Security

As an individual with the SECURITY motive, you have a distinct need to feel secure in your work life. SECURITY, whether emotional and psychological, or financial and physical (or all of them together) is one of the keystones to your motivation and being well at work. Psychological safety may look like working in an environment that’s free of excessive criticism, where you can be yourself, and where people aren’t unfairly punished for mistakes or disagreements. Financial SECURITY likely includes seeing a stable financial future for yourself and being reasonably assured of ongoing employment. Of course, everyone wants SECURITY to some extent. Having SECURITY as a motive however, means your wellbeing is directly contingent upon the degree to which you feel like the things that matter to you are protected. You are demotivated and discouraged by workplaces that penalize employees out of hand, or in situations where things you hope would be consistent or safe feel out of control. You want a foundation of SECURITY at work that leaves you without many reasons to worry or doubt. You’re attracted to workplaces that support good rapport between management and employees, and you feel energized when trust and communication make your job SECURITY clear. Stability invigorates you and preserves you from undue stress and anxiety. When you have SECURITY you have the mental capacity to perform with enthusiasm and attention. When you don’t, both your professional and personal wellbeing suffer. If this motive is severely at risk, your ability to meet your other top motives may be as well. When your personal definition of SECURITY is met, you are productive and deeply dependable.

 You feel this motive being met when…

+ You feel safe and at ease in your work life: physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

+ Your job and income are stable and dependable.

+ You feel confident that you know what to expect at work.

+ You have good job SECURITY, and are unlikely to lose your job due to factors outside of your control.

 This motive is at risk when…

– Your workplace has a high turnover rate or undergoes frequent layoffs.

– Your job currently involves a lot of unpredictability – whether around income, consistency of work, caliber of client, or shifting expectations.

– You don’t feel physically, mentally, or emotionally safe at work.

– You’ve honestly assessed any insecurity that you feel in your job and have determined that this discomfort stems from exterior factors, not your own attitudes or internal insecurities.

A Work Wellness Check-In for SECURITY

1.  When I think about my typical work week, what are the top 5 emotions I associate with my experience? How secure do I feel when I look at that list?
2. What areas of SECURITY matter most to me in my work life? Physical, psychological, emotional, financial… or all of the previous? Something else?
3. In what specific ways do I feel safe, at ease, and comfortable at work? Where do I feel unsafe, worry, or uncomfortable?
4. In which areas of my work life do I feel most insecure? Why do I feel a lack of SECURITY there? What is in my control to help change this?
5. Does my job provide financial SECURITY, or do I feel that my financial situation is at risk?
6. Does my company confront and oppose workplace discrimination, harassment, or violence?
7. Can I be myself at work without fear of negative consequences?
8. Are feelings of uncertainty about parts of my work life weakening this motive? Would building my tolerance for discomfort help ease the stress of this or is the degree of uncertainty too high or unhealthy?

9. If my SECURITY motive isn’t quite as strong as I would like it to be, is that a bad thing? For example, if I felt completely secure would that mean I wasn’t taking risks, going out of my comfort zone or pushing myself to meet my other motives? What is a balanced healthy level of SECURITY I am aiming for taking my other needs into consideration?
10. Do I know what to expect at work, or is the routine consistently chaotic?
11. What aspects of my work life are most secure? Do I focus there or only on where I feel insecure? What mindset can I cultivate to help me meet this motive?
12. If routines or protocols change, am I given a heads-up? Do I have a voice in changes or decisions that affect me? Does my team confront change together, or is change out of our control?
13. How prepared am I for work-related surprises? What can I do to feel more prepared? Can I list 1-3 practical, actionable steps?
14. To what degree do I feel my workplace culture encourages us to ask questions, offer our opinions, and pursue goals securely? To what degree do I experience fear, worry, or pressure to get the right answer or risk being penalized for a mistake?
15. Are my colleagues and supervisors trustworthy? Do I feel confident that they support me?
16. If I find myself worrying about work, do I notice myself focusing on what I can’t control, or do I focus more on what I can? Would putting more of my mental energy toward things that are reliably in my control help me meet this motive?
17. If I feel at all insecure at work, can I locate the origin of this insecurity? Is there something causing me to feel insecure that would be wise for me to discuss with management, colleagues, or HR?
18. If I do not feel entirely secure, are these discomforts something I can grow and learn through? Or are they something I need relief from in order to be my most healthy and fulfilled self?