It’s hard to find relevant tips to increase job satisfaction during stressful times, especially when people are just concentrating on keeping their jobs.
Many people have this belief that you aren’t allowed to have fun and that fun causes you to be unproductive. The truth is, fun does work and it helps increase your job satisfaction so that you don’t dread coming to work every day.
Your stress builds after each media report about the recession. You start hearing whispers of a merger, layoff or the all encompassing “restructuring.” Your manager does not listen. Your customers don’t listen. The guy that sells sandwiches in the lobby does not listen. Maybe it is just easier to be a cranky.
We are all facing challenges. Today, the economy is our main concern. Tomorrow, there will be other obstacles. How do we continue to motivate and energize our employees during difficult times?
Here are four simple tips to increase job satisfaction, reduce your stress, and create a foundation to have more fun.
1. Be patient and positive in your tone of voice. Sounds simple, but a reassuring and patient tone in your voice will do wonders for teamwork and for helping reduce stress. You will rarely see a stressed, impatient person having fun.
2. Take a break. Again, a simple idea but something that has very real results. Ever try and assemble something from the store? Ever get frustrated? Ever throw the directions across the room in frustration? Stop, take a break, and then reassess.
3. Think about what makes a great day at work. The next time you have fun at work, take a moment to reflect. Write down what happened that made the day so great. What did you do? What did you say? You now have your “great day” list. You know what you need. Work toward it. Fun is different for everyone.
4. Ask for something that you need or want. If something is bothering you and causing stress, then speak up and say something. If you ask nicely, most people would be happy to oblige and help. They probably don’t even know their words or actions are bothering you.
For the entire article and more tips Visit Joel’s blog to read about more ways you can increase your job satisfaction at work and motivate each other to have fun. Fun helps create the energy and passion that fuels our productivity, creativity and ultimately, our job satisfaction. To learn more about how to increase job satisfaction, read Make The Right Choice, Joel's book on an individual's power to affect change in the workplace.
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