In my latest Weekend Poll, I asked readers to check in on job satisfaction and career aspirations – and whether you have open discussions with your principals (bosses) on such matters.

Fewer than half say your principals have ever asked about your views

Only 46% of respondents were able to say that their current boss has asked about their job satisfaction. For those who have had such conversations, almost a third of your bosses have initiated such discussions in the last quarter. I suspect that these executives are likely to command a high degree of loyalty.

At the other end of the spectrum,  44% reported that it’s been so long since they were asked about their job satisfaction that they can’t remember when they were last asked.

This is your job, and you’re compensated for it … but 87% of respondents still considered it appropriate for an assistant to hope that your principal would ask you about your job satisfaction.

65% of you think your principals make assumptions about your satisfaction … and it would seem that a significant percentage of those assumptions are accurate. Another 18% of you see no evidence that your principals make such assumptions, while 20% suspect that your job satisfaction isn’t even on the radar.

Do you have career aspirations? Has your principal thought to discuss them with you? Kudos to the 53% of respondents’ principals who have invited such discussions, but doesn’t that seem like a low percentage? Just over 48% of you think that your principals make assumptions on this front, and more than one in five think that – again – your aspirations aren’t even on the radar.

If you have aspirations beyond your current role, why not discuss medium- and long term goals with your principal? 51% of respondents reported a high degree of comfort in initiating such discussions yourselves.

Where does employee engagement kick in?

For the second consecutive year, I asked readers to rate how valued/appreciated you feel in the office. The good news is that, on a scale of one (couldn’t feel less valued/appreciated) to five (couldn’t feel more valued/appreciated), a full 43% of respondents were able to give a rating of four or higher this year, a 12% increase over the previous year’s results. The unfortunate news is that 26% of you assigned ratings of two or lower in response to this question.

Those of you who subscribe to Executive Secretary Magazine will see that my next article in that publication focuses on employee engagement. There, I paraphrased Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman in saying that assistants join organisations, but leave managers. Working relationships need to be two-way streets, but  I wonder how engaged those of you who assigned ratings of one or two out of five feel engaged by your principals … and how many of you will stay in those jobs for the long term.

One reader commented, “This survey was a bit of an eye opener for me. I realized that, while I’m certain my executive hears me and wants me to be happy, he’s not really understanding my needs even though they have been spelled out multiple times.” If you’re in a positive and successful working relationship, take a moment this week to acknowledge and celebrate that you’re valued and enjoy effective communications with the person to whom you report.

THE DATA

Has your current principal (boss) ever asked you about your job satisfaction?

• Yes: 46%, compared to 43% in 2017
• No: 54%, compared to 57% in 2017

If so, when was the last time your executive/principal/employer ever asked you about your job satisfaction? 

• In the last month: 22% of respondents, compared to 22% in 2017
• In the last quarter: 8% of respondents, compared to 11% in 2017
• In the last half year: 0% of respondents, compared to 6% in 2017
• In the last year: 6% of respondents, compared to 22% in 2017
• It’s been over two years: 0% of respondents, compared to 17% in 2017
• It’s been so long I can’t remember: 44% of respondents, compared to 11% who selected “more than 10 years” in 2017
• Note: in 2017, 11% of respondents selected “Other”.

Is it reasonable to hope that your executive/principal/employer would ask you about your job satisfaction?

• Yes: 87% of respondents, compared to 90% in 2017
• No: 13% of respondents, compared to 10% in 2017

Do you think your executive/principal/employer makes assumptions about your job satisfaction?

• 21%: Yes, and I’d say those assumptions are accurate, compared to 20% in 2017
• 41%: Yes, and I’d say those assumptions are inaccurate, compared to 33% in 2017
• 18%: No; I don’t see any evidence of assumptions, compared to 27% in 2017
• 20%: No; I think that my job satisfaction isn’t even on the radar, compared to 20% in 2017

Has your executive/principal/employer ever asked you about your career aspirations? 

• Yes: 53% of respondents, compared to 35% in 2017
• No: 47% of respondents, compared to 62% in 2017
• Note: In 2017, 3% of respondents selected “Other”.

Do you think that your executive/principal/employer makes assumptions about your career aspirations?

• 20.5%: Yes, and I’d say they’re accurate, compared to 14% in 2017
• 28%: Yes, and I’d say they’re inaccurate, compared to 25% in 2017
• 31%: No; I don’t see any evidence of assumptions, compared to 36% in 2017
• 20.5%: No; I think that my career aspirations aren’t even on the radar, compared to 25% in 2017

 On a scale of 1 (great discomfort) to 5 (complete ease), how comfortable are you with the notion of initiating discussion of your aspirations with your principal?

• 1 out of 5 (great discomfort): 8%, compared to 19% in 2017
• 2 out of 5: 23%, compared to 3% in 2017
• 3 out of 5: 18%, compared to 25% in 2017
• 4 out of 5: 25.5% , compared to 25% in 2017
• 5 out of 5 (complete ease):  25.5%, compared to 22% in 2017
• Note: in 2017, 6% of respondents selected “Other”.

On a scale of 1 to 5, how valued/appreciated do you feel by your principal?

• 1 out of 5 (couldn’t feel any less valued/appreciated): 13%, compared to 17% in 2017
• 2 out of 5: 13%, compared to 24% in 2017
• 3 out of 5: 31%, compared to 28 in 2017
• 4 out of 5: 23%, compared to 21% in 2017
• 5 out of 5 (couldn’t feel any more valued/appreciated): 20%, compared to 10% in 2017