Page 196 - How America's Best Places to Work Inspire Extra Effort in Extraordinary Times
P. 196
Job Enrichment and Professional Growth C183
: “LUCKY TO BE DOING THIS WORK”
If we’ve learned anything from our studies of outstanding workplaces,
it is this: they do a remarkable job of helping employees love not just
the workplace but the work itself. In fact, one of the most common
comments we heard from employees at Best-Places-to-Work employers
was, “I can’t believe I have this job. I just love coming to work.”
These are more than just statements—they are exclamations of
genuine gratitude mixed with surprise and confidence. Why do these
ordinary, just-like-you-and-me employees love their jobs so much?
The research led us to this clear conclusion:
:
In many cases, their employers have carefully placed these
employees into jobs that fit their talents and abilities and
give them ongoing opportunities to grow and develop.
Let’s look at what our statistical survey analysis tells us about the
differences between winners and nonwinners on this driver—job en-
richment and the opportunity for professional growth/learning. The
results, as usual, show marked differences in levels of engagement.
: UNIVERSAL ENGAGEMENT DRIVER: JOB ENRICHMENT AND
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH
This driver is rooted in the following three statements that were
among the top survey items that most sharply differentiated winning
from nonwinning employers, as Figures 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 indicate: “I
know how I fit into the organization’s future plans” (ranked #2), “I find
my job interesting and challenging” (ranked #6), and “I see professional
growth and career development opportunities for myself in this organiza-
tion.” (ranked #14)