Absent from most economic reports this past year, optimism has made its way into some financial forecasts as 2010 gives way to 2011.

In spite of this silver economic lining, many Californians had less consumer confidence—a critical gauge of the economy—at the end of the year, according to a December report by the Conference Board, a New York-based international research group. The fiscal pessimism has, some experts say, led many employees to remain at their jobs despite feeling unhappy in the workplace.

“I think a lot of people are holding on to what they have for dear life and are often not so happy with the situation,” said Gloria Miele, founder of Camarillo-based Optimal Development Coaching.

Still in the grasp of what has become known as the Great Recession, major economic indicators have pointed to a better year ahead for America’s economy. The unemployment rate dipped a half percent in December to 9.5 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local retailers recently reported betterthan expected sales over Christmas, and the number of foreclosures of area homes has, for the moment, dropped.

Yet, with an estimated 14.5 million still unemployed and millions more underemployed in the U.S., workers who may have more readily left a job they didn’t like before the recession are now staying put.

As a result, a growing number of employees often feel unsatisfied with their job, a problem that not only hurts company morale but can also affect the bottom line.

Miele said there are a few simple things employees and those hiring them can do that will make their jobs better and improve productivity.

Focus on what works

A business consultant since 2005 and a psychologist for more than 20 years, Miele said unhappy employees need to first identify the aspects of the job that they enjoy the most. Typically this work plays to a person’s strengths.

“People who report that Miele they get to do what they do best every day are much more likely to stay in a job,” she said. “They are much more likely to be Ricardi satisfied with their work.”

She added that when employees focus on the parts of the job that make them happiest, it increases productivity and job performance.

“Sometimes you’ve just got to get in there and, you know, do what you’ve got to do, but there are these little tweaks that you can make that can improve the quality of what you’re doing as well,” Miele said.

Employees should feel comfortable talking about this with their bosses, she said.

Communication is critical

Which is why Miele said communication is a key to keeping employees engaged and a company moving forward.

John Ricardi, a Camarillo-based business consultant, said managers need to develop a “fearless” work environment by ensuring employees know where the company stands and what needs to be done to move it forward. He said this is done by ongoing communication between all levels of a company, creating a sense of teamwork.

Ricardi said when employees understand and support an employer’s vision for the business and feel empowered to talk about how to make the company better, productivity and office morale improve.

“They’re going to be all working toward that common goal,” said Ricardi, an entrepreneur who founded HiTech Initiatives in 2007.

A recent Gallup report showed that in the top-performing international companies, the ratio of actively engaged employees outranked those who felt disconnected from the company by 10-to-1. The poll also found that in organizations that had only average performance, the ratio is less than 2-to-1.

“If you can get the whole team buying into the vision, (the business) is going to do better,” Miele said. “They’re going to be all working toward that common goal.”

Positive thinking

Both Ricardi and Miele said maintaining a positive attitude is crucial for both workers and bosses.

“The reason we get bogged down is because we’re focusing on the negative,” Miele said. “Once you start focusing on the negative, it can just kind of make a mask over any positive that is going on.”

Ricardi said employees can foster a positive attitude by focusing “on the small day-to-day accomplishments rather than the bigger picture.”

Recognition

The down economy has forced many companies to trim expenses, particularly payroll, as a way to protect the bottom line. Incentives such as raises, bonuses and other company perks are not available to employers as a way to motivate their staff.

“(Small businesses owners) are really feeling the pinch right now, and they really need to think about these low-cost yet effective ways to keep people engaged,” Miele said.

She said employers can give such simple perks as more flexible work schedules, access to professional development programs and days off.

Ricardi said larger companies can use stock options to reward workers.

The two consultants agreed that bosses who show appreciation for a job well done, even with a simple e-mail or word of encouragement, often see better performance from their staff.

‘Hidden job market’

Experts say that only a small percentage of those who job hunt solely using the Internet find employment and that most job interviews are given based on a referral.

“I’d say less than 10 percent of those who go to job board websites or other Internet sites for jobs ever land a job,” Miele said.

What’s the best way to find work? Ricardi and Miele agree on the answer: networking.

“There’s really what’s being called a hidden job market out there,” Miele said. “The only way to find out about jobs is to know people and to talk to people.”

She said employers don’t want to post job openings on the Internet because they don’t want to be “inundated with hundreds and hundreds of resumes.” Instead, many simply solicit the job opening through a close network of coworkers, friends and family, which is why it’s important for job seekers to tell as many people as possible the type of job they want.

“They have got to network like crazy,” Ricardi said. “Work your network and then grow your network.”

The Chamber of Commerce, service organizations, church groups and other volunteer opportunities all offer a chance to network.

Ricardi said it’s also important to reach out to job recruiters and to contact other professional development services such as the All Cities Networking Group and ProVisors.

The two consultants said diligence is important but maintaining a positive attitude is critical to finding a new job.

“You just have to keep a positive attitude,” Ricardi said. “That is the most important thing.”