Let’s take it back to that introductory psychology course you took in college for a moment: Remember Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? It’s that pyramid-shaped chart with physiological needs at the bottom and self-actualization at the top. It’s great for understanding what you need to be truly content in life, but it’s also helpful for you to use when examining how you feel about your workplace and what you’d like to find for yourself in another potential employer.
What is the hierarchy of needs?
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In 1943, psychologist Abraham Maslow came up with the hierarchy of needs, a ranking of what you have to have fulfilled in your life to reach self-actualization. Self-actualization is the fulfillment of your talents and potential, so in a broad sense, it’s your overall well-being. When it comes to work, it’s your maximum output and fulfillment.
Your needs have to be met in order before you get to the self-actualization at the top of the pyramid. The bottom layer is your physiological needs, like food, water, and shelter. The next layer up is safety needs, like health and financial security. Then you get to love and belonging, so your relationships—and the things that go with them, like trust and intimacy—fall here. Esteem needs come next, and this layer refers to the respect you get from others but also the respect you give yourself.
To grasp the concept and apply it in your life, check out these tools:
How does it apply to your career?
You can use the famous hierarchy to examine whether your current workplace is a good fit for you and/or figure out what kind of work environment would be right for you. Consider these factors.
Physiological needs: Contemplate what kind of physical environment you like at work. Per The Muse, for instance, ask yourself if you prefer quiet or you like to chat with coworkers. Do you feel most productive when you’re comfy at home, working from your couch, or do you get a boost from donning your best business casual and commuting to the office? The basics—like freedom to use the bathroom or grab a snack—fall under this category, so consider those, too.
Safety needs: This one is especially key for analyzing your job and associated satisfaction, since it includes your health and financial security. Consider not only your insurance benefits and salary, but how safe you feel at work, as pointed out by Chron. Do you feel confident you won’t be sexually harassed or physically harmed? Do you feel secure in your employment overall or worried you might get laid off? Does your company provide enough money for you to feel financially secure? These are important to ask yourself not only when looking at your current role, but when considering a future one, so use them as the basis for any questions you might ask a hiring manager if and when you’re looking to make a move.
Love and belonging: This one doesn’t necessarily refer to your workplace relationships as much as it does to your relationship to your workplace itself. Employees do better work when they feel included and like they belong somewhere. If you don’t feel like you belong, according to Indeed, you probably won’t feel as engaged at work. So, what makes you feel like you belong? Is it diversity initiatives, being included in group decisions, or chummy relationships with your colleagues? Company culture is big for this level.
Esteem: Here’s where respect comes in. Ask yourself not only if you feel like you and your work are held in high enough esteem by your supervisors, but if you respect the work you’re doing. If you don’t feel like you’re contributing to a greater good or you think your work is beneath you, you won’t meet your esteem needs, even if you do fine on the other levels of the pyramid. Indeed points out that you need to feel like you’re contributing to a higher goal and those contributions are adequately recognized. When considering a new gig, it may be hard to determine if you’ll be recognized by your superiors, but competitive salary offers and a hiring manager’s willingness to negotiate with you can clue you in that your skills are seen and desired. Always keep in mind whether you believe in a company’s mission: A paycheck helps you knock out the physiological and safety needs, but to be fully fulfilled all the way, you’re going to need to care about the work.
Self-actualization: This is what you’ll hit when those other four layers are taken care of and you’ll know you’ve made it because you’re jazzed about work, you’re producing and getting results, and you’re feeling empowered.