What's Wrong with Work?: The 5 Frustrations of Work and How to Fix them for Good

When Work Works

Note

"I think I am in my dream job at the moment. I want to feel I am making a difference and in this job I do. Being able to make that difference has a massive impact on my well being, my life satisfaction. I really feel we are going to achieve our ambitions and that is a fantastic goal to aim towards."

Jane Ginnever, HR Manager

Wouldn't it be great to be able to say that about your job? To wake up every day looking forward to the challenges ahead, even though they may be tough? But what does it take to feel that way about your work? What kind of company succeeds in creating a culture where work is a joy? And why would those companies bother to prioritize staff happiness?

If we were able to fix everything that is wrong with work, work could really work for us. It could provide us with meaning and fulfilment of the kind Jane describes. It could bring us happiness and a sense of worth. Clearly, that would be great for us as individuals. But the question remains – why would our employer care?

In this chapter I hope to get you excited about how work could be a more fulfilling and enjoyable experience for you and your colleagues, and explain why this is good for business. The rest of the book will focus on specific areas of work which could really benefit from a shake-up and give you some ideas about how to bring about change in small or dramatic ways. But unless you can picture what a great working environment would look like, and convince yourself that such a working environment ...