There is a lot of attention for people who completely stop functioning at work and can no longer muster any enthusiasm for it. For example, due to burnout. But work psychologist Ouweneel, who obtained his PhD from the UU, points out that compared to the 10% of people who ‘drop out’ of the work process due to burnout, there are 90% who may not function optimally. Not nice for the employer, but also not for the employee. This often concerns a lack of enthusiasm for work. Good news: something can be done about (new) enthusiasm and job satisfaction. There is always a lot of attention for the problems that arise if you completely stop functioning from your work situation. In particular, people who are burned out (or have a burnout) are regularly in the news. ‘How do you get out of your burnout’ is a theme about which many books have been written. On the other hand, there is not as much attention for people who continue to function at work, but who do not get the most out of it for either themselves or the employer. Industrial psychologist Else Ouweneel is one of the few who draws attention to this.
She even obtained her PhD on this subject from the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Utrecht. Ouweneel points out that there is a relatively small group of one in ten employees who drop out with complaints related to burnout. There are now more reasons why people drop out of the workforce (temporarily or permanently). Yet there is always a lion’s share of the working population that remains at work. But the question is whether those people function optimally. Ouweneel: ,This group is not necessarily enthusiastic, which results in a lot of untapped potential on the labor market.
What good is enthusiasm?
Enthusiasm, or in a simpler word, enthusiasm for what you do, has many advantages. This is also evident from research. Anyone who works with enthusiasm is healthier, recovers faster from discomfort or illness, delivers better performance, and is a welcome face among colleagues. Not least because enthusiasm rubs off on others. If someone works independently or as an employee in the commercial sector, customers are more likely to be satisfied.
What makes passionate?
People may have certain qualities that promote enthusiasm or enthusiasm about their own work. According to work psychologist Ouweneel, these are optimism, hope for the future, and confidence in yourself. There are also external factors that contribute to enthusiasm. This includes the feeling that you can be at ease at work.
Throw a trainink at it?
The work psychologist has also examined the question of whether training in enthusiasm and enthusiasm is effective. She developed such training courses and released them to employees. The aim was to give people more positive feelings, thus increasing their inner ‘enthusiasm reservoir’. Indeed, it turned out that those who experienced more positive feelings brought more enthusiasm to work. At least, if it was an employee who had a somewhat lukewarm attitude towards his own work. Ouweneel: Enthusiastic employees in particular completed the training more often, but there were no positive effects on their level of enthusiasm. The message for both employees and employers is: if enthusiasm is on the back burner, then give it some training. But there are more ways to increase job satisfaction. Some suggestions for books or training follow below.
Enthuse yourself!
Books about job satisfaction
- On the way to enjoying your work, Hilde Backus
- Working with pleasure, the way to more flow, Jolet Plomp
- Wake up at work, coach yourself to more pleasure in your work, Marjan van Lier
- The fun factor, how fun at work ensures more commitment and creativity (for employers), Ben Kuiken
Courses in job satisfaction
Pleasure in work and life, Your Way Coaching and Therapy
Job satisfaction (online), Good Habitz Online Trainings
read more
- Work-life balance: research, tips and figures
- Lifehacking: more fun working and living
- Research: colleagues determine job satisfaction
- Retain employees? Give them a coach!