How do you define job satisfaction?
There’s no easy answer.
When we have a level of satisfaction that is sufficient we know it, and those that care about us can see it, and we can say “I am really satisfied with my job right now.”
Under-employment is being caged or confined to do work that does not allow you to use your full capability ( Current-Actual-Capability ) within the tasks assigned. It is generally manifested through a person having “bigger ideas” and application of the work and seeing connections for improvement being told “That is not your job, stay in your area and do what you are told.”
When you have set the foundation and are sure that the delegation is appropriate and you are able to see how this delegation assignment is meant to increase your managerial-leadership leverage AND develop the employee WHILE freeing up time for the discretionary areas of judgment…then the solution to effective delegation happens.
Any manager has the ability to make work a joy or miserable. If your manager is great perhaps you are on a project team and that project manager has the ability to make you feel great and want to do more or make you want to stop everything and do as little as possible.
Within organizations and teams we want everyone to be accountable, capable and have the necessary authority to complete their work. This can only come about through shared respect and reciprocal helping relationships of the team-members and management. Immanuel Kant in his ‘Kingdom of Ends’ formulation supplies a good foundation of thought and actions, in creating this workplace environment.