If your job causes illness, has a bad workplace culture, involves discrimination, or doesn’t provide a living wage, prioritize quitting and actively seek a better opportunity for your well-being.
Redesign aspects of your work to align with your personal strengths and values, and to amplify your sense of meaning and engagement, rather than just accepting your job description.
If you earn a reasonable wage, do not solely pursue higher salaries for happiness, as money beyond a living wage has little effect on emotional well-being and can be a misdirected effort.
Do not choose a job solely based on a high salary, especially if you anticipate disliking the work, to prevent feeling trapped in a well-paying but unsatisfying career.
Actively look for or create opportunities in your work to have a positive impact on the lives of other people, even a small one, as this intrinsic motivation is crucial for job satisfaction.
Seek out jobs or tasks that offer intellectual engagement, variety in duties, and stimulating challenges, as these intrinsic rewards make work more fulfilling and enjoyable.
Use empathy and appropriate humor to transform potentially embarrassing or unpleasant interactions with clients or colleagues into positive experiences, bringing comfort and connection to your work.
Look for opportunities to go beyond your formal job description to positively impact others, even in small, unconventional ways, as this can help you find deeper meaning in your work.
When job crafting, ensure your efforts align with your core responsibilities and contribute to organizational goals, rather than pursuing unrelated personal interests.
Cultivate a positive attitude towards your work, as research suggests this mindset, combined with job crafting, can transform any job into a fulfilling calling.
As a manager, foster an environment where employees feel trusted and important, and grant them more autonomy to leverage their strengths, as this fosters engagement and improves job attractiveness.
As a manager, recognize that employees are likely already job crafting; choose to openly facilitate and encourage this behavior to foster a more engaged and productive workforce.