High Five on a Bike

Do You Hate Your Job?  Americans Do — A Lot.

15% of Americans Surveyed Hate Their Jobs — The Highest in a Global Survey. According to research and the following infographic by Yahoo Finance, Monster Worldwide, and GFK, American workers are the most dissatisfied among seven (7) global countries.  31% of Americans workers rated themselves as "satisfied."

Yahoo Finance Infographic: Americans #1 in Hating Their Jobs

The following image from Sydney Brownstone's Fast Company article highlights describes the seven country respondent breakdown:

Image from Sydney Brownstone's Fast Company Article: Everyone In The World Hates Their Jobs–But Americans Hate Theirs The Most

Have We Forgotten How to Show Our Appreciation for Others?

Possible Root Causes Americans Hate Their Jobs Compared to Other Countries.  Ms. Brownstone cites these facts:

• America's highest earners put in 60 – 80 hours per week
• Europeans have more vacation days
• The U.S. is one of the few countries that doesn't require paid annual leave or maternity leave by law
• Fewer people are doing more work

Is There More to This? Here's one more item for consideration:   

The American Worker DOES NOT Feel Appreciated

205 Million Google Search Results.  The following search phrase: "do americans feel appreciated at work?" delivers sobering results.    

Google Search Results: Do Americans Feel Appreciated at Work?

3 Ways to Show We Appreciate Others 

Using Technology to Say "Thank You" and "I Appreciate You."  In a 24/7, always-on, Internet Age, the power of direct relationships matter more than ever.  Let's not forget to use that technology (and some olders ones) to let people know we appreciate them by:  

1. Picking Up the Phone.  I'm guilty of this more than any one (because sending an email is fast and convenient – more on that in a moment).  But, actually hearing someone's voice and genuinely telling them how he/she makes a positive difference IS MEANINGFUL.  

When did pleasant, I wanna give you a high-five, non-confrontational conversation become a dying art form?  Thank you caller ID.  How many times have have you seen a certain number flashing on your mobile phone, and you default to not picking up.  Why do we automatically assume: "What's wrong this time?"

Let's gradually address that negative trend in our own minds (and our colleagues).  Why not call her to say, "The only reason we're at this point with XYZ client is because of you.  Thank You. I couldn't get to this point without you."

The positive impact and reaction may surprise you … 

2. Using the Email CC: to Praise Versus CYA.  Email was the first social network.  Warner Bros. released this hit twenty-two years before The Social Network: 

Thank Teammates AND Inform Their Bosses of How Much We Appreciate a Job Well Done.  How about using email to:

• Let others know the important difference they made during an important client pitch

• Acknowledge the extra efforts made to craft a simple storyline to a complex, final deliverable

• Show gratefulness when another teammate opens doors to contacts relevant to our sales and business development efforts

AND, inform that person's boss and other key management team members of this teammate's significant contribution via the email CC:.  

A subject line stating: "Thank You for a Job Well Done" isn't half bad either.

3. Spreading Kindness Via Twitter's #FF #FollowFriday.  Twitter isn't considered much of a "bright and shiny object" anymore.  But, I'm still a believer (as are others).   

#FF or #FollowFriday Is a Great Way to Acknowledge People / Organizations Who Give Versus Take.  Take time to personalize a tweet stating why you think others should follow other helpful individuals or organizations.  On The Internet, random acts of kindness equal great karma: 

#FF #FollowFriday

Something to Think About as We Approach the Thanksgiving Holiday

Am I Doing My Part?  After reading the aforementioned articles, I questioned if I'm consistently letting my colleagues, clients, and online connections know how much I appreciate their contributions to my professional success.

I'm Not.

I'm an Account Director in a management consulting firm.   My job is to build relationships and directly connect my clients to talented team members who I believe can address challenging problems.  How well my teammates and I collectively build these relationships and collectively address these problems is the final and only relevant success metric. 

"It takes a village" is a reality in my business. 

This Goes Beyond Thankfulness for Having a Job.  For the past four (4) Thanksgivings, one of the many blessings I'm grateful for is being employed.  But, that's not enough.  I need to do a better job of thanking every teammate who helped me and our clients succeed in a challenging year.

Thank You Kantar Health Teammates.  My success is yours.

Thank You to my clients who stuck with me and our team.  I know the daily financial pressures confronting you.

Thank You to the wonderful people I connect online with everyday.  YOU show me why the power of The Internet and direct relationships matter.

May You and Your Families Have a Safe & Happy Thanksgiving.

Tony Faustino is a marketing and corporate strategist.  He writes about how The Internet reinvents marketing strategy for organizations and individuals in his marketing strategy blog, Social Media ReInvention.  Follow his tweets @tonyfaustino or circle him on Google+. 

Photo Credit: by sfbike via flickr

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