Happiness at Work: How to Find It and Keep It – Part 1

are you happy at work?

This is the Holy Grail of the work place and is enjoyed by a relatively small proportion of people in the western world.

One client put it perfectly when he told me that he wanted to change his career so that he could get up in the morning and leave for work with enthusiasm and even a spring in his step, like his wife did every day.

 

This raises two issues:

1. What makes for happiness at work?
2. How can it be achieved?

But, just before we go any further, please beware of web sites that tell you to be positive as if that is the remedy for all ills.

That advice is about as useful as suggesting that somebody clinically depressed should give themselves a good shake.

Sure, it is better than falling into a gloom, but the best advice is to know yourself – I mean really know yourself – and there are techniques available that will reliably lead you to that knowledge.

A leopard will not change its spots so you should not attempt to change yours.

Instead, you need to find a career choice, a role, an environment in which you will be able to make the statements below.

So, here are the 10 indicators that somebody (hopefully you) is happy at work and can say with complete conviction:

1. This job suits me ideally and allows me to be myself.
2. My particular strengths are used every day in my role
3. I am encouraged to work on areas where I may have a weakness
4. All my needs are recognised and satisfied in this job, e.g I know what is required of me
5. I get a buzz out of the work that really inspires me to aim for excellence and success
6. My work environment is great e.g. my peers are as committed to quality as I am
7. I find I do not need a change of personality to succeed
8. I have a great manager and I get recognition
9. The team I work with are a great crowd. I count them as friends and we socialise
10. Occasionally I need to work late but I have great home support

The good news is that is possible to find a job that would allow you to make these statements.

Indeed with the right help, you would not consider accepting any position that was likely to fail to meet this standard.

In Part 2 we’ll look at the importance of knowing yourself before you plan your career change.

How achievable do you believe happiness at work can be? Let us know in the comments.