How Do I Know if I'm Making a Good Choice of Workplace?

A recent article in the New York Times discusses new research, showing how the way our personal needs are met at work, relates to our job satisfaction and performance. What were some of the points you liked in this article?

The article identifies four “core needs” at work. We have physical needs, like the need to have breaks that give us the opportunity to recharge. We have emotional needs, such as needing to know that our boss appreciates us. Mental needs include being allowed to focus on our work without being constantly interrupted.Finally, and most importantly, the research demonstrates the importance of what it calls “spiritual” needs, such as being able to use the skills that matter most to us, and having work that is meaningful to us.The study found that “spiritual” needs turned out to be more important than any of the other core needs. So, if you’re passionate about and committed to your work-- if it has meaning to you beyond your paycheck—it’s more likely to be a good choice for you. The research also indicates that you’re more likely to experience that kind of enthusiasm if you’re doing work that you’re good at, that you enjoy, and that furthers your values.There’s now evidence showing that when employers make a real effort to meet the core needs of those who work for them, the employees not only stay at the company longer, but are more productive. I think that, to a large degree, we’ve been led to believe that employers have to choose between caring about their employees’ needs, and caring about the success of their business.For example, employers have been reluctant to offer their employees more flexible schedules, or give them more positive feedback, for fear that employees would be less motivated to work hard. Will you work as hard as you’re expected to, if someone isn’t constantly monitoring your schedule? Can praise be as motivating as criticism? Until recently, the answer to these questions has been “no.”However, now that we know the answer to each of these questions is “yes,” we realize that there doesn’t always have to be a conflict between your company’s needs and your own. We have at least some reason to hope that, over time, employers will become more focused on how to make the workplace a more satisfying place for their employees.

Can therapy help you find the direction that doesn’t just look good on paper, but is actually a good choice for you, as an individual?

It can. First of all, therapy can be really useful in helping you identify what your needs are. Are you someone who needs regular breaks and a fair amount of independence at work? How much does it matter to you that your boss appreciates your work? How important is it to you that your work has meaning and what does that look like for you? These are important things to know about yourself when you want to make a good choice of workplace.Then, when you go in for an interview, you have some sense of what you’re looking for and you can rule out the places that aren’t going to give you enough of those things to make the job worthwhile for you.In this economy, where it can be so difficult to find work, it may seem like you don’t have the luxury of looking for work that meets your needs. Sometimes that’s true, but often, I think, there’s more room for you to focus on what you need at work than you might think.For example, the Times article talks about how two warehouse stores, Costco and Sam’s Club, have completely different approaches to meeting their employees’ core needs. Costco retains a huge percentage of its employees because it consistently tries to meet its workers’ core needs. Sam’s Club doesn’t.From a distance, it might look like working in a warehouse store is working in a warehouse store—that it doesn’t make any difference which one you choose. But it turns out, you’re much more likely to feel engaged at work if you’re employed at Costco rather than at Sam’s Club.So, even in a situation where it looks like you don’t have a genuine choice, you do. And it’s important to make the choice that’s good for you, not for someone else. Therapy can help identify what that choice is, so you can make the right decision for your personal wellbeing.Can you increase self-confidence and find your path later in life? Click here to read the article. Click to learn more about finding your life path with Jane Rubin, Ph.D.