Numerous surveys have proved that job satisfaction for the majority of people is not related to the size of their pay packet, the number of days annual leave or the perks of the job. Job satisfaction for most of us comes from being respected by our employers and doing meaningful work, with the opportunity to gain new skills and to think for ourselves. Of course, money and benefits are important and do tend to rank in the top 15 on the list of factors which add to our sense of satisfaction in the workplace, but they aren’t up there in the top ten.

How can you increase your feeling of fulfillment at work? Let’s look at the subject of respect. Working for a boss who is disrespectful is depressing and demoralizing, but before you decide to hand in your notice, is there anything you can do about it? Often our perceptions of other people and their attitudes are coloured by our own beliefs or our limited view of the situation. Is your boss truly disrespectful or is he simply too busy to notice you? How about meaning? Did you start off burning with ambition to become the best in your field or with the desire to make a difference? And how long is it since you qualified? Have things moved on and could your benefit from retraining? Let’s consider these three areas individually.

Step 1

Get yourself noticed! Are you always on time, do you demonstrate enthusiasm for your job, meet targets and are you friendly and helpful with co-workers and customers or clients? Simply changing your own attitude may get you noticed. However, if you are already doing all of those things, perhaps you need to go one step further. Can you come up with any ideas for improving performance in your department? If you can suggest steps which will benefit both the company and yourself, try discussing these with your boss. There is no guarantee that you will be listened to, but at least you should emerge with a clearer picture of the respect - or lack of it - given to employees and this could help you decide if it’s time to move on.

Step 2

Take some time to look at your values and priorities in life. What were your reasons for entering your profession? Did you want to help people, develop new technology, find better ways of doing things, express your creativity? If your job has become boring, how can you make it more meaningful? Could you start a new project in an area you feel passionate about, or would some extra responsibility give you a sense of fulfillment? Think about what could make you love your job again and then take whatever action is necessary to make this a reality.

Step 3

You may have enjoyed your job for years but now it’s become second nature and so you need a new challenge. Are there new developments in your industry and relevant courses you could take to update your knowledge? A short course could improve your skills and consequently your productivity, as well as renewing your interest in your chosen field.

Get yourself noticed, rediscover meaning at work and enhance your skills – by taking these three steps you could start to enjoy your job again. However, if your attempts to make changes meet constant resistance from those above you, it may be time to look for another job.

Waller Jamison
http://www.coolercareers.com