5 Surprising Statistics About Executive Job Dissatisfaction

It’s been estimated that we spend one-third of our lives at work. That’s right, one-third of our life.

Most of us began our careers with optimism and passion about the success and accomplishment we hoped to find in our professional roles.

So why is it that satisfaction with work can be so challenging?

The Importance of Job Satisfaction

Study after study points to the importance of job satisfaction in overall workplace performance and career longevity. When our personal fulfillment intersects with our ability to achieve and accomplish success in our work, it becomes the difference between thriving or simply surviving in our careers.

And here’s why this matters. According to experts from IBM’s Smarter Workforce Institute and the Globoforce WorkHuman Analytics and Research Institute in their large-scale research study:

• Organizations that score in the top 25% on employee experience report nearly three times the return on assets compared to organizations in the bottom quartile.
• Organizations that score in the top 25% on employee experience report double the return on sales compared to organizations in the bottom quartile.

Executive Job Dissatisfaction Is Rising

Feeling satisfied with your job is needed at all levels of an organization. And you likely won’t be surprised to learn that job dissatisfaction affects executives just as much, if not more, than other employees.

In recent years, executive job dissatisfaction has been on the rise. This trend isn't just anecdotal but supported by data. Forbes has referred to this as “the emotional crumbling of leaders.”

A recent Deloitte study found the following statistics:

• 41% of senior leaders are stressed
• 36% are exhausted
• 74% of leaders face obstacles when it comes to achieving their well-being goals
• 69% are thinking about quitting because of their terrible state of well-being.

Common Causes of Executive Job Dissatisfaction

It’s easy to understand why leadership comes with unique stressors. Some of the most common reasons why executives experience dissatisfaction at work are tied to the following:

1. High Stress and Pressure

Leadership means increasing responsibility and overseeing entire departments or organizations, which often leads to overwhelming stress and expectations.

2. Misalignment with Company Values or Direction

Leaders may have started their role feeling aligned with the company’s mission, but over time, shifts in the business strategy or leadership vision can lead to misalignment, resulting in dissatisfaction.

3. Work-Life Balance Challenges

Many executives struggle to separate their work from their personal lives. The pressure to be constantly available or travel extensively throughout the year can lead to burnout and strain on personal relationships.

4. Limited Growth Opportunities

The top of the corporate ladder has fewer rungs to climb, and without new challenges or opportunities for professional development, leaders can feel stagnant or stuck.

5. Inadequate Compensation or Recognition

Executives often face frustration over inequitable rewards compared to the level of effort and responsibility they shoulder.

Job dissatisfaction is a reality for many executives. And while this presents a career challenge, therein also lies an opportunity to make changes that can improve both your professional and personal fulfillment at work.

How To Turn Job Dissatisfaction Into a Career Opportunity

Leadership Coaching

Coaching is a powerful tool for addressing the high stakes and significant impact of executive dissatisfaction by helping executives to successfully manage critical blockages and accelerants to success.

With coaching, leaders can immediately take charge and improve their careers through increased self-awareness, better stress management, and clearer career direction. Leadership coaches help executives identify the root causes of their dissatisfaction and develop personalized tools and strategies to overcome them.

By offering a fresh perspective and expertise, coaches assist leaders in better navigating internal challenges, improving their decision-making processes, leading more effectively, and fostering a healthier work-life balance.

Career Transition Coaching

Executives who feel stuck in their role or organization often look to pivot into a new role, or new sectors that align better with their personal values and long-term career goals.

Executive Career Transition services and coaching can help leaders create and explore multiple career options, including corporate roles similar to those in (or looking to exit), entrepreneurship, venture capital, board positions, consulting, philanthropic, not-for-profit, or academic posts.

Valuing Company Culture

As a leader, you can immediately look for ways you can improve the culture in your organization to help increase job satisfaction and engagement across all levels of employees.

Executives especially want to align themselves with companies whose values resonate with their own, where they can see themselves making meaningful contributions and where their leadership style can thrive.” Are there ways you can make that happen right where you are?

And for leaders looking for new roles and organizations, top executive candidates are not only seeking high salaries and prestigious titles; they are increasingly prioritizing the cultural fit of an organization, according to Grey Search & Strategy.

Finding Fulfillment in Your Career

Steve Jobs championed the importance of job satisfaction when he said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”

If you are looking to find more satisfaction in your career, we’d love to help. Learn more about how we help executives achieve peak performance through coaching, executive development, and career transition services.