One of the most overlooked elements of job satisfaction is the correlation of our personal values to the interaction of our job. But values shift throughout our lives based on moments in time, who is most important in our lives in those moments, our interests, and a host of other ideals. Those values can be critical for feeling a level of satisfaction or disconnect. Who we work for, work with, and the work culture feed our values or deprive us and can initiate feelings of disconnect.
Several years back my family dynamic changed. Loved my job, but suddenly I was missing key moments in my daughter’s life and my job satisfaction plummeted. I made a decision that I had to find a new position because I wasn’t going to continue down that path. She was more important. I made an appointment with my boss, shared my dilemma of enjoying my job but not being willing to sacrifice those once in a lifetime moments. I believed I needed to resign. In a turn of events, my boss shared how much I was valued and that I didn’t need to make a decision to leave. My boss helped me to understand a different perspective of leadership for both of us. It enabled me to manage my own values more effectively and pay attention to the leadership or organizational values going forward.
Assessing values require that we evaluate what we really want, what is most important to us and to look at all of the angles before we jump ships, take on new roles, or give up. Too often emotions drive us to react, but we take action blindly without assessing what is at the core. What is at the core of your values? Undecided what direction you are going? Contact me.