Do You Love Where You Work?
Marshall Goldsmith
My latest project: MarshallGoldsmith.ai Ask me any question. Everything I know is available for free! | Thinkers50 Hall of Fame | #1 Executive Coach | #1 Leadership Thought Leader | #1 NYT Bestselling Author
What I’ve noticed in my travels from organization to organization is that there are many, many talent people who work at organizations where they were never a good “fit” or are no longer a fit at the company. The result is high turnover and lackluster employees. People may stay in their positions with no passion for what they do, unhappy, disengaged, and unmotivated, or they may leave and try to find another, better position at another company.
There is a way to shortcut this unhappy journey.
When you're considering taking a job or accepting a promotion, the key is to ensure not only that your skills and abilities match up with the needs of the organization, but that you fit well with the organization's culture. There are a couple of things to consider: the culture of the organization at large and that of the team of which you will be a member.
The following are a few suggestions offered for reducing the risks of becoming a casualty of cultural conflict:
- Know thyself. It is vital to understand yourself as fully as possible — especially your business-related beliefs and decision-making processes. It's also helpful to identify those aspects of different cultures that you relate to and those you don't. Write them down and refer to them as you gather data about the opportunities under consideration.
- Inquire about the culture at hand. Do people treat it as "that soft 'people' stuff?" That in itself tells you a great deal about where and with whom you will work.
- Use your network to verify what you have observed about the company's cultures. Former employees, suppliers, or consultants can shed light on what you will actually encounter. You can also ask to obtain permission to talk to a few potential peers, direct reports, maybe even your boss's boss. Think through the questions you want to ask about "how things get done around here" to get a sense of how much agreement there is about the makeup of the organization's culture.
Remember, while a new situation may seem like the perfect match, failing to fit adequately with the company cultures you encounter will increase your chances of not loving where you work. What's more, the higher up you go in any organization, the more important fit becomes — and the more difficult it is to recover from a situation that "just didn't work out."
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Freelance Trainer, Airport Ground Handling Tasks
8 年It is not quite obvious that one will get the correct information to make up his mind as to whether he has landed at the right organisation. Things change in life, at times the first ones become the last and the last ones become the first (like the traffic on the highway). The best attitude is to do your best and leave the rest. It is only those lucky few who get what they like. Threfore, if you do not get what you like, like what you get and you will achieve miracles. All preparations, learning and training should be gathered to face life and not mainly a job. This attitude will enable you to make the best out of the worst. Or as taught in management, to convert your weaknesses into strengths and to convert threats into opportunities . This is my humble contribution.
Total Rewards Specialist
8 年Great article ! I have to agree coming in as a new hire you will never learn the culture or hear that the performance appraisal system is a popularity contest one that I had to work with for 15 years. I am in such a wonderful healthy corporate environment I am in "AWE"!!!!!!
Performance & Growth Marketing | Paid Advertising | Customer Acquisition | Data Analysis
8 年Great post! Thanks Marshall. Havin g the courage to ask questions in the interview about the organization 's environment, the future of the industry/business, the management's attitude towards the employees etc. can help finding out more about their behavior in relation to important issues and whether we are a good fit.
Global Senior-Level Strategic UX Researcher, Innovation, Fintech/InsurTech, qualitative, quantitative & agile user research
8 年Thank you, Marshall. Another great very uselful way to study culture is to observe the organizational leaders...and their values. Do they walk the talk?
local coworker poverty (volunteer)
8 年At our work, we use each other's qualities, we latrn each in its value. .. We help each other - Do we have discussion - Can we laugh ... Are we honest & possitief ... We are working together and complement each other ... Going for a sustainable , High quality workplace .. ISO 9000 quality standards ..