Ugandans just don’t hate work…

At a function organized by finance Trust Bank last year, warned that there can be no growth and economic development when we have a lazy and dishonest work force that not only hates work but also steals from its employers. This scares off investors and derails development.

Every morning we see people commuting to their work place but very few look excited for the work day a head of them. Deep down in their hearts they are busy complaining about how much they hate their jobs, their bosses and the long hours at the work place. Something seems to be dragging them to the work place against their will. This is every where and not only in Uganda.

There is serious need to ask ourselves why people get dissatisfied with their professional jobs. Do people go for professions they don’t like? If so, why? Following money becomes one of the most common reason. Many people force themselves to go against nature, some one attends a law school when actually he wants to be a sculptor. This is similar to living with someone you dislike, it may be tolerable for a few months but not for your whole life.

We have come to realize that voluntary work is likely to be more interesting than the work where you expect a pay cheque. Working under the influence of extrinsic motivation kills morale. The fact that you are getting paid makes you more likely to dislike your job. It is called cognitive dissonance. People will evaluate the pleasure they receive from an activity as lower when they are rewarded with material goods like money because it makes the activity seem unpleasant. Therefore the presence of a salary creates a negative motivation which makes people like the work less than if they were to do it for free.

The fact that some people feel obligated to work makes them hate work. It is natural that people hate any thing they are forced to do day after day, month after month and year after year. You would hate even your most loved hobby if some one forced you to do it for a consistent period of time. You have to agree and accept the bitter truth that some people don’t hate their jobs but hate the fact that they are forced to work. This obligation takes fun away.

Managers tend to forget that job satisfaction comes from a sense of autonomy. Employees need to feel in control. Even the well paid and educated employees will have energy sucked out of them the moment they feel disempowered. If your work is being judged by how closely it meets some one’s expectations, you feel subordinate and grow increasingly frustrated.

Today many organizations and businesses don’t guarantee job security for their employees. This lack of job stability is demotivating. Years of excellent work may not automatically give you a promotion or pay rise, for those who attach much value to the pay cheque. You have no idea what the future holds and your job only brings you a constant state of uncertainty. This is enough to begin associating your job with negative feelings. Surely it is pretty hard for you to work well with the fear of dismissal hanging over your head and without any rules to follow to stop it from happening.

Employers and bosses have something to do with employees who don’t have love for their work. A great boss can make you feel great about anything, because they have your back, look out for you and make the work all worth while. This is exactly what bad bosses ruin.  As long as they can make you feel worthless, regardless of your salary, title, and office size you must have a negative attitude towards work.

The constant harassment some workers get from their bosses, on grounds that they are incompetent, is a turn off. Bosses tend to forget that we all seek ease and simplicity in what we do. Given the choice between the stairs and an elevator human beings will overwhelmingly choose the less labor- intensive option, much to the disappointment of our personal trainers.  What we call lazy employees are people who have discovered the art of doing work that fits within their nature rather than forcing themselves to adapt or force-fit themselves into the work they do.  Organizations also need such people.

senkumbab@ymail.com

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