The number of Americans who love their job is dwindling. Research indicates that only 30% of workers in the U.S. feel truly engaged and inspired by their careers.
48% said they don’t even like their
job, and 18% said they were actively disengaged at the office because
they hate what they do. Based on these stats, you might think unhappy
employees would simply get out and find a different job.
However, that solution would only
suit a fraction of the many dissatisfied employees in the workforce. In
actuality, the majority need to discover what’s preventing their
engagement with their job and make an appropriate change.
It begins by identifying the cause of
your lost motivation. Unmotivated employees are 10 times more likely to
be dissatisfied and frustrated with their job.
If this applies to you, here are 4 reasons you’re losing motivation and how you can fix that:
1. You feel insecure in your job
Whether the company you work for is
going downhill or you feel as if your boss is constantly breathing down
your neck, job insecurity can take all the fun out of working. Your
energy gets expended in circulating rumors with coworkers, sweating over
visits to your boss’s office, and failing to concentrate fully on your
tasks.
Solution: Communicate directly and frequently with your superiors to determine the state of your job
and the company. If you know what’s coming, you’re more likely to work
securely, even if you’re having to search for another job on the side.
“I don’t believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be.” – Ken Venturi
2. There’s no vision driving your career choice
As much attention as we pay to it,
money is really only a small portion of most workers’ motivation. Often,
people are inspired to work hard because they have a purpose, and they
hold a vision that leads them closer to success.
People like to feel that they’re
progressing toward something bigger and better in their lives, or
they’ll start to feel bored about what they do.
Solution: Set attainable goals
for yourself and check them off regularly as you go. Your goals might
include improved performance in the office or a change in your personal
life that moves you closer to a happier, healthier you.
3. The people in charge don’t seem to know what they’re doing
When you believe the company owners
or your managers are incompetent, you lose confidence in them. It’s
difficult to perform your job with full vigor, and it’s easy to feel
like work is a joke, when you find yourself in that situation.
Solution: Unless
your boss approaches you for advice on how to improve his or her
leadership skills, you probably shouldn’t offer any recommendations on
how he or she can improve. At this juncture, you’re probably better off
looking for a job with a boss you can get behind.
4. Your coworkers are unpleasant
Sometimes the pay and type of work
don’t matter so long as you have a great set of coworkers. The people
who work at a particular company often are the make-or-break factor in
whether your job is tolerable, or even rewarding. When you’re stuck
among unpleasant colleagues, it’s difficult to get sufficiently
motivated to do anything productive.
Solution: If you
don’t like the work or the pay, it may be time to look for another
position. If you love the work and don’t want to leave just because a
few people give you sour looks, change your attitude or work on conflict resolution within the office.
“We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” – Oprah
The outcome of your efforts isn’t going to be certain, but it’s worth a try to keep a job you love.
