How to make Fun with work
One of the psychological research says that "Work is more fun if the
character fits the bill"
Character strengths can be defined as traits that are
evaluated as morally positive, such as self-control, teamwork or kindness.
Character strengths that are particularly distinctive for a person and which he
or she likes to use frequently are referred to as signature strengths.
Everybody typically has between three and seven of these signature strengths.
For the first time, Claudia Harzer and Professor
Willibald Ruch from the Section on Personality and Assessment at the University
of Zurich now prove in two studies that a job is particularly cherished if it
suits one’s own signature strengths: The application of signature strengths in
one’s profession actually goes hand in hand with more positive experiences at
work, namely enjoyment, flow, sense of purpose or satisfaction and calling.
High
level of satisfaction with four or more signature strengths applied
In the first study, Harzer and Ruch interviewed over
1,000 working people about the manifestation of their character strengths,
whether they are able to apply these strengths at work and how positively they
experience their work. In their second study, besides self-assessments the
scientists also analyze how the test subjects’ colleagues rate the
applicability of the character strengths.
The degree of positive experiences increases with the
number of signature strengths applied. In both studies, people who are able to
apply four or more signature strengths at work have the highest values in terms
of positive experience. They enjoy work more, are more wrapped up in it,
perceive their work as more meaningful and are more satisfied with their job.
These people also perceive their work more as a calling than people who are
able to apply three signature strengths or fewer in the workplace.
Whether character strengths can be applied at work
depends, among other things, on which rules are stipulated in the job
description or whether strength-related behavior is helpful to carry out the
work. A job description for nursing staff, for example, might contain a lot
about hygiene but not so much on friendly conduct. Nonetheless, we can expect
patient care to be more successful if the nursing staff is friendly and
sympathetic.
Useful
for employers and employees
Harzer and Ruch’s findings provide insights that might be
useful for the selection of personnel, human resources development and
workplace design. “If it is clarified which character strengths are central for
the job before a position is filled, a person can be recruited based on these
strengths. Employers and employees only stand to benefit from this,” explains
Harzer. According to the scientist, further studies should examine whether four
signature strengths are found in all professions and hierarchical levels or
whether fewer signature strengths suffice to facilitate a positive experience
in employees.
image credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1093986
+ comments + 1 comments
Thanks for finally writing about > "what Makes the work more Fun" < Liked it!
Feel free to visit my blog post ; Joe Barry
Post a Comment