Job satisfaction and productivity are not directly linked, but can exist together. Companies should create a work culture that values productivity and invest in workers’ productivity to increase productivity without risking job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is difficult to isolate and diagnose, but experimentation and flexibility can help clarify problem areas.
Contrary to popular belief, job satisfaction and productivity are not obviously and directly linked, although in many cases people who are satisfied with their jobs are more productive. The important fact to keep in mind is that job satisfaction does not cause an increase in productivity, although these two states may exist together. In general, both job satisfaction and productivity are important to an effective workplace, but changes in one category don’t necessarily reflect changes in the other. However, job satisfaction and productivity are connected as workers who have specific attitudes and personalities may be predisposed to high levels of productivity or high levels of satisfaction regardless of the job at hand.
When trying to improve productivity, many companies seek to improve job satisfaction first. 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. In order to increase productivity without using force or reprimand, a company must instill in its workers a sense of investment in their own productivity.
Making a connection between job satisfaction and productivity is often accomplished by creating a work culture that values productivity and then weeding out those employees who do not achieve satisfaction within that culture. By getting rid of those individuals who are dissatisfied when they are productive, one person can create a group of people for whom job satisfaction and productivity are closely intertwined. Society, however, must work to maintain people’s investment in society through job enrichment and other symbolic gestures that will ensure the connection is maintained.
Companies that attempt to scale productivity through improving job satisfaction are often disappointed, but companies that attempt to forcibly increase productivity without considering how this will affect job satisfaction are often at risk of losing employees. Increased productivity often makes workers feel that their work is less valuable, because they aren’t being paid more to do more. Negating this effect by making efforts to increase job satisfaction elsewhere is important for worker morale and maintaining positive attitudes about the company.
Job satisfaction is itself a difficult category to isolate and diagnose. When discussing job satisfaction with employees in relation to productivity, the employees themselves may not even understand what measures could be taken in order to improve the existing way of functioning. Experimentation and flexibility can clarify problem areas, and increased productivity can often be achieved without a reduction in job satisfaction.
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