![]() But it’s not always outside forces that push us over the happiness line. The American Psychological Association found early in 2017 that Americans are reporting more stress than ever owing to politics, the speed of change, and uncertainty in the world. Multiple factors account for this contemporary malaise. Why do so many of us accept unsatisfying work, high levels of stress, looming burnout, and chronic unhappiness? Why don’t we fight back? Numerous studies show that close to two-thirds of employees in the United States are bored, detached, or jaded and ready to sabotage plans, projects, and other people. For years we’ve heard about dismal levels of employee engagement. What she didn’t see was the link between her growing misery and her dwindling ability to do her job effectively. She even noticed that she had begun to compromise her ethics in small ways. What matters is that I hit my targets.” In her more reflective moments, Sharon admitted that her stress and unhappiness were affecting her work relationships, her family, and her health. Besides, it doesn’t matter whether I’m happy or not. When we finally got past why everyone else was to blame for her dissatisfaction, she said, “I know I could probably make things better. I can only imagine what her coworkers thought. All the members of her team seemed to be slacking.Īfter coaching Sharon for several months, I grew to like her. She complained to friends and coworkers about management’s bad decisions, the company’s strategy, and what she perceived as a lack of vision on the part of senior leadership. She believed that the executive team was disconnected from the day-to-day business. ![]() Sharon blamed others for her disenchantment. That next promotion and bonus weren’t as enticing as they used to be, but she still worked as hard as ever: Striving was a habit. She resented the long hours she was required to put in. She was tired of workplace politics and cynical about the never-ending changes that would supposedly fix whatever was wrong with the company in a given quarter. Things were tense at home, and work no longer gratified her. She had everything she thought she wanted, but she wasn’t happy. She makes a lot of money, is married to a man she loves, and is devoted to her children. She’s smart and hardworking and has risen through the ranks by following the rules. Take “Sharon,” a vice president at a global energy firm and one of my consulting clients. Yet many professionals who are free to shape their careers are just that: disengaged, unfulfilled, and miserable.
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