The work vibe matrix
Summary
It’s entirely possible to have conflicting emotions about your job and your employer. The work vibe matrix helps individuals (and their managers) assess the relationship between their jobs and their employers so they can reconcile such conflicting emotions.
As you may know, I’ve recently become somewhat cynical about the corporate world. But when I share my honest opinions about workism, corporate doublespeak, and other such topics, people often look at me aghast, saying, “But I thought you loved your job!”
Well, “love” is a word I use sparingly. I love my wife and kids. I love photography. Time outdoors? Yep, I love that too. I can’t say I “love” my job, but yes, I “like” it. But should this liking stop me from calling out company dysfunction when I see it? I think not.
Many of us conflate our jobs with our employers; perhaps we should unentangle those two entities. The other day, I spent some time at a government office (don’t ask), where I was scribbling these thoughts on my iPad, and I came up with what I’m calling the “work vibe matrix.” It’s a simple 2x2.
The X-axis describes how much one likes their company.
The Y-axis describes how much they like what they do for a living, i.e. their “job”.
The quadrants help you (and maybe your manager) determine the relationship between your job and your company.
The work vibe matrix
| Quadrant | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Likes job, likes company | The perfect match | Most employers wish for these employees. Most employees seek such employers. Enjoy it while it lasts. |
| 2. Likes job, dislikes company | Flight risk | These employees like what they do but don’t like who they do it for. It could be because their manager is terrible, the work environment is rotten, or the compensation is poor. It could also be a combination of many factors. The point is that most people in this category will take “flight” the moment they get a chance. These employees may even “quiet quit” if they can’t find an alternative employer they like. Employers in people-centric businesses will do well to win back the trust of these employees. |
| 3. Likes company, dislikes job | Loyalists | These employees would prefer much better jobs. They could be self-effacing foot soldiers who do what their bosses ask. Or, if they’ve served the company for many years, they’ve probably eroded their skills and don’t have many options in the market. All said and done; you can always count on them to have a good word to say about the company. They’re great corporate ambassadors! Ideally, companies should value such loyalty, upskill these people, and find roles that make them happy. Then again, we don’t live in an ideal world, do we? |
| 4. Dislikes company, dislikes job | Reinvention zone | When people dislike their employers and what they do for a living, work can feel miserable. People in this quadrant desperately need a career change, but they may feel trapped depending on their age and life stage. What if the job pays well, and you have a mortgage and kids in private school? It’s impossible to just up and leave! Others who have the cushion to take a career break so they can discover something else to do often pivot to a new job. Take Khe Hy, for example. From being managing director at Blackrock, he decided to quit and just surf every day. Talk about finding one’s calling! Of course, for every Khe Hy story, there are probably a hundred stories of people who couldn’t reinvent themselves. As I said, breaking out of this zone isn’t easy. |
Anyway, the next time someone questions my cynicism and reminds me how much I enjoy my job, I’ll show them this matrix. Meanwhile, ask yourself where you fit on this matrix. If you’re a manager, you may want to guess where each team member sits on this matrix. The work vibe you get back may be insightful!