Page 3 - August 2021 Track N Times

FEATURE STORY

JOB SATISFACTION

By Chris Dykhoff, Manager Ballast and Grade

One of the ideas that I like to share with new needs can make all the difference in our work ex-
Loram field employees is that we want our crews perience.
to find a work environment that works for them.
We have a wide variety of machine, customer, In a work context, autonomy is the sense that
operational, and geographical circumstances that we have some say in what we do and how we do
can make for some vastly different work circum- it, and that our goals are a match with the compa-
stances and environments. We want our people ny’s direction. In some work environments, this
to be open to new can be a real chal-
experiences and lenge. Not only are
speak up if they wish we all working to fulfill
to try something Loram’s mission, but
new; where moves our field employees
from one machine to also get to experience
another make sense, daily the direct influ-
as leaders we try to ence and pressures of
do what we can. This our customer’s needs
is a challenge, how- and direction. This can
ever, and often a sit- leave us feeling as
uation of the grass though we have very
being greener on the little control. Under
other side when it these circumstances it
comes to wanting to is extremely im-
move locations. portant that leaders
recognize opportuni-
So, if you are a leader seeking to create a thriving ties to receive employee feedback about the
and successful environment on your machine, or things we can influence. This could include prefer-
a crew member not sure how you are feeling ences about time off, the order and priority of
about your current situation and assignment, tasks, or how tasks get assigned. In the end, we
what can we do to create a more satisfying work know the results required of us and that tasks
experience?
need to be accomplished, but the way those jobs
One thing to keep in mind are some of the im- get handled can make a lot of difference in how
portant motivational factors that help make daily the day seems to go.
life more rewarding. One of these frameworks, As an employee, seek opportunities to have your
known as self-determination theory, holds that interest heard. There isn’t much we can do about
there are essentially three foundational psycho- the work schedule or location, Loram policies or
logical needs that seem to be consistently critical customer rules. But you can volunteer for tasks
for our motivation and well-being: autonomy,
competence, and relatedness. Meeting these

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AUGUST 2021
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