subject: The Carlos Tevez Affair Why Even The Highest Salary Can't Guarantee Happiness [print this page] Football, it's a funny old gameFootball, it's a funny old game. People in the UK follow the sport obsessively, and the amount of money now rattling around the Premier League has only added to the intrigue surrounding the top clubs and their players. So when the best paid player at the richest team in the league hands in a transfer request, it tends to grab the headlines.
For those who don't follow the sport, the Carlos Tevez saga that has dominated the back pages this weekend has centred on the highest paid player at one of the world's richest clubs demanding to leave after less than 2 years wearing their famous blue shirt. Add to the equation that he left their big city rivals Manchester United to come and play for them, plus the amount of attention that City drew to this fact when he joined, and you have a very intriguing story indeed.
So stepping back slightly from the accusations and recriminations, what can drive a talented player at a leading team being paid the highest salary to declare their intention to leave?
Whatever industry you are in, there are always external factors that will affect your happiness at work. Whether it's family issues, relationships with your bosses or problems with how you're managed, there will always be factors other than the size of your pay cheque that will determine your levels of workplace satisfaction.
Although it is important, it isn't just the size of your pay cheque that dictates how happy you will be to go to work. When you enter the office on a Monday morning, there are lots of factors that will influence how happy you will be to take your seat for another week, so let's take a look at what might make even the best paid of employees look elsewhere.
Don't Get On With The Boss
No matter how well you're paid, if you don't see eye to eye with those in charge it can make even the best paid job go down the toilet. If you don't feel listened to or feel that your opinions are swept aside it can be quite difficult to maintain a successful working relationship. It can also leave you with a feeling that any progression within the company could be doomed for the start, and may well tempt your best staff to look elsewhere. Everybody is different, so make an effort to get on with all employees. Be shown to be a good listener and don't just dismiss other ideas, even if you don't agree with them.
Lack of Incentives & Motivation
Motivation and incentives don't just arrive in the form of a weighty bank transfer every month and some of the biggest breakdowns in a working relationship can arrive when staff don't feel appreciated. There's nothing worse than giving your all for an employer who takes it for granted, and using incentives such as corporate gifts to show your gratitude can go along way towards making staff feel appreciated. Sometimes just a simple "thank you" can go a long way, and using corporate gifts to give employees something to aim for can be an effective way of focussing their efforts and rewarding achievement.
Troubles At Home
No matter how good things are at work, even the best managers can't make everything good at employees' homes. They can quickly become problems at work though if managers are not seen to understand or be sympathetic. Although you can't control what happens outside of work, have a sympathetic approach. By helping employees to deal with their external problems without work being a factor you will greatly endear your organisation to them and stop their eyes from wandering elsewhere.
There are many factors outside of the pay packet that will influence levels of staff morale, and where possible managers should look at these as opportunities to increase their employees' motivation and enjoyment in their role. Even when youre one of the best paid footballers in the world and playing for a team that are challenging for the title, things can quickly go sour if all events are not managed correctly. Be a good listener who is sympathetic to employees' needs and offer incentives and motivational tools such as corporate gifts to make sure staff feel listened to and appreciated. And sometimes, just saying thank you might just do the trick.
