FeistyFemale

22/02/2007 In Entrepreneurship, Perspective by feistyfemale

Today I was wondering whether you truly get a “happy, completely satisfied employee”. As a business owner it has dawned on me that no matter how nicely you treat your staff, how well you pay them, and how many times you assist them - they are just never ever happy. (and you always end up hearing the bitching)

Imagine the following scenario, to imagine why unhappy employees (with no real cause for unhappiness) frustrate employers:

You are a business owner. You started out because you had the guts, the ambition, and the dream for a company. You took ALL the risk - financially, emotionally and intellectually. Everything you are and everything you have is on the line. You want to make a difference or a contribution to society by providing other individuals with work (no matter how shitty you as employee think that work is - it is a job somebody else is bound to need or want).

As a business owner you need to balance all aspects of the business - financial issues and needs, staffing issues and needs, marketing the company, quality assurance, customer service levels, management of daily projects and tasks. You as business owner need control in every regard. Rather overwhelming if you add unexpected hicups and events, company growing problems, bitching staff, and complaining clients. And let’s face it at some stage you will have one or all of these problems or issues to deal with - it’s called business, even management. So trying to balance all these aspects is of crucial importance to any business’s survival - compromise on one and it influences the other.

As an employee it is a totally different story. Employees have to ensure that they complete their daily tasks and what is expected of them. I would imagine that the main focus of any “average” employee is ensuring that they don’t work drastic overtime, or in the very least see to it that all the basics labour legislation is adhered to by the employer. More so these average employees always believe that they are entitled to more pay and getting better benefits. And even if you give it to them - they end up bitching about something else.

I used the term average because I know that there are truly amazing employees out there!

But my point is this:

Essentially the type of employee you are depends on your personality and your motivation for doing what you do. No matter what you earn, what the benefits or what the position or rank you have - none of that will make you enthusiastic about your job long term. They can certainly act as a temporary incentive - but that only lasts for a short lived moment. If you have any type of pride in yourself or your work, you will be enthusiastic and more positive in what you do. (this is a general life principle)

I am a firm believer that how you do the job reflects on your entire personality.

In addition if you wish to be successful and advance in your career then no matter what position you hold or what industry you are in the following applies: If you want to truly stand out above the rest - you need to perform. You need to add value to that company. And you need to add value to yourself by living out your potential and really doing the best that you can.

Don’t sit there and think that you deserve the position or job that you have - you don’t. You don’t deserve a single thing in this world. There is always somebody better, faster and more efficient. Your job is to work as hard as you can and do the best that you can while you are in that job or position.