubicle next to you has been doing it — interviewing (going on secret dates) with another company. If there’s some chemistry during the date interview then they will meet a few more times before an offer is made to consummate the relationship.
Recently a friend told me that her company was monitoring everyone’s computer activity and was fully aware that people were surfing www.hotjob.com www.yahoo.com www.monster.com and www.careerbuilder.com However, the company has done nothing about it. She said the only time the organization seems to care is when it’s time for the employee opinion survey. Management will then host an impromptu pizza social to get everyone in a good mood prior to taking the survey. What kind of professional marriage relationship is this?
The Conference Board recently released a report that said the following:
U.S. workers are growing increasingly unhappy with their jobs
The decline in job satisfaction is widespread among workers of all ages and all income brackets
Half of all those surveyed are satisfied with their jobs — down from nearly 60 percent in 1995
Only 14 percent are “very satisfied”
25 percent of the
Two out of every three workers do not identify with or feel motivated to drive their employers’ business
goals and objectives
(Based on a representative sample of 5,000
By now you are probably wondering if there is any hope for this marriage relationship between employer and employee.
A leader who wants to preserve the marriage relationship between employee and employer will focus on your value and brilliance until you see it for yourself. If you are dissatisfied in a going-nowhere professional marriage, then it’s time to stop “cheating” (playing the field hoping for a better offer while you give less than 100% to your current position) or hanging in there for the paycheck. It’s time to take steps to align yourself with an organization you can truly commit to. Or perhaps you have realized that your company really is worth your full commitment.
Simon Says… Remember that your job is where you spend most of your time – either find the one you love, or love the one you’re with.
Marc Drizin has conducted wonderful research on employee engagement. I strongly encourage employers to check out his work.
Simon - I hope you had a chance to meet Marc at the Indiana State SHRM conference.
P.S. Your energy and enthusiasm is awesome. Have you attended the Landmark Forum?
Hi there…thanks for telling me about Marc. I didn’t meet him. I have not attended the Landmark Forum but I have heard about it. Sounds like cool stuff.
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