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.