How to Tell If You’re Happy at Work: That Sunday Evening Feeling
Are you satisfied with your job?
At first glance, this may seem like a straightforward question. However, throughout my coaching career, I've discovered that people often have trouble answering this because there are so many factors that come into play, such as:
Job duties
Compensation
Work-life balance
Relationships with colleagues, and
Respect and appreciation from management
If you’re happy with your responsibilities and your compensation, but your manager doesn’t give you the respect you deserve and you don’t see any room for growth, are you satisfied with your job?
Kinda? Sorta? Not really? Sometimes?
It’s hard to give a straight yes or no answer.
I’ve found a quick way to figure out if you’re happy at work is to think about how you feel on a Sunday evening as you prepare for the upcoming week.
If you’re excited to get back to your work family and tackle the challenges that lie ahead, you’re probably pretty happy with your job. On the other hand, if your Sunday evenings are filled with anxiety and dread, you’re almost certainly unhappy with your job. If those feelings continue for months on end, it is probably time to make a change.
If you manage a team, you may also want to take a minute to consider how they feel on Sunday evenings. Are you creating a work environment they’re excited to get back to? If not, what steps can you take to become a better leader and improve their job satisfaction?
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About The Author
Emily Sander is an ICF-certified leadership coach with more than 15 years of experience in the business world and the author of Hacking Executive Leadership. She’s been featured in several print publications, online articles, and podcasts, including CEO Today Magazine, Leading to Fulfillment, and Leadership Powered by Common Sense.
Emily has a passion for helping business leaders reach their full potential. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach. If you want to send Emily a quick message, then visit her contact page here.