Job Satisfaction: 7 Ways to Improve It

Several factors influence the way we value our well-being at work.

We all want to enjoy a good level of well-being, both in our personal lives and at work.

Job satisfaction is one of the variables that companies should value the most, since having happy workers increases the organization's productivity and results.

How to improve job satisfaction

Job satisfaction is a phenomenon that has many causes. For example, the individual's expectations about the job but also the policies carried out by the company. Therefore, to be well in our job, it is necessary that both we and our company carry out actions to improve it.

Either on the part of the company or on the part of the employees, how can job satisfaction be improved? In the following lines we explain it to you.

1. Doing what we like

Work is a very important part of our life, so being well is going to influence our day-to-day life.. For example, if we are sad because we do not like the occupation we have, it is more likely that this will affect, for example, our interpersonal relationships, whether it is our partner or our friends.

Work is closely related to our personal development, and therefore, it is important to reflect on what we want in this life and what we want to dedicate ourselves to. Once we have done this work of self-knowledge, we must fight for what we want, because we only live once. Being happy at work and in what we do is undoubtedly one of the keys to our overall well-being.

• If you want to know more about how to improve your personal development, you can read our article "Personal Development: 5 reasons for self-reflection".

2. Good relationship with co-workers

The work environment is very important for a worker to feel good in a job, and according to studies, one of the variables that most influences the well-being of workers is the relationship with co-workers.

In fact, research shows that teamwork improves the performance of the company and workers, as you can see in our article "The 5 benefits of teamwork", but it is also a protective factor against stress, and is therefore considered one of the most important factors in the occupational health of workers.

3. Finding a balance between work and personal life

Being good at work also has to do with having a rich life outside of it, and, of course, in finding a balance in our responsibilities within the company where we work and outside of it. If we have children, for example, being able to combine work and personal life will help us to be happier. So will having pleasurable activities outside the workplace.

Companies can make it easier for workers in this type of matters, and implement strategies that allow their employees to have a better work-life balance. For example, by providing greater flexibility in schedules..

4. Good relationship with superiors

The leadership style of managers also seems to influence the stress levels of employees, i.e. their well-being.. Therefore, for them to be satisfied at work, the relationship with their superiors must not be bad. In our article "Types of Leadership: The 5 most common types of leaders" we already mentioned that leaders are very important agents within an organization, as they influence others, for better or worse.

• Scientific studies show that the leadership style that most benefits the well-being of workers is transformational leadership. If you want to know more, you can read our article "Transformational leadership: what is it and how to apply it to teams?"

5. Fair compensation

Although money is not everything when it comes to choosing a job, it is a factor that is always taken into account, since we live in a very demanding world, and it is necessary to cover basic needs. In addition, when people are paid less than we think we deserve, we may not be doing well at work.. That is why fair remuneration is key to greater well-being at work, and therefore, greater satisfaction.

6. Opportunity for development

Another factor that positively affects job satisfaction is the opportunity for development.. We can spend many years in a company, and it is always good to be able to grow within it. In this sense, companies that offer training and the opportunity to develop within the company, enjoy greater well-being among their workers, who feel valued and useful.

7. Recognition of performance

Often, feeling useful in a company is one of the most motivating factors for workers.. Therefore, it is good to let them know that their performance is correct and even good. Some companies only remember workers when things are not going well, and in reality, it is good to have regular meetings with workers to let them know what their performance level is and give them feedback on how they are performing.