Designing Your New Work Life: How to Thrive and Change and Find Happiness--and a New Freedom--at Work

by Bill Burnett

Lack of control. You are not able to influence decisions that affect your job, such as your schedule, assignments, or workload. Unclear job expectations. You’re unclear about the degree of authority you have or what your supervisor expects from you. Dysfunctional workplace dynamics. You work with an office bully, you feel undermined by colleagues, your boss micromanages your work, or there are lots of “office politics” that you don’t understand (see the next chapter to get help with office politics). Mismatch in values. If your values differ from the way your employer does business or handles grievances, the mismatch can eventually take a toll. Poor job fit. Your job doesn’t fit your interests and skills, or you are underemployed and bored all the time. Overwhelmed with tasks. Your job is chaotic and there is too much to do. Lack of social support. You feel isolated at work and in your personal life. Work–life imbalance. Your work takes up so much of your time that you don’t have the energy to spend time with your family and friends.