This is an excerpt of Chapter 4: Beyond Salary—Negotiating for Holistic Career Growth from She’s Meant to Negotiate to help you identify nonmonetary aspects of job satisfaction to be mindful of! Before you decide to negotiate for other aspects of your career, it helps to make a list of what matters to you. Here are some examples of nonmonetary benefits for job satisfaction:
Mentorship and sponsorship programs:
We’ve talked about the importance of both mentorship and sponsorship in Chapter 2 (She’s Meant to Negotiate). If your workplace has these programs, it means they are serious about helping you on your career path. They understand the unique challenges that women face in the corporate world and are willing to put time and resources toward helping them break the glass ceiling.
Job enrichment:
No matter how well-paid you are, you’re bound to get bored and feel unmotivated if your role doesn’t challenge you after a point. A challenging role isn’t the same as a frustrating one; it pushes you to learn more and grow as a professional without feeling unsupported or disgruntled. Job enrichment can only happen when your manager or a senior in your organization understands your skills and potential and gives you the opportunity to enhance your current role. Job enrichment, when executed well, can pleasantly surprise you even as it demands more out of you.
Awards and recognitions:
Being recognized by our organization or industry isn’t just a boost to your self-confidence; it also adds to your value proposition statement. A company that awards its employees at regular intervals conveys gratitude, appreciation, and respect.
Learning and growth:
Does your organization give you opportunities to grow as a professional? Does it provide regular training sessions, connect you to other professionals in the industry, or help you explore your passions and interests as much as possible? A good learning environment will not only enable you to become better at your current job but will also help you explore other aspects of your career.
Work-life balance and flexibility:
These aspects have always been important, but they’ve become impossible to ignore in recent years. As the world begins to explore different ways of working and living, professionals want more balance and flexibility at work. This is especially true for women, as they are more likely to handle caregiving or homemaking responsibilities while also trying to do their best at work. When your organization gives you the flexibility to work from home or at your pace, or it helps you choose how you can best show up at work, it not only shows faith in you but also makes you feel valued.
Health and well-being programs:
When an organization invests in taking care of their employees’ physical and mental health, it attracts and retains the best talent. This includes comprehensive health insurance programs, counseling sessions, and provision for mental health breaks if needed. Another aspect of employee well-being is creating a diverse and inclusive environment where neurodivergent employees are valued and supported and where people can talk about their mental health challenges without facing stigma.
Autonomy and empowerment:
When you feel like you have control over your own career, you’re likely to stay in an organization for longer. When you feel like your voice matters and your opinion is valued by those around you, you’ll be motivated to give your best at work.
Conclusion
Think about the aspects of your current role that contribute to job satisfaction, and list those aspects that leave much to be desired. If possible, create a priority list that tells you which aspects of your career to target first.
If you enjoyed this excerpt of Chapter 4: Beyond Salary—Negotiating for Holistic Career Growth from She’s Meant to Negotiate for identifying nonmonetary aspects of job satisfaction, then check out the Amazon page below to learn more about the book!
Take care,
Kyndall Bennett from Kyrabe Stories
She’s Meant to Negotiate
Maximize Your Value – Elevate Your Influence Through These Powerful Negotiation Techniques for Career Growth
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