Satisficing: Why being content can result in satisfactory work

In university I was taught the word “satisficing” in my organizational behaviour course. It means to simply take the best at the moment or to make the best decision possible with all the information we have. Someone today said to me “it seems like having a job and having a dream job you actually want are two completely different things.” That to me seems like a waste because 3 months down the road you’ll realize that the job you took because you “satisficed” is a living nightmare. Personally, I think there are too many people in positions where they are completely content with where they are and see a job as a job and not as a position to improve their career. To each his/her own but a job is not a job but a series of career decisions to challenge oneself and improve one’s skill set. My previous employer once told me “you want to be waiting at the bus stop when that opportunity comes along. Who knows when the next bus will come by?” If one is satisficing then one is not expecting a bus to come by and outputs satisfactory work. In hiring people, I think it’s key to hire people that want to move up in their career. It means the person shows ambition to move up in their career and he/she will strive to do their best so he/she can move up. Some people are content with where they are and choose not to wait for the bus and let is pass them by. If you don’t want to miss the opportunity then make sure you’re dressed to play and on time.

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