A few days back, I was reading about reward systems. Selecting the right rewards for employees has always been an issue in human resource management. Many organizations cannot identify the rewards which are best to foster job satisfaction.

After pondering for some time, I felt the issues highlighted also apply in areas of right placement or career option.

For example, while it is tempting to promote a high-performing salesperson to a managerial role, one cannot be sure that the salesperson will be the same enthusiastic team member that he was before the promotion. The promoted salesperson could miss the adrenaline rush that used to come from being on the road and meeting new customers once he has to manage a team and push the members to do the same job regularly.

A similar logic applies to those seeking employment in other companies and aspiring entrepreneurs. Many decide to move from high-paying salaried roles to a start-up. Sometimes, brilliant innovators chose to work for a company rather than start their own.

A similar story is that of Neetu Sharma. She had been working in the packaging department of a pharma company earning a fixed monthly pay-out, plus overtime. Her husband, a driver, and their daughter are also employed. Her son is still in school, studying in Class 10. In effect, three of the four members of the family were employed, with fixed salaries, which is an achievement for those living at the bottom of the financial pyramid in rural India.

But Neetu was not content. She wanted to start her own business—a business where she could make her own decisions and her hard work would directly impact her growth. For this, she was ready to deal with the uncertainty of a business income.

She rented a shopping space and started selling groceries, household supplies and personal care products. When she approached Village Financial Services for a loan, we helped her with a business plan and provided the capital.

When we talk to Neetu today, she expresses a level of satisfaction that is contagious, even to us. She has found the right placement: not as an employee, but as an entrepreneur.

The principles of human resource management seem applicable to a broader spectrum. It is up to us to find ways of enhancing our satisfaction with our job and work environment. At regular intervals, it is extremely important to look at our roles from a distance to get a fresh perspective on what we are doing and the level of satisfaction we enjoy. Research has proven that there is a significant and positive relationship between job satisfaction and success. Those satisfied with their roles will end up with higher self-esteem, increased confidence, and greater willingness to take on new challenges and create an environment where they can influence others.