Why you choose your workplace

Whether we realise it or not, most people’s careers are reflections of themselves, whatever their mix of skills, experiences and motivations has brought them to a point where they are doing what they are now doing.

A recent study by Gallup revealed that 60% of employees are not engaged and 16% are disengaged at work creating a major challenge for individuals (mental health), businesses (profitability) and our economy (productivity).

After speaking to many people over the years, I think where we work comes down to three criteria:

Who you do it for & who with?

• “People join companies and leave managers” which supports the global statistic of 60 – 70% of employees leaving their jobs because of their relationship with their one up managers. 

• People either enjoy the culture and leadership or they don’t, they are accepted or not – this is everyone’s responsibility.

 

• The War for Talent allows people to change companies so those wishing to grow will need to keep building their teams and retaining corporate memory or mismanagement and toxic cultures will see it walk out the door.

What you do & where?

• The tasks you perform are a combination of your basic skills, interests and maybe (if you are lucky) your passion. If you are good at something you will generally do it well and if you can’t, you won’t.  Good leadership can make just about anything fun and likewise poor management can make what sounds like the most amazing experience ordinary at best and suffocating at worst.

 

• Also, the location of your workplace is another key factor in deciding on where you work. My experience is that if you love what you do, time disappears and if you hate it, 15 minutes can seem like a life time.

How much you get paid?

• The majority of people do not make their decision to stay in a business is about money; they will often use it as an excuse because it is easier than the hard conversation, that and exit interviews generally go nowhere, ask any whilsteblower.

 

• I have worked in several businesses over the years where staff have asked to return to their old job after realising they had made a mistake. Thankfully the good companies I worked for were practical and broadminded enough to welcome them back and have continued to prosper; the not so good ones are probably still wondering why they are losing profit and the War for Talent…..

​
**Charlie is an expert in developing external sales teams and people, particularly where relationships and solution selling are the key differentiators.