What is it that you like the most about your current job?

This is a question I like to ask people I meet. I like the sparkle in the eye, as I see the brains working to find the most wonderful thing about their job. I can almost see the thoughts rushing through, going through the gate of "is this answer good enough?". Because what people have been telling me is mostly a very simple answer: they feel empowered.

But when does one feel empowered? When the individual's values are aligned with the values of the company he is working for. Simon Sinek has been talking about this in his TED talk about the power of "why", Jerry Porras touched the subject in his Leadership and vision talk, Steve Jobs has been talking about how core values keep him going.

So why is it that we still do not take into account the company values when we apply for a new job, or when we ponder why we don't grow in a job? I would guess that one reason is that individuals do not necessary stop to ask what their values are. Especially nowadays, people are happy to get a job. Only a few are actually selecting the companies that they apply to or choose to stay in. What would happen if you are very environmentally conscious, and the company would use paper cups all the time, print when not necessary, not recycle? How would you feel? How would this affect your motivation and productivity? How about your relationship with your colleagues?

Imagine that the people around you do not care about some beliefs that you simply cannot exist without. How would your relationship with them be affected? How would your commitment to your own work be affected? What would this mean in terms of company targets and own targets?

Do me a favor. Next time when you check the company's website, spend 2 minutes to read about the company values. Ask yourself, am I and the company on the same page? Do we share the same beliefs? It's just like a marriage: you need a strong foundation to have a fulfilling relationship.