Many people would say that the number one contributor to their career satisfaction is the size of their paychecks. While money definitely talks, it only says so much. Payday anticipation can make us happy for only so long if it is offset by the day-to-day realities of a bad career choice. People also list short commutes and a lighter work load as items high on the list of things that contribute to workplace happiness.
But money, drive time and a smaller to-do list aren’t the top three elements that Malcolm Gladwell cites in his book, Outliers: The Story of Success. They are:
- Autonomy – Workers have the freedom and independence to shape how they work. The tasks may be defined for them, but the steps they take toward completing are mostly their own.
- Complexity – The jobs must be complicated and challenging enough to keep workers engaged and interested.
- Connection Between Effort & Reward – Workers can expect to eventually see the fruits of their labor. This is not necessarily a monetary gain, since rewards in the form of recognition are also meaningful.
Are you satisfied at work?