it's the boss, silly

It's interesting to note the surprise with which a new survey by VitalSmarts, a provider of training services and products, reports that the most common reason employees surveyed gave for leaving or wanting to leave a firm was NOT an unreasonable workload, unacceptable work hours or low pay. It was having to deal with a disagreeable boss. The study found that more than 50 percent of survey respondents said a disagreeable boss was their number-one reason for leaving their workplaces.

Even more interesting is the fact that the same survey notes that only one in five respondents attempted to explain their concerns with their boss. The VitalSmarts folks assert that the problem is that we've become a work culture unable to handle any confrontation, even between co-workers or peers. That may be so, but the lesson about satisfying work that I take away from this survey is that knowing the PEOPLE you will be working with at your "dream job" are people you can collaborate with is as important, if not more important, than seeking a job where the CONTENT of your work is as you've always imagined it. It's very possible to love the work you do and detest who you do it for and with.

career change quiz

If you've promised yourself this will be the year you change careers, take this quiz over at Curt Rosengren's site before you plunge ahead. A little knowledge is a good thing.

if you're not going to recycle at work...

You might as well play this game on break to improve your aim with the circular file.

underworked = unhappy

Despite the common lottery fantasies that focus on kissing off the boss, and the office life, forever, it appears that the employees who consider themselves as having "much too little" work at their jobs are the least satisfied, according to a recent workload satisfaction survey by Sirota Survey Intelligence.

Even more amazing than the fact that the under-busy employees were unhappy was that the slightly overworked employees were the second most satisfied group (according to their own self-rating on both survey items). While workload isn't the sole indicator of satisfaction, it's interesting to note that there seems to be a happy medium of optimal workload that keeps people productive and satisfied.

five rules for better meetings

Many people's dream job would be several steps closer to reality if they didn't have to sit through pointless meetings in their current job. David Bastone, again, says it best at Right Reality in this entry.

I'm of the opinion that one of the most crucial skills of leadership is running an efficient meeting. I think his third and fourth rules are especially important: I've found my main task as a meeting leader is keeping everyone focused on the agenda (sometimes it's all the work!), and it is true that if "power corrupts, PowerPoint corrupts absolutely."

As far as I'm concerned, PPT should be ditched from all presentations where a visual element isn't essential. And giving them as handouts during your talk in the meeting? Only do it if you want them to read instead of listen. Tip: if you want them to remember what you say, rehearse. And give your meeting mates notes afterward, not during.

not so small change...

David Bastone at Right Reality blog sent readers of his e-zine, Worthwhile and Gain (WAG), a link to a great article published last year by the Stanford Social Responsibility Review. Titled "The Tempered Radicals," this article by Debra Meyerson talks about a set of long-term corporate employees who have found ways to shift companies a little closer to their own value system.

It's an inspiring look at how you can make work satisfying without even leaving your current job. It's also interesting to read about the people Meyerson profiles in the article, who often find a "third way" between corporate kow-towing and independent rebellion.

your job in 2015

HR gurus at Veritude have published an article about life in the office in 2015. Predictions include more diversity in workspace arrangements, as well as in how corporations are put together.

As the writer warns us, "The wildcards are numerous, so preparation is key." Indeed.

one way to solve a commuting problem...

...but not likely to go over well in the U.S.!

Four women from Al-Baha province in south-west Saudi Arabia have decided to marry an Islamic man (polygamy is legal there) who is their driver and all live together in the village where they teach. The teachers will avoid a tiring daily commute and will pay their new husband a portion of their salary.

You can read the entire (brief) article here.