Job Crafting = Job Satisfaction

Spring is an exciting time of year.  

I love the change of season and the promise of warmer weather.  

I also love that spring means the possibility of change in my profession too. 

Every spring, a list of jobs is sent out via email to all teachers employed by our school board. They are a list of new and renewed leadership positions.  

On this list are jobs that never existed before. Others are updated or changed.  

You need at least 5-years of teaching experience to apply, and you must submit your resume and interview for each job you apply for.  

As a person who loves change and growth, I find the opportunity to apply for a new role within the profession to be exciting. Even if you’re not unhappy at work, you can begin to dream of a different path. 

More than anything, it prevents the feeling of being stuck in a tedious routine. It shakes things up. 

There is also so little to lose. Most of these jobs are 1 or 4-year commitments with the promise of returning to your original job once the contract is fulfilled. So, if you hate it, it is a short time-commitment. If you love it, you can always reapply. 

While I find this to be a perk in our organization, I know others don’t necessarily want to change their jobs like I do. At the same time, I do believe most people want a feeling of rejuvenation or knowing that their job has meaning and purpose, which is ultimately what I am aiming for. 

Luckily, we all don’t have to change jobs to get it.  

A lot of the meaning and purpose we find in our jobs has more to do with mindset and less about the job itself. This was found in a study of hospital cleaning crews. 

Researchers found that the cleaners who reported their job as being unsatisfying or low skilled, mostly completed the tasks they were assigned. They found their daily routine to be boring and tedious.  

On the other hand, the group of cleaners that found their job meaningful and highly skilled, completed tasks that gave them a sense of purpose. In addition to their regular cleaning tasks, these employees paid attention to the emotional states of patients, as well as the flow of visitors, and then spent time with people who needed comfort and support. They crafted their job. 

People who ‘job craft’ find ways to redefine their jobs to maximize engagement and increase their satisfaction. They reframe how they perceive things and consciously change their day-to-day approach to work. 

Now, I’m not suggesting that every job can make you happy or fulfilled by just changing your mindset, but I am suggesting that every job can have purpose.  

As a challenge this week, consider your job and how you can add more meaning to it. It doesn’t have to be a big change; it can be something as small as monitoring the flow of visitors and giving a little attention to patients who aren’t receiving any, just like the cleaners did.  

Everyone will ‘job craft’ differently because what gives one person a feeling of purpose is not the same as another. What is important is finding what works for you. 

Best wishes, Lauren