What Makes Us Feel Good About Our Work? Insights and Actionable Advice

What Makes Us Feel Good About Our Work? Insights and Actionable Advice

Introduction:
Feeling good about our work is essential for motivation and fulfillment. In this article, we will explore various findings and learnings from different sources that shed light on what truly makes us feel good about our work. By understanding these insights, we can make informed decisions to improve our own work experiences. Additionally, we will provide three actionable advice that can help enhance our satisfaction and motivation in the workplace.

Finding 1: Acknowledging Effort and Performance
One common finding is that shredding someone's effort or ignoring their performance can easily take away joy and meaning from their work. It doesn't matter how much a person loves what they do; if their efforts are not recognized or appreciated, their motivation can suffer. Therefore, it is important to give credit where it's due and acknowledge the hard work and dedication of individuals.

Finding 2: Valuing Personal Effort
People tend to value what they put effort into more than something that is externally evaluated. The more effort they invest, the more they value their work, assuming that others would value it as well. This finding highlights the importance of recognizing the personal investment individuals make in their work and considering it when evaluating or appreciating their contributions.

Finding 3: The Importance of Meaning
Meaning plays a significant role in our work satisfaction. Even if the meaning is small, it can make a difference in how we perceive our work. Research has shown that breaking things in front of people's eyes can crush any joy they could derive from an activity. Therefore, it is crucial to invest time, energy, and effort in helping people find meaning in what they do. Ignoring their performance is almost as detrimental as shredding their effort.

Finding 4: Effort and Connection
When tasks are too easy or require no effort, people struggle to feel a connection to their work. This is exemplified by the cake mix experiment, where removing the need to add eggs and milk decreased the sense of ownership and connection individuals felt towards the final product. Putting effort into our work helps us feel a stronger connection and pride in what we do.

Finding 5: Customer Focus and Innovation
In Jeff Bezos' letter to shareholders, he emphasizes the importance of obsessive customer focus in maintaining Day 1 vitality. Customers are always seeking something better, even if they report being satisfied. By constantly striving to delight customers and invent on their behalf, businesses can stay relevant and avoid the decline associated with Day 2.