A few weeks ago I wrote about the fact that asking good questions is a manager’s most unrecognized tool. An effective question can provoke thoughtfulness and even possess the power to change perspectives and habits.

Using great questions is a sign of wisdom. Author James Clear says that “The beginner chases the right answers. The master chases the right questions.”

Here are a few examples of great questions that I’ve come across over the years:

“Is this behavior going to help or hinder your ability to get what you want?”. This is a fantastic question to ask kids, employees, and ourselves! An example here would be a person who wants a raise so they agitatedly approach their boss about it. Their behavior will HINDER their ability to get what it is that they actually want.

“Will this person raise the average level of effectiveness of the group that they are entering?”. This question, from Steve Jobs, comes off of a long list that I use after interviewing someone for a job. It creates clarity around identifying if this person will make us BETTER…or have a NEUTRAL impact…or make us WORSE/make everyone’s jobs more difficult/hinder our ability to accomplish our mission.

The #1 Question

Two days ago I received an email from an awesome employee stating that he was resigning. After thanking me and his direct manager for giving him a good job in a positive work environment, he stated that he was simply unable to effectively juggle both his school commitments and the part-time job.

So, what is the #1 question that we as people are always asking, answering, and then acting based on every moment of every day?:

“IS IT WORTH IT?!”

Over the years my boss has issued constant reminders to his leaders regarding this question of “Is it worth it?”.  For the employee mentioned above, the job was no longer worth it to him. Every day each employee, either consciously or subconsciously, is asking themselves this question regarding their job. “Is what I am being asked to GIVE worth what I am being GIVEN?”. Obviously financial compensation is the first major consideration. But things like working in a positive culture, working for a boss that is both caring and competent, enjoying the actual work, the amount of travel required, and many more factors all come together in combination here. “IS IT WORTH IT?”. 

But this is not only a workplace query. Literally everything that we do is based on an examination of whether or not it’s worth it:

Is spending $20 on a lottery ticket that I most likely will not win anything from worth it?

Is taking out the trash now so that I don’t have to do it early tomorrow morning worth it?

Is closing out this social media app so that I can read instead worth it? 

No person ever chooses to do something that they do not believe will be worth it. This is the calculation that’s being made at all times. The reward is ALWAYS believed to be worth the risk, so to speak. This is why a person’s purpose is so important! The individual whose purpose is to feel good about themselves will filter every decision through that. The person whose purpose is to love the people around them, or to glorify God, will equally decide and act towards these substantial ends. 

Many people struggle because they are not clear on the purpose that is dictating what is and is not worth it to them. Others maintain a purpose that is simply too small or too selfish. Still others are so shrouded in fear or insecurity that no light of healthy decision making can ever peak through.

Making it Worth it

So as a boss, how can you ensure that the job is worth it for your employees? As a person, how can you ensure that you are spending your time on things that are worth doing? While there are a few true answers to this question, here’s a very practical one:

Offer NOVELTY and PURPOSE!

Author Peter Davis holds that “The two forces that keep us going in life are novelty and purpose. We get out of bed in the morning because something new or something purposeful might happen”. So, all that you and I must do is create and maintain either (or ideally BOTH) novelty and purpose for ourselves and for those who are in our sphere!

In Closing

Is the job and experience that you are providing for employees clearly worth it for them? Would you be excited to be an employee in your own organization? Is your current job worth it to you? Are you spending your personal time in ways that are valuable? Do you have a clearly defined, healthy purpose? Is it magnetic enough to lead you to do difficult things that will reach worthwhile outcomes?