--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One source of frustration in the…" description: "\"One source of frustration in the workplace is the frequent mismatch between what people must do and what people can do. When what they must do exceeds ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/daniel-h-pink-1532_anxiety_one-source-of-frustration-in-the-workpla_3020802.png" --- # One source of frustration in the workplace is the frequent… ![“One source of frustration in the workplace is the frequent mismatch between what people must do and what people can do. When what they must do exceeds their capabilities, the result is anxiety. When what they must do falls short of their capabilities, the result is boredom. But when the match is…” quote by Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/daniel-h-pink-1532_anxiety_one-source-of-frustration-in-the-workpla_3020802.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/daniel-h-pink-1532_anxiety_one-source-of-frustration-in-the-workpla_3020802.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/daniel-h-pink-1532_anxiety_one-source-of-frustration-in-the-workpla_3020802.png) > “One source of frustration in the workplace is the frequent mismatch between what people must do and what people can do. When what they must do exceeds their capabilities, the result is anxiety. When what they must do falls short of their capabilities, the result is boredom. But when the match is just right, the results can be glorious. This is the essence of flow.” [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When tasks match abilities, people enter flow, leading to high performance and satisfaction. **In simple terms:** Fit tasks to skills. Key Takeaway Seek flow experiences. Themes productivity flow skill alignment Mood motivated focused Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - project management - career planning - learning Key Concepts psychology motivation performance Questions to Reflect On - What tasks currently mismatch? - How to adjust workload for flow? A Different Perspective Mismatched tasks cause anxiety or boredom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Bored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bored/) [Boredom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boredom/) [Boredom Match](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boredom-match-4888852/) [Capability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/) [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Flow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flow/) [Frustration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustration/) [Frustration Workplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustration-workplace-4888851/) [Glorious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glorious/) [Mismatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mismatch/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Result Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/result-anxiety-4888853/) [Result Boredom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/result-boredom-3508333/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/source/) [Workplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workplace/) ## Related quotes > [“Boredom is the very opposite of beauty and truth. Life has been sacrificed to profit, and the result is boredom on a massive scale.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/boredom-is-the-very-opposite-of-beauty-and-truth-life-has-been/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [If the only reason people are coming in and doing anything in your office is because you're giving them a paycheck, I'm not sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/if-the-only-reason-people-are-coming-in-and-doing-anything-in-your/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [We can speak of the triumph of capitalism in the world, but we cannot yet speak about the triumph of democracy. There is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/we-can-speak-of-the-triumph-of-capitalism-in-the-world-but-we-cannot/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [“The arbiter of a demanding wargame rendered the word "mismatch" as "challenge" in his language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/star-trek-the-next-generation/the-arbiter-of-a-demanding-wargame-rendered-the-word-mismatch-as/) [Star Trek The Next Generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/star-trek-the-next-generation/) > [Switch if you have to! It's not the mismatch that beats you, it's the open shot!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-majerus/switch-if-you-have-to-it-s-not-the-mismatch-that-beats-you-it-s-the/) [Rick Majerus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-majerus/) > [Entranced by promises of a material paradise of limitless luxury, humanity has too long ignored the mismatch between the imperatives of our existence as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-korten/entranced-by-promises-of-a-material-paradise-of-limitless-luxury/) [David Korten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-korten/) > [There have been times in my adolescence where I gave up. I was like, 'I'm just never going to be pretty. I'm never going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronda-rousey/there-have-been-times-in-my-adolescence-where-i-gave-up-i-was-like-i/) [Ronda Rousey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronda-rousey/) > [The mismatch is not what gets you beat. What gets you beat is giving up the uncontested, open shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-majerus/the-mismatch-is-not-what-gets-you-beat-what-gets-you-beat-is-giving/) [Rick Majerus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-majerus/) > [...how much needless despair has been caused by a series of biological mismatches, a misalignment of the hormones and pheromones? Resulting in the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/how-much-needless-despair-has-been-caused-by-a-series-of-biological/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [There shouldn't be a death in the ring. There should never have been deaths in the ring, because people - deaths in the ring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdie-pacheco/there-shouldn-t-be-a-death-in-the-ring-there-should-never-have-been/) [Ferdie Pacheco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdie-pacheco/) > [It's frustrating sometimes to see the mismatch in resources between the pointless and the urgent, isn't it. Like the gap between the vast resources…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/it-s-frustrating-sometimes-to-see-the-mismatch-in-resources-between/) [Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/) > [When you're working with vibes the music comes right in. The blend is perfect. So to me it was never a mismatch. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-perhacs/when-you-re-working-with-vibes-the-music-comes-right-in-the-blend-is/) [Linda Perhacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-perhacs/) > [“Millions of business people are each constantly forced to choose between their desire to not be a bad person and their desire to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/millions-of-business-people-are-each-constantly-forced-to-choose/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Most people... find a disorientating mismatch between the long-term nature of their liabilities and the increasingly short-term nature of their assets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/most-people-find-a-disorientating-mismatch-between-the-long-term/) [James A. Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-baldwin/) > [We have seen a growing mismatch between the command of media communication shown by the most talented politicians, and the halting, uneven progress which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bentley/we-have-seen-a-growing-mismatch-between-the-command-of-media/) [Tom Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bentley/) ## More by Daniel H. Pink > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“morning people to be pleasant, productive folks—“introverted,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/morning-people-to-be-pleasant-productive-folks-introverted/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“tweeters felt active, engaged, and hopeful—generally rose in the morning, plummeted in the afternoon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/tweeters-felt-active-engaged-and-hopeful-generally-rose-in-the/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The longer it takes for a boss to respond to their e-mails, the less satisfied people are with their leader.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-longer-it-takes-for-a-boss-to-respond-to-their-e-mails-the-less/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [For creative tasks, the best approach is often just to hire great people and get out of their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/for-creative-tasks-the-best-approach-is-often-just-to-hire-great/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The less evidence of extrinsic motivation during art school, the more success in professional art both several years after graduation and nearly twenty years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-less-evidence-of-extrinsic-motivation-during-art-school-the-more/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [If you look at the very best presidents, the most effective presidents, they were always decent salespeople. Ronald Reagan was an extremely effective salesman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/if-you-look-at-the-very-best-presidents-the-most-effective-presidents/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“the more they chat and gossip—the more they get done”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-more-they-chat-and-gossip-the-more-they-get-done/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“continuing to think about job demands during breaks may result in strain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/continuing-to-think-about-job-demands-during-breaks-may-result-in/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The quality of the problem that is found is a forerunner of the quality of the solution that is attained . . .” Getzels concluded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-quality-of-the-problem-that-is-found-is-a-forerunner-of-the/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [When we make progress and get better at something, it is inherently motivating. In order for people to make progress, they have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/when-we-make-progress-and-get-better-at-something-it-is-inherently/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“innovation and creativity are greatest when we are not at our best”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/innovation-and-creativity-are-greatest-when-we-are-not-at-our-best/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“Temporal landmarks slow our thinking, allowing us to deliberate at a higher level and make better decisions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/temporal-landmarks-slow-our-thinking-allowing-us-to-deliberate-at-a/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“Jobs that offer autonomy but little challenge bore us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/jobs-that-offer-autonomy-but-little-challenge-bore-us/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“richest experiences in our lives aren’t when we’re clamoring for validation from others, but when we’re listening to our own voice—doing something that matters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/richest-experiences-in-our-lives-aren-t-when-we-re-clamoring-for/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) [Explore all 230 Daniel H. Pink quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One source of frustration in the workplace is the frequent mismatch between what people must do and what people can do. 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