Most people are not happy at work. This statement is not my opinion, but rather the results of countless surveys and my own experience working with hundreds of organizations. Gallup’s 2013 State of the American Workplace recent report found that an alarming 70% of those surveyed either hate their jobs or are completely disengaged. Not even incentives and extra perks can extricate them from the working man’s blues.
Similarly, at SHIFT, the first step in our consulting process is to do a “Voice of the Employee” survey. This has uncovered the same results: employees are not happy, they don’t feel valued, they aren’t sure what’s expected of them, and they lack trust – in a major way.
The interesting thing about the 70% who aren’t happy (7 out of 10 of you reading this), the majority are unwilling to do anything about it. Whether this is a function of procrastination, fear, uncertainty, or lack of confidence - sticking it out is much more palatable than making a change. The big challenge with this isn’t just your own personal happiness, but it’s the havoc you are wrecking on your organization’s culture. Whether you realize it or not, what you are “putting down,” is being “picked up” by others. It’s only a matter of time….more on this later.
Here are the 6 signs that it is time for you to find a new job:
1. When you talk to your friends and family, they ask you “if things are better at work.” This is a sure sign you are complaining to your friends and family at an alarming rate.
2. When asked to take on a new project, you are about as excited as a vegan eating dinner at Ruth’s Chris.
3. You find yourself doing anything BUT what will contribute most to your organization: this could be anything from forming meaningless relationships with co-workers to surfing the web 90% of your day.
4. You do the minimum required to keep your job and justify that this is ok in your head. It’s sort of like the quote from the late George Carlin, “Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit.”
5. You are looking for a job while at your job.
6. You have formed a “tribe of disgruntled people” at work that feel exactly like you do.
When you’ve experienced these 6 things, it’s time to GET OUT. Chances are that you don’t have a background in theatre, aren’t trained as an actor, and probably wear your emotions on your sleeve…regularly. It’s only a matter of time before your boss makes a decision for you. Right now, your future is in your own hands so do yourself and everyone else a favor: look for a new career that EXCITES you so much you jump out of bed in the morning and become one of the 30% of those HAPPY at work.
Once you are there, call us, we will help you take those next steps to happiness.