PRESTIGE

PRESTIGE, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, is a widespread respect and admiration based on a perception of achievement or quality. As an individual who finds PRESTIGE to be of top importance, you desire to do work, or work for a company, you hold in high esteem and regard. If your workplace or own company has integrity and industry influence, this helps you to feel confident that you’re giving your time and effort to something worthwhile. You like to feel that the positive qualities of your organization reflect well on you. The more positive qualities your company, brand or work has, the more proud and motivated you feel about your work. Maintaining an admirable relationship with your company is key, but within that relationship, the PRESTIGE motive can be satisfied in multiple and diverse ways. These ways vary from person to person. One PRESTIGE-driven individual may thrive working for a well-established company that has a household brand name, while someone else may feel more fulfilled working for a less-known company whose mission or impact is nonetheless meaningful, innovative, or reputable. PRESTIGE may lie in your ability to work with the best in your field; or you may be most motivated when you feel your company’s credibility and success affirm your own. Regardless of the details of your relationship with PRESTIGE, you are energized when your work and workplace has an admirable and positive impact and reputation. You may feel deeply unsettled if your company or brand’s image falters, if its credibility comes into question, or if its success is compromised. You invest most and feel best when your organization maintains an exceptional performance and authentic image and you consistently feel proud of the work you do. 

 You feel this motive being met when…

+ You feel proud of your brand, company, or organization.

+ Working where you do affirms your larger goals and your professional sense of self.

+ Your colleagues and managers are exceptionally capable – perhaps leaders in their field – and you feel good about your association with them.

 This motive is at risk when…

– Your community is unaware of your company’s image or impact and / or does not perceive it as credible, important, or useful.

– Even over time, your company or organization isn’t making a noticeable difference in your cause or industry.

– Your company or organization has recently lost trust with you, within your community, or within your larger industry, and it is doubtful whether this trust can be recovered.

A Work Wellness Check-In for PRESTIGE

1. On a scale of 1-10, how proud do I feel about working at my company? (1 = I do not feel proud, and may even feel unfavorably towards it; 10 = I could not be prouder to work at my company).
2. What are the first 10 words that come to mind when I consider my brand, work or company? Do I feel those words reflect the values I desire in my work life?
3. When I’m honest and set aside any personal bias, is my workplace genuinely credible and reliable? If so, do I celebrate and appreciate this enough?
4. When I mention my company, brand, work or clients outside of work, do people know what I’m talking about? Are they familiar with what I do and who I do it for? Does this matter to me? Is their perception of my organization positive?
5. Do I feel proud of the work I do and who I do it for? Do I share that with others to elevate this motive?
6. When I describe my company to other people, what do I focus on? Are there qualities I’d like to share that my company doesn’t currently manifest? Could those qualities be developed down the road? Is there something I can do to influence that?
7. How do I feel about my personal contribution, or my team and company’s contribution to my field or industry?
   

8.  Do I work with talented people whom I admire? Would I like to work more or less with some of them? How can I position myself to work with people who inspire me (in recognition that this could be helpful to my PRESTIGE motive)?
9. Has my company earned meaningful recognition? If recognition is important to my motivation (PRESTIGE motive), are there awards or programs for which I could nominate my company that would increase recognition and PRESTIGE? Can I garner publicity for the company or brand quality, uniqueness, programs, or community impact?
10. How do I feel about my company’s reputation? How do I personally contribute?
11. What is it about working at a prestigious company that most appeals to me? (e.g. the company’s credibility and success affirms my own; greater opportunity to learn and grow my skills; the chance to work with high caliber people; better pay and benefits; the household name; the inspiring mission…)
12. Do my company’s mission, vision, and values show up in ways that create a reputable and exceptional image to my peers and the public? Does it live up to this PRESTIGE and a positive reputation?
13. Do I enjoy being able to show off my brand or company? Or am I conflicted? Why or why not?
14. Do I find that my perceptions of my company differ from the perceptions of the public or of those outside my company? If so, how, and does this bother me?