The way that we work has evolved time and again over the years. This is especially true in the digital era. With more instantaneous access to information and data, it makes sense that, naturally, the world would evolve with it. Of course that includes the professional landscape. The more advanced we become as a species, the more we are able to explore who we are, what we want and what is most important to us. In the way of the business landscape, most recent is the rise of employees choosing to leave jobs that do not give them fulfilment or purpose.
In the middle of last year, the rising trend of quitting jobs in pursuit of more balance in one's life hit an all-time high. Ever since it has snowballed into a phenomenon that continues today. The leap of faith to pursue one's own successful business and not the success of anyone else's business has become an international shift. This much we know. Getting to the bottom of why employee purpose and satisfaction is more essential than ever is about understanding why this has happened and how it continues to become more popular a career decision.
More people are pursuing purpose & satisfaction at work
One article from The New York Times showcases the fact that since August of last year, the number of individuals quitting their jobs soared. More and more people have come to recognise that a job serving others is not worth it if that particular job does not fulfil them as an individual. Further, there has been a lot of buzz surrounding the fact that not only are people quitting unfulfilling jobs more than ever, but they often end up earning far more as a result. With more tools at their disposal than ever, career-driven individuals are investing in building a career for themselves before anyone else.
More than ever, individuals are recognising that leaving their job does not mean that they cannot earn more elsewhere. In many ways, we have always known this subconsciously. However there is an interesting shift because it directly effects not just the individuals choosing to quit, but both the job they leave and the one they take on next. With more and more individuals around the world quitting their jobs after recognising that there are greener pastures elsewhere, there has been a significant focus for businesses on how to evolve with the times.
There are many businesses that are still grappling with how to do this. And the seemingly ever-rising numbers of individuals choosing to leave their jobs rather than stay in unfulfilling or unhealthy workplaces is stark warning to those businesses that refuse to embrace this new (and long overdue) era in business.
How the pandemic played into this global shift
The pandemic absolutely played a role. Having life as we have known it thrown into uncertain chaos, suddenly having more time to explore what is most important to each of us, has of course played into the decision of millions around the world to leave jobs that were unfulfilling. Spending more time at home and having to get to know what we truly want and what we genuinely value has allowed for far more time than usual to reflect and put ourselves first. Everyone has gone through these motions in one way or another. For many people around the world, it has been for the purpose of deciding if they want to go back to their jobs or pursue new avenues professionally.
The pressures on many traditionally bound businesses to (at least temporarily) cease their usual day-to-day operations obviously caused those same businesses to embrace the remote work framework - many of which are doing so for the first time. Facing the realisation that the workplace standards prior to the pandemic are no longer desirable or even acceptable has created room for businesses to grow and evolve in healthy directions that allow for more purpose-driven work for their employees. The businesses that are willing and able to live up to (and exceed) the new ideal standards for their employees are the very same businesses that are going to ultimately come out on top - as they should.
The importance of businesses finding the balance
We all know that there is nothing more frustrating and uninspiring than doing a job simply because you have to. Now that there is more focus on doing fulfilling work that genuinely satisfies us, people are taking the futures of their careers to new heights by simply taking their careers into their own hands (in many cases, quite literally). And while it is true that the fulfilment and passion of employees for their work should not necessarily rest on their employer, there is something important to be said about the fact that as a business owner, you are only as good as the people that you have around you.
With this in mind, it has never been more important for businesses to find the balance. Doing this can be overwhelming. Even frustrating. However it is an instrumental shift in employer operations that is going to set apart the businesses that refuse to modernise and embrace this new era in business; an era that is focused entirely on individuals doing jobs that inspire and fulfil them. Because if nothing else, we all know that we do our best work when we are inspired and satisfied. And what could be better for both employees and employers? Ultimately it is in the best interest of the employer, as well as employees, to work hard to set standards that promote and prioritise workplace purpose and satisfaction for everyone on the team, not just the boss.
How to stand out as a leader in employee satisfaction
There are so many ways to stand out as a leader in employee satisfaction and to draw the attention of the right people for your team. It starts with the hiring process. Transparency and inspiration should be the cornerstones for any hiring process and yet this is often where businesses fall short. Now that is finally beginning to change. By investing in creating an upholding a hiring process that aims to give both the candidate and the interviewer a clear idea of what to expect from the role, the company culture and the general expectations, employers can start off putting their best foot forward. In turn, they will naturally create an introductory environment that inspires and makes candidates genuinely want to be there before they have even got the job.
There is a huge importance on having the best tools at your disposal. Investing in apps and tools that add value to your workplace and the work days of employees was once a suggested benefit. Now it is an essential investment. Quite simply, the more efficient that you can make your workplace environment for your employees, the more purpose-filled they become. Similarly, having apps like Slack Forms and Slack Scheduler prioritises convenience which obviously allows employees the opportunity to get into a healthy, balance routine. These are just a few examples of how businesses can promote and prioritise employee purpose with ease.
Final thoughts
Like so many aspects of life in recent years, the way that we work is changing rapidly. For the businesses that are at the forefront of the transformation into creating the right work environment for the right people, the rewards will be abundant and obvious. This is the dawn of a new era in business. It continues to become more focused on prioritising employee purpose and satisfaction all the time. This is truly just the start. The best and brightest of the business landscape is just getting off the ground. And with individuals being able to pursue and pour their hearts and souls into work that genuinely excites, inspires and fulfils them, what could be better for not just employees (and those that become their own bosses) but also the businesses that hire them to represent their companies?
