What we can learn from the Japanese about job satisfaction

More and more people are looking for work that matches not only their skills, but also their passions and motivations. This is where the concept of "Ikigai" comes in - a Japanese principle that stands for the reason for existence. How do you also make work a source of inspiration, energy and meaning? What can we learn from the Ikigai idea? Which not only increases job satisfaction, but also has a positive impact on productivity and motivation within your organization.

According to Japanese thought, everyone has an Ikigai, a reason for existence, the reason why you get up in the morning. In concrete terms, this can translate into an appropriate job, where, with the right intrinsic motivation and (natural) skills, high job satisfaction can be experienced. This pays off not only for the employee himself, but ultimately also for the employer, who gets a productive, inspired and motivated employee in return.

Employees are responsible for taking control of their own job satisfaction. As a good employer, you can proactively stimulate this search process by asking the right type of questions in development interviews such as:

• What drives you?
• What are you really passionate about?
• What costs energy and what gives energy?
• What are some of the skills and competencies that make you unique? How can you develop them further?
• What aspects of work provide a sense of purpose?

For example, if you notice that an employee is giving off signals of lower engagement, it may be helpful to explore together whether this has to do with a piece of intrinsic motivation - and how this can be positively addressed again.

Or, for example, invest in a job coach preventively; especially employees who are just starting their careers or those who have been around a bit longer may need to engage in such a search.

As an employer, create the right conditions for employees to explore this and as an employee, be proactive in promoting your own and your employees' job satisfaction! Need help with this? A Labor and Health Advisor from De Arbodienst advises both employers and employees in finding greater job satisfaction. Feel free to contact us to see what the possibilities are.