I’m delighted to say that I love my work, which is all about helping you feel better about yours. I guide and mentor mid-career professionals who want more meaning and fulfilment at work. According to Gallop, I have years of work ahead of me. They report that 87% of workers worldwide “are emotionally disconnected from their workplaces”!
Over the last 15 years they have polled a total of 25 million employees in 189 different countries, and their findings show that the world’s workforce is largely unfulfilled. The majority of those, 63%, are “not engaged”. In other words there is no real commitment to their employer or the work they do. Almost a quarter, 24% are “actively disengaged” – meaning they’re plain disruptive at work.
It seems that only 13% of workers give a damn!
What kind of impact is it having on the world, if 87% of us have fallen out of love with our work?
I invite you to imagine for a minute a world where the majority of people loved what they did for a living. A world where individuals knew their work based values and were supported and rewarded for the work they did based on those values.
What might change if the world’s health practitioners and pharmacists valued their own health above all else? What might happen if the world’s food retailers cared deeply about nutrition and understood the true value of food? What might our communities look like if each and every person who worked in Governance had family, environment and education at the heart of their personal agenda? What if bankers knew the value of everything, not just money?
If you’re one of the 13%, I applaud you and would make a guess that you’re ‘fully engaged’ because you believe in what you’re doing and you feel your personal values are supported and rewarded.
Is it up to the world’s employers to ensure the rest of you are happy at work?
Sure, they have a part to play, but what if you are one of the world’s employers? Whose responsibility is it then? Who is going to make sure you’re living a life you love because you’re fully engaged in the work you do?
Whether you’re the floor sweeper or the CEO you are responsible for your happiness at work. I know that might be a hard pill to swallow, especially if you’re playing the blame game. I did that once; all it got me was a whole bunch of stress and ill health. Believe me, if you can take responsibility for your happiness at work and make some decisions about taking control back, you’ll be well on your way to being fully engaged!
If you’re one of the 87% and feeling stuck at work, then perhaps its time to ask yourself, “what will happen if I continue to place my happiness at work in the hands of my employer?”
If the best answer you come up with is “nothing”, then I invite you to ask yourself this “if nothing changes for me at work, how will I feel a year from now?”
My passion is that professionals know their work based values, and are honoured and rewarded for them. If changing the way you feel about work is important to you contact me to discuss how I can help you. I’d be delighted to be your champion!
Warmest,
Sandra