Most people don’t love
their jobs. In fact, many studies show that only about 1 in 5 people
really enjoy their jobs, about 1 in 5 actively dislike their jobs, and the rest
are fairly neutral on the topic.
Lots of
how-to-enjoy-your-work-more articles focus on finding a different career, one
that ignites or fulfills your passions. But what if you’re in a job that
– for whatever reason – you can’t or don’t want to change? Maybe you’ve
spent years building a skill or expertise, and in order to change jobs, you’d
have to start at a much lower level in another field. Perhaps your
current job provides something that you do like – a short commute,
good benefits – that you’re not willing to give up. Or it could be that,
in this strange economy, you simply think the smartest move is to stay put.
It’s easy to assume
that you can’t change the way you feel about your job. We say to ourselves, ‘it
is what it is.’ But there are actually a number of things you can do to
enjoy your job more, starting today:
Choose to Be Happy at Work
Happiness is largely a choice. I can hear many of you arguing
with me, but it's true. You can choose to be happy at work. Sound simple? Yes.
But, simplicity is often profoundly difficult to put into action. I wish all of
you had the best employer in the world, but, face it, you may not. So, think
positively about your work. Dwell on the aspects of your work you like. Avoid
negative people and gossip. Find coworkers you like and enjoy and spend your
time with them. Your choices at work largely define your experience. You can
choose to be happy at work.
Take Charge of Your Own Professional and Personal Development
A young employee complained to me recently
that she wanted to change jobs because her boss was not doing enough to help
her develop professionally. I asked her whom she thought was the person most
interested in her development. The answer, of course, was her. You are the
person with the most to gain from continuing to develop professionally. Take
charge of your own growth; ask for specific and meaningful help from your boss,
but march to the music of your personally developed plan and goals. You have
the most to gain from growing - and the most to lose, if you stand still.
Take Responsibility for Knowing What Is Happening at Work
People complain to me daily that they don't
receive enough communication and information about what is happening with their
company, their department's projects, or their coworkers. Passive vessels, they
wait for the boss to fill them up with knowledge. And, the knowledge rarely
comes. Why? Because the boss is busy doing her job and she doesn't know what
you don't know. Seek out the information you need to work effectively. Develop
an information network and use it. Assertively request a weekly meeting with
your boss and ask questions to learn. You are in charge of the information you
receive.
Ask for Feedback Frequently
Have you made statements such as, "My
boss never gives me any feedback, so I never know how I'm doing." Face it,
you really know exactly how you're doing. Especially if you feel positively
about your performance, you just want to hear him acknowledge you. If you're
not positive about your work, think about improving and making a sincere contribution.
Then, ask your boss for feedback. Tell him you'd really like to hear his
assessment of your work. Talk to your customers, too; if you're serving them
well, their feedback is affirming. You are responsible for your own
development. Everything else you get is gravy.
Make Only Commitments You Can Keep
One of the most serious causes of work stress
and unhappiness is failing to keep commitments. Many employees spend more time
making excuses for failing to keep a commitment, and worrying about the consequences
of not keeping a commitment, than they do performing the tasks promised. Create
a system of organization and planning that enables you to assess your ability
to complete a requested commitment. Don't volunteer if you don't have time. If
your workload is exceeding your available time and energy, make a comprehensive
plan to ask the boss for help and resources. Don't wallow in the swamp of unkept promises.
Avoid Negativity
Choosing to be happy at work means avoiding negative
conversations, gossip, and unhappy people as much as possible. No matter how
positively you feel, negative people have a profound impact on your psyche.
Don't let the negative Neds and Nellies bring you down.
Practice Professional Courage
If you are like most people, you don't like
conflict. And the reason why is simple. You've never been trained to
participate in meaningful conflict, so
you likely think of conflict as scary, harmful, and hurtful. Conflict can be
all three; done well, conflict can also help you accomplish your work mission and
your personal vision. Conflict
can help you serve customers and create successful products. Happy people
accomplish their purpose for working. Why let a little professional courage
keep you from achieving your goals and dreams? Make conflict your friend.
If All Else Fails, Job Searching Will Make You
Smile
If all of these ideas aren't making you happy at work, it's time
to reevaluate your employer, your job, or your entire career. You don't want to
spend your life doing work you hate in an unfriendly work environment. Most
work environments don't change all that much. But unhappy employees tend to
grow even more disgruntled. You can secretly smile while you spend all of your
non-work time job searching. It will only be a matter of time until you can
quit your job - with a big smile.
In the end I would
like to tell you that it
doesn't matter how tough things get. You have to keep pushing and grinding and
fighting your way to the TOP!
Anyone can Give Up!
Anyone can look for Excuses!
Anyone can let their Fears & Doubts Conquer them!
But not you...You are
going to find a way and you are going to make it through the tough times and
one day they will call you LUCKY!
Never stop believing in yourself and your
vision! Love, BSR.
Motivational Speaker, Corporate Trainer, Key
Note Speaker, Firewalk Expert, Mind Trainer, Behavioral Expert, Business Coach,
Glass walking, OD Consultant,
Most people don’t love
their jobs. In fact, many studies show that only about 1 in 5 people
really enjoy their jobs, about 1 in 5 actively dislike their jobs, and the rest
are fairly neutral on the topic.
Lots of
how-to-enjoy-your-work-more articles focus on finding a different career, one
that ignites or fulfills your passions. But what if you’re in a job that
– for whatever reason – you can’t or don’t want to change? Maybe you’ve
spent years building a skill or expertise, and in order to change jobs, you’d
have to start at a much lower level in another field. Perhaps your
current job provides something that you do like – a short commute,
good benefits – that you’re not willing to give up. Or it could be that,
in this strange economy, you simply think the smartest move is to stay put.
It’s easy to assume
that you can’t change the way you feel about your job. We say to ourselves, ‘it
is what it is.’ But there are actually a number of things you can do to
enjoy your job more, starting today:
Choose to Be Happy at Work
Happiness is largely a choice. I can hear many of you arguing
with me, but it's true. You can choose to be happy at work. Sound simple? Yes.
But, simplicity is often profoundly difficult to put into action. I wish all of
you had the best employer in the world, but, face it, you may not. So, think
positively about your work. Dwell on the aspects of your work you like. Avoid
negative people and gossip. Find coworkers you like and enjoy and spend your
time with them. Your choices at work largely define your experience. You can
choose to be happy at work.
Take Charge of Your Own Professional and Personal Development
A young employee complained to me recently
that she wanted to change jobs because her boss was not doing enough to help
her develop professionally. I asked her whom she thought was the person most
interested in her development. The answer, of course, was her. You are the
person with the most to gain from continuing to develop professionally. Take
charge of your own growth; ask for specific and meaningful help from your boss,
but march to the music of your personally developed plan and goals. You have
the most to gain from growing - and the most to lose, if you stand still.
Take Responsibility for Knowing What Is Happening at Work
People complain to me daily that they don't
receive enough communication and information about what is happening with their
company, their department's projects, or their coworkers. Passive vessels, they
wait for the boss to fill them up with knowledge. And, the knowledge rarely
comes. Why? Because the boss is busy doing her job and she doesn't know what
you don't know. Seek out the information you need to work effectively. Develop
an information network and use it. Assertively request a weekly meeting with
your boss and ask questions to learn. You are in charge of the information you
receive.
Ask for Feedback Frequently
Have you made statements such as, "My
boss never gives me any feedback, so I never know how I'm doing." Face it,
you really know exactly how you're doing. Especially if you feel positively
about your performance, you just want to hear him acknowledge you. If you're
not positive about your work, think about improving and making a sincere contribution.
Then, ask your boss for feedback. Tell him you'd really like to hear his
assessment of your work. Talk to your customers, too; if you're serving them
well, their feedback is affirming. You are responsible for your own
development. Everything else you get is gravy.
Make Only Commitments You Can Keep
One of the most serious causes of work stress
and unhappiness is failing to keep commitments. Many employees spend more time
making excuses for failing to keep a commitment, and worrying about the consequences
of not keeping a commitment, than they do performing the tasks promised. Create
a system of organization and planning that enables you to assess your ability
to complete a requested commitment. Don't volunteer if you don't have time. If
your workload is exceeding your available time and energy, make a comprehensive
plan to ask the boss for help and resources. Don't wallow in the swamp of unkept promises.
Avoid Negativity
Choosing to be happy at work means avoiding negative
conversations, gossip, and unhappy people as much as possible. No matter how
positively you feel, negative people have a profound impact on your psyche.
Don't let the negative Neds and Nellies bring you down.
Practice Professional Courage
If you are like most people, you don't like
conflict. And the reason why is simple. You've never been trained to
participate in meaningful conflict, so
you likely think of conflict as scary, harmful, and hurtful. Conflict can be
all three; done well, conflict can also help you accomplish your work mission and
your personal vision. Conflict
can help you serve customers and create successful products. Happy people
accomplish their purpose for working. Why let a little professional courage
keep you from achieving your goals and dreams? Make conflict your friend.
If All Else Fails, Job Searching Will Make You
Smile
If all of these ideas aren't making you happy at work, it's time
to reevaluate your employer, your job, or your entire career. You don't want to
spend your life doing work you hate in an unfriendly work environment. Most
work environments don't change all that much. But unhappy employees tend to
grow even more disgruntled. You can secretly smile while you spend all of your
non-work time job searching. It will only be a matter of time until you can
quit your job - with a big smile.
In the end I would
like to tell you that it
doesn't matter how tough things get. You have to keep pushing and grinding and
fighting your way to the TOP!
Anyone can Give Up!
Anyone can look for Excuses!
Anyone can let their Fears & Doubts Conquer them!
But not you...You are
going to find a way and you are going to make it through the tough times and
one day they will call you LUCKY!
Never stop believing in yourself and your
vision! Love, BSR.
Motivational Speaker, Corporate Trainer, Key
Note Speaker, Firewalk Expert, Mind Trainer, Behavioral Expert, Business Coach,
Glass walking, OD Consultant,
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