Love is important in any relationship, whether it’s with friends, family or your significant other. So what about your relationship with work?
Some lucky people do love the place they work and the kind of work they do. As a result they feel satisfied and are highly productive and engaged. Love of work can be so strong that people may work, in a volunteer capacity or in the arts for little or no pay, just for the sheer enjoyment of it.
Loving what you do everyday is important to well-being and happiness. But too many employers, especially in a larger corporate environment, ignore this powerful element.
New employees, especially young people, join an organization with expectations the relationship will be a good one. They’re looking for many of the components sought in any relationship: honesty, good communication, feeling valued and respected, kindness, common interests, fun, creative discovery, loyalty, shared goals and common values. If they find these, it’s a great fit. When these are missing, employees can feel heartbreak and disappointment, even anger. Eventually they may become apathetic or look for a new place to fall in love with. Some may stay, disappointed but remaining hopeful, that somehow, with a new boss, or a new assignment the relationship will improve. Tapping into that potential for love requires an appreciation for how delicate and powerful a force it is in one’s work life. The savvy leader inherently knows this and keeps a close eye on employee expectations, emotions and needs, and nurtures the relationship with staff in all the ways a good friend or significant other does.
