1. Discontent in
the Workplace
How to deal with
the weeds of discontent

2. Discontent in the Workplace
Definition
• Discontent is a state of not
being satisfied or fulfilled in
your current situation:
– Absence of contentment.
– A restless longing for better
circumstances.
– Dissatisfaction with a
circumstance.

3. Discontent in the Workplace
Life situations
• Such a negative feeling can be found in a hundred
different situations in our life, from a work-related
issue to a personal issue at home.

4. Discontent in the Workplace
Different ways to approach discontentment
Unfortunately, many people that fall into
discontent tend to remain depressed and
sad during long life periods.
But some others face that situation and
change their life in such a way as to
eliminate that feeling of distressing and
dissatisfaction.

5. Discontent in the Workplace
Important fact
• As much as some
employers would like to say
that all their employees are
a happy and satisfied group,
the fact is that there will
always be discontented
employees to handle.

6. Discontent in the Workplace
Main studies about discontent in the workplace
The Deloitte
global study
revealed that
in 2011:

7. Discontent in the Workplace
Spotting discontent signs in our department
• There are several signs to help
HR spot a discontented
employee:
– Coming late and/or leaving early.
– Gossiping and being disruptive
with colleagues.
– Being unhappy with personal
development and career paths.
– “Playing the victim”.
– Not completing work on time
and/or avoiding meetings

8. Discontent in the Workplace
The weeds of discontent
• Like weeds in a garden, negative
feelings and life approaches can
grow and heavily affect our
professional life.
• Too many people allow the weeds
of discontent to grow and it can
start with something as simple as
your boss ignoring one of your
comments or a simple
misunderstanding inside your
department.

9. Discontent in the Workplace
Ways to stop the weeds of discontent
• Don’t let any negative situation
fester.
– Waiting is almost always wrong and
creates a vacuum for people to fill in
the blanks themselves.
• Focus on the behavior and
choices, not the personality.
• Get the facts, talk to all parties.
– Don’t jump to conclusions and don’t
accept the first thing you hear as
gospel.

10. Discontent in the Workplace
Ways to stop the weeds of discontent
• Be open to new ideas.
– Studying is the best way to find
new life approaches and solutions
to our challenges.
• Be consistent with your actions.
– Deal with the weeds each and
every time you see them pop up.
– Inconsistent behavior causes
confusion and loss of trust.

11. Discontent in the Workplace
Important warnings
• Sometimes outside pressures
cause a breakdown at work.
• Stress from other sources
can lead to stress at work,
too. If you may have them
seek counseling.

12. Discontent in the Workplace
Conclusion
• Life is a set of “ups and downs” and we
should be aware of them to avoid living
in Hell most of our time.
• We need to learn how to better deal
with our feelings when facing life
challenges and obstacles.
• And learning about it is the best way to
avoid mistakes and misunderstanding,
being ready to deal with life and its
main associates.

13. Discontent in the Workplace
Our References
• We would like to thank the following
writers for their expressive contribution for
this presentation:
– Edward B. Toupin, life-strategy coach, counselor,
and technical writer.
– Priya de Langen, “Employee discontent: Spotting
the early warning signs”.
– Kaihan Krippendorff, “Discontent Leads to
Success”.

14. Discontent in the Workplace
Our Business Contacts
Feel free to send us an e-mail.
Our Website:
www.licoreis.com
Our E-mail:
licoreis@licoreis.com
licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Linkedin: Roberto de Paula Lico Júnior
Skype: roberto.lico
Twitter: @licoreis