Job satisfaction: 7 ways to improve it
We all want to enjoy a good level of well-being, whether in our personal lives or at work.
Job satisfaction is one of the variables that companies should value most, since having happy workers increases the productivity and results of the organization.
How to improve job satisfaction
Job satisfaction is a phenomenon that has many causes. For example, the individual’s expectations about employment but also the policies carried out by the company. Therefore, to be well in our employment, it is necessary that both we and our company take actions to improve it.
Whether on the part of the company or the workers, how can job satisfaction be improved? In the following lines we explain it.
1. Doing what we like
Work is too important a part of our life, so being well will influence our day to day . For example, if we are sad because we don’t like the job we have, this is more likely to affect, for example, our interpersonal relationships, whether it be our partner or our friends.
Work is very much related to our personal development, and therefore it is important to reflect on what we want in this life and what we want to dedicate ourselves to. Once we have done this work of self-knowledge, we must fight for what we want, because we only live once. Being happy at work and in what we do is, without a doubt, one of the keys to our general well-being.
- If you want to know more about how to improve your personal development, you can read our article “Personal Development: 5 reasons for self-reflection”
2. Good relationship with co-workers
The work climate is very important when it comes to a worker’s well-being in a job, and according to studies, one of the variables that most influences the well-being of workers is their relationship with their colleagues.
In fact, research shows that teamwork improves company and worker performance, as you can see in our article “The 5 benefits of teamwork”, but it is also a protective factor against stress, and that is why it is considered one of the most important factors in workers’ occupational health.
3. Seeking balance between work and personal life
Being well at work also has to do with having a rich life outside of it, and, of course, finding a balance in our responsibilities within the company we work for and outside of it. If we have children, for example, being able to combine work and personal life will help us to be happier. So will having pleasant activities outside the place where we work.
Businesses can provide facilities for workers in these areas, and carry out strategies that enable their workers to have a better work-life balance. For example, by giving greater flexibility in schedules .
4. Good relationship with superiors
The leadership style of the bosses also seems to influence the stress levels of the workers, that is, their well-being . Therefore, for them to be satisfied at work the relationship with their superiors should not be bad. In our article “Types of Leadership: The 5 most common types of leaders” we already talked about the fact that leaders are very important agents within an organisation, as they influence others, for better or for worse.
- Scientific studies show that the leadership style that most benefits the well-being of workers is transformational leadership. If you want to know more, you can read our article “Transformational leadership: what is it and how to apply it to teams?
5. Fair remuneration
While money is not everything when it comes to choosing a job, it is a factor that is always taken into account, since we live in a very demanding world, and basic needs must be met. Furthermore, people, when we earn less than we think we deserve, may not be well off at work . This is why fair remuneration is key to enjoying greater well-being at work, and therefore, greater satisfaction.
6. Development opportunity
Another factor that positively affects job satisfaction is the possibility of development . We can spend many years in a company, and it is always good to be able to grow within it. In this sense, companies that offer training and the possibility of developing within the company enjoy greater well-being among their workers, who feel valued and useful.
7. Recognition of performance
Often, feeling useful in a company is one of the factors that most motivates workers . Therefore, it is good to let them know that their performance is correct and even good. Some companies only remember workers when things are not going well, and in fact, it is good to have regular meetings with workers to let them know what their level of performance is and thus give them feedback on how they are performing.