Rediscovering Work
Uncovering Freedom vs Security In Our Work
As we’ve started to figure out, work looks different to different people. And we don’t just mean the actual type of work people do, but every combination of variables related to work, like your schedule or opportunities for autonomy, create hundreds of different combinations of work experiences. While the traditional 9-5 dates back to the 1950s, now our social media feeds are flooded with remote nomads working from their DIY vans with pristine national park views.
Many of us succumb to the power of the “Grass is Greener” dynamic because social media influences our perceptions of our own jobs relative to those we see on our feeds. When we see people’s posts about their success and happiness, this makes us turn inward and evaluate our own work situations. We might start to think, am I really fulfilled in my profession? Could I quit my job and spend everyday doing what I love most while making a living?
When we experience unhappiness or dissatisfaction, we often blame our environment and seek out alternatives where we think we’ll find greener and happier grasses. We are fooled into fantasizing that we will suddenly have all that we want when we seek out a change of scenery, and that all the things we already have and enjoy will come along with us.
EVALUATING OUR PERSONAL SATISFACTION IN OUR JOB BOILS DOWN TO TWO KEY FACTORS: JOB FREEDOM AND JOB SECURITY.
Job freedom encompasses everything from enjoying the work you do and being encouraged to provide your own perspective on the projects you are assigned to, to having flexibility in your schedule where needed and being able to live where you want to live. Job security boils down to consistency: a set schedule, income, and a steady flow of work to do.
What can feel like freedom in a job to someone, can feel like oppression to someone else. While some are empowered to work on a team, others flourish when they can do things on their own terms and in their own ways. While some crave the security of a steady paycheck and work hours, others thrive on flexibility and can tolerate uncertainty of when their next paycheck may come.
Check out our “Know Your Work Style” Wellness Workshop in our full workshop menu to see how we support employees in finding their happiest version of work.
Security vs Freedom Matrix
We are at our happiest in our jobs when they are in alignment with our preferences for freedom and security. Is there a gap in the freedom and security you desire to have at work relative to what you currently have? Maybe you think there is, but upon reflection your current work situation might be much more closely aligned than previously thought. Use the steps below to identify where you fall on the freedom-security matrix and to uncover the inevitable shifts in your relationship with work.
1 | IDENTIFY where you want to be on the matrix.
Define what job freedom means for you. After you have defined it, where in the freedom spectrum do you want to fall in this matrix? How much security or stability feels good for you? Where do you hope you fall on the security spectrum?
2 | LOCATE where you want to be on the matrix.
Reflect on your current role and define what degree of freedom and what degree of security you currently have. Mark that on the matrix.
3 | COMPARE the gap between the two findings.
What can be done in your current environment to close the gap? What can you change about how you navigate and approach your work? What changes will you seek to make to your existing work environment?
