Section 13: Stay With Organizations Which Have a Philosophy Compatible With Your Own

Overview

Evelyn moved from job to job over the years and never really found a compatible group. This was frustrating. She thought her career was going nowhere.

During a team-building exercise, she gained an opportunity to work on understanding her personal values. The results “clicked” like never before. She discovered that she really wanted to make a difference for disadvantaged persons in the community. She had been volunteering at her church to help out with the local soup kitchen, but it never seemed as if she was making a significant difference to the community.

She thought she’d have to leave the safety of her employer and perhaps reduce her income substantially in order to meet this deep need. On a whim, she started to explore the crucial question: Is there any place in this company where they also are focused on helping the disadvantaged people? The results astounded her.

She found opportunities in the human resources department and worked with employees who were having trouble in the corporation––the individuals who have disabilities and those who earned only minimum wage. She connected with a person at headquarters who was responsible for philanthropy in the community. And, she found a group of people who were working on daycare alternatives for new mothers.

Even more important than the jobs these people were doing, however, was the culture they created within each of their groups. They were focused on respect for and the welfare of individuals. She contacted these different groups, and when an opening came up, she took a starting position in human resources. She’s never been happier.

Each corporation, agency, or association has its own culture. Within them, each group or organization has its specific culture. Often this is set by the philosophy of the person who manages it. The particular industry and mission of the group also influences the culture. Today, we even find global trends that influence the flavor of industries, companies, and teams.

Your job satisfaction stems from many places. One key factor is whether you constantly run into conflicts with the basic philosophy of the people you work with on a daily basis. Describe your own philosophy, and then compare it with the group culture to see if there is a match. Evelyn put some effort into understanding herself, and she took a much different and satisfying career direction as a result.

How can you understand the true culture of a team when you are interviewing? It is not as hard as you might think, especially if you have access to people who currently work in the group. Usually, they will give you an honest assessment since they are concerned about how well they will work with you in the future. And, you always have the right to ask interviewers about the goals and nature of the team you might want to join.

Sometimes there will be such huge differences you find you cannot be happy in a company. When this happens, it is time to move on. Define your goals and start searching for possibilities. Search out groups that have values similar to your own and individuals who like and support you. You might even turn down job offers because of their organization, and that is OK.

Finding a group that works for you can greatly reduce one source of stress in your life. It makes you a more valued employee to the organization since you tend to be happier, more energized, and consequently, more productive. When you find a compatible group, plan to stay, even if you have to change jobs to do it.

It can be important to continue with an organization long enough so you can figure out how it really works. Some people jump from job to job after staying only for a couple of months. This might be necessary in some cases, but it can be damaging to move around too often. How can you figure out how an organization really functions in such a short time? How can you become productive at a complex job? Employers who see a pattern of job-hopping will shy away from hiring you or at best will be reluctant to invest in your long-term success.

In the end, your judgment and inner feelings play an important role in deciding when to switch jobs, either within a company or from one organization to another. You have to balance your current level of satisfaction and effectiveness with progressing toward your long-term goals and ultimate career objectives. This balance is different for each person, so do not expect another person’s answer to be the same as yours.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever has!

—Margaret Mead