Job satisfaction and productivity are not directly linked, but can exist together. Companies should create a workplace culture that values productivity and invest in employees’ productivity to maintain the connection. Improving job satisfaction alone may not increase productivity, but maintaining positive attitudes towards the company is important. Experimentation and flexibility can shed light on problem areas to achieve increased productivity without reducing job satisfaction.
Contrary to popular belief, job satisfaction and productivity are not obviously and directly linked, although in many cases people who are satisfied with their work are more productive. The important fact to remember is that job satisfaction does not increase productivity, although these two states can exist together. Generally speaking, both job satisfaction and productivity are important for an effective workplace, but changes in one category do not necessarily reflect changes in the other. Job satisfaction and productivity are, however, connected, as workers who carry specific attitudes and personalities may be predisposed to high levels of productivity or high levels of satisfaction, regardless of the job in question.
When trying to improve productivity, many companies look first to improve job satisfaction. This is because many people believe that happy or satisfied workers are naturally more productive. In many cases and cultures this is true, but it is not a natural state of affairs. To increase productivity without using force or reprimand, the company must instill in its employees a sense of investment in their own productivity.
Creating a connection between job satisfaction and productivity is usually accomplished by creating a workplace culture that values productivity and then eliminating employees who do not achieve satisfaction within that culture. By getting rid of those individuals who are not satisfied when they are productive, one person can create a group of people for whom job satisfaction and productivity are highly intertwined. The company, however, must work to maintain people’s investment in the company through task enrichment and other token gestures that will ensure the connection is maintained.
Companies that try to adjust productivity through improving job satisfaction are often disappointed, but companies that try to increase productivity through force without considering how it will affect job satisfaction often risk losing employees. Increased productivity often makes employees feel that their work is less valuable because they don’t get paid more for doing more. Negating this effect by making efforts to increase job satisfaction in other spheres is important for worker morale and for maintaining positive attitudes towards the company.
Job satisfaction is itself a difficult category to isolate and diagnose. When talking about job satisfaction with employees as it relates to productivity, the employees themselves may not even understand what steps can be taken to improve the existing mode of operation. Experimentation and flexibility can shed light on problem areas, and increased productivity can be achieved without reducing job satisfaction.
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