Two way, honest and close relationships
I am one of the believers in close and honest two way relationships. This are in my view the best relations even when it comes to work and being professional. This kind of relationships must be kept between you, the employee and the employer - the company.
What is a good job in my opinion?
My opinion is that a good job is a good balance between 3 factors: material benefits,
working environement, career opportunities. I believe that to be able to evaluate how good your job is, means from time to time to give a grade for each of these factors, then sum them and divide by three. You can subdivide the three factors and make the same for each of them to obtain that factor's grade:
- material benefits - money and other material benefits
- working environement - conditions of work, relationships with
colleagues, management, your team, company policy etc -
- career opportunities
The 3 factors applied
Because, one very dear friend told me that in a blog I must come up with more of my experiences, and not only ideas, advices, todos. Following this observation, I must tell you how I came up with this way of thinking about a job. Some time ago, I realised I wasn't happy at the job I had, so like any conscius employee I started to look for the reasons of why this happens. I didn't leave instantly, but only after realising that maybe there was nothing that could be done to improve my, and my colleagues, situations.
Was this courage or cowerdness? Do I feel better now? Do they feel better now? For the last two questions the answers are yes.
What do others say?
Recently, I read a very interesting small article called
"Keeping your employees happy"
. The most interesting fact about this article is that is written by an employer. They have a list of things that an employer must do that I tried to divide from my "3 factors" point of view:
- Give your employees autonomy. - working environement - motivation
- Involve your employees in decisions. - working environement - motivation
- Help your employees to grow - career opportunities
- Actively support long term career growth. - career opportunities
- Promote your best employees. - all three
- Get out of your office. - working environement
- Recognize and reward the behavior you want to see repeated. -
working environement - motivation
- Say no when you mean no. - working environement - honesty
- Pay well - material benefits
I must congratulate her for encouriging employees to honestly tell their employers about the problems they have early and honestly. About encouriging feedback. About encouraging win-win situations between employee and employer.
Two way, honest and close relationships applied
Going back to my situation I must congratulate my employer for being the way he is. Should I congratulate myself and my colleagues also for contributing to maintaining this way of relationship, of working environement? Should we rest now, that everythiing is ok. By no means, no. A good relasionship is earned hard and is it based on trust. Maintaining it requires a big effort but it is deffinately worth it.
What to do?
When you are working in a company, the company has different means of showing you what their expetations are from you, what you need to do in order for them to be happy with you. So, if your company constantly tells you or hints you what to do to make them happy, maybe it is time to remind them how to make you happy. Show them honestly your grades. Show them at least the article mentioned above, and where you feel something could be done. Don't demand, speak openly and honestly,incourage a better two way relationship with your employer.
If communication is the main factor in a project's success or failure, and it must constanly be improved. Not in quantity but in quality. One aspect of this is your relationship with your employer. Most time, you need the courage to go forward and improve this communication, not just wait for the other side to make the first step.
Help your employer have a win-win situation with you. It is not always possible, but try first, keep trying , then maybe it is time to say goodbye, if the "3 factors" test fails. Courage is a great tool, just use it right.
Dan Bunea