High Pressure Jobs Not Always The Worst!

Workers want to feel they're making a difference

Jobs with constant pressure, monotony or danger aren't necessarily the ones most likely to drive employees up the wall and out the door, suggest studies just released. The least productive and most unhappy workers are those who feel threatened, frustrated by a lack of resources to do the job well and have no sense of how their efforts benefit other, according to psychologists. Even in mega-stress jobs, bosses can motivate workers to give their best, according to research just presented at the American Psychological Assocation meeting in Washington, D.C. "You need to know your work is making a difference, and for whom," says Adam Grant of the University of Michigan.  Firefighters who say they're motivated to works by economic need or excitement are much less satisfied than those who say they're driven by "making a difference in people's lives", Grant says. Personal contact with beneficiaries seems to make people happier and boost performance.  Cafeteria line workers are significantly happier than those who do "back kitchen" tasks, Grant's studies show.  Line workers like to see the happy customers, who are missed by those in the back. In other reports to be presented at the meeting: 1.  Workers who excercise vigorously are most committed to their jobs. 2.  Feelings of hope about achieving job-related goals correlate with good worker health. 3.  In the military, high morale is linked to a feeling among soldiers that they're doing meaningful work and have confidence in fellow soldiers and leaders (according to a study of peacekeepers in Kosovo). Source:  USA Today ... Marilyn Elias -- August 18, 2005

Return

Main Menu | Order Products | More Info |