Miserable jobs are found everywhere: schools, professional sports teams, retail stores, factories, consulting firms and, unfortunately, even in churches. You name the situation and you’ll find people who have miserable jobs.
Everyone knows what a miserable job is. It’s the one you dread going to and can’t wait to leave. It’s the one where Friday can’t come
too quickly and Sunday afternoons are dreaded because Monday is just ahead.
And, in the same venues, you will find people who love their jobs.
Once again, Patrick Lencioni masterfully crafts an engaging story while introducing practical leadership principles. In his book The Three Signs of a Miserable Job, he contends being miserable has nothing to do with the actual work, it has to do with three conditions: anonymity, irrelevance, and immeasurement.
Anonymity: people cannot be fulfilled in their work if they are not known; everyone needs to be understood and appreciated.
Irrelevance: everyone needs to know that his or her job matters to someone . . . anyone. If the connection cannot be made between work and the satisfaction others are impacted by their work, people will not find lasting fulfillment.
Immeasurement: if people cannot gauge their progress and level of contribution, they cannot be fulfilled in their work since success is intangible and subjective.
“Whether you are an executive looking to establish a cultural competitive advantage, a manager trying to engage and motivate people, or an employee searching for fulfillment in your work, The Three Signs of a Miserable Job will provide you with immediate relief . . . and hope.”