December 23rd, 2009 in Featured, Management

10 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Job

Take a moment for a reality check. Ask yourself these questions – how many positive answers do you get?

1. Is what I do really worthwhile? In other words: Does my work make a difference to people? Does it help people? Am I adding something of value to the world? Doing something worthwhile makes us feel worthwhile and can compensate for other shortcomings in the position.

2. Do I enjoy my job? Do you you get a buzz from what you do?

3. Am I learning? If you are still developing and learning in the job then it is an investment of your time. If you have stopped learning and are repeating experiences then it may be time for a change.

4. Does this job lead to somewhere I want to go? Is this experience useful in preparing you for something else you might want to do?

5. Am I well paid? On an objective assessment are you fairly compensated for what you contribute?

6. Do I get on with my boss? A difficult boss can make your time at work miserable. If you answer this question “no”, then see the article ‘What to do if you do not get on with your boss.’

7. Do I get on with my colleagues? A good social environment and friendly workmates can make up for many other problems at work.

8. Am I empowered to be creative and do things my way? This is more important for some people than others. Does it matter for you?

9. Is my work/life balance acceptable? Most people would like more time with their families but work is demanding so they accept some kind of balance. Are you getting at least the minimum free time you need to live your life?

10. Is my job title prestigious? This really matters to some people but is irrelevant to others. Do you feel proud when you tell people where you work and what you do?

The more yes answers the better. How many did you get? Now rank the questions in importance for you. For some people doing something really worthwhile is most important while others place greater value on working with friends in a sociable atmosphere. Compare the yes answers and the no answers. Do the positive answers outweigh the negatives in number and importance? For example it might be fine to work in a low paid job if it is important to you that you gain the right experience.

If you have few positive answers and they are not in your top priorities then you should do some soul-searching about what you really want out of life and whether it is time to look for a better job.

Paul Sloane

Paul Sloane is an author and speaker on leadership, innovation and lateral thinking. His most recent book is The Innovative Leader. He helps organizations improve innovation, creativity and leadership. He is the founder of Destination Innovation. He has written 15 books of lateral thinking puzzles and hosts the lateral puzzles forum.Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/PaulSloane.

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DanQ says on December 23rd, 2009 at 10:33 am
#6 should read if your answer to this is ‘No’, then read this article
G.N.R.S.U says on December 23rd, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I like my job,though it is a little hard to manage~~
Irene says on December 23rd, 2009 at 2:27 pm
just read this post and quit my job, 10 minutes ago actually :)
I had about 50%/0% pro and contra arguments, and was very confused. I knew it is a right decision by was a bit blocked by fears.
this list helped me to focus on my priorities. thanks a lot! so helpful!!
Rob says on December 23rd, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Big decisions are always scary no matter what’s going on in the world, but:
(1) If you can get another job, get another job and hand in your notice.
(2) If you aren’t sure you can get another job quickly, but can afford to be without a job for a few weeks/months, quit ASAP.
(3) I always try to identify the worst case scenario, decide if I can live with it, and move forward.
mary says on December 23rd, 2009 at 10:00 pm
I quit my job eight weeks and have had no regrets. I believe had I stay a second longer,I would have had an emotional breakdown. Now there’s that fear of not finding another job. It is scary at times. But forward I go.
S A says on December 24th, 2009 at 12:57 am
I got all No’s :(
Arvindh Sundararajan says on December 24th, 2009 at 2:04 am
I wish I could break free from the manacles of society (read as Indian Parents & In-Laws) and do what I want to do. But at times, it seems that all I am “allowed” to do is suck it up, put up with it because it is the more.. “responsible & adult” thing to do. I do agree that stability and conformity are highly appreciated and valued, but at what cost?
Hogzilla says on December 24th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
IMOO…
Money can be a trap which keeps people in jobs that they do not like. It can be a real challenge to walk away when the pay is good (no matter how bad the job is). Very valid points above and hopefully they can help people think objectively about their situation and possible options.
Leo Tang says on December 27th, 2009 at 12:32 am
It’s good to reflect what our work’s ultimate purpose, so we can drive ourselves deep in our heart. Family responsibility is one of our working goal, which is given (to spouse u choose, the offspring u have, and the parents/relatives who brought u up), but still the much deeper ultimate goal is to bring them happiness.
sayish khan says on December 30th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
m have a good experiuns 2 work hard. and satisfy with myself. but u r right ………but this time i have no ans of your qustion….!
JonK says on January 1st, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Mary, your comments are so true. I put off leaving a job that was mentally killing me and guess what now that I have eventually left, I am still replaying the “what if I did this” scenarios in my head, believe me it aint worth it and I wish I had followed what Rob has mentioned in his post all those years ago.
Marquez van Hinten says on January 6th, 2010 at 8:25 am
There are a few question which make sense but does something like “Is my job prestigious?” really matter? Actually u are right – there are a lot of people nowadays who really care about that and the social environment is questioning ur job these days. I think this is kinda sad and its getting even more worse in the future.
M.