Most of us have to work, but life is far too short to have so much of it dominated by unhappiness or discontent. So I believe that everyone needs — and deserves — to be happy at work.
I’m the CEO of an executive search firm, where we’ve interviewed more than 30,000 candidates. And as the author of “Work How You Are Wired: 12 Data-Driven Steps to Finding a Job You Love,” I surveyed about 7,000 people about their careers. Over the years, I’ve studied what makes people successful and happy — or struggling and miserable — at work.
Here are the six keys to happiness at work:
1. Having a good boss
Knowing your supervisor has your best interests in mind and having a good relationship with them can make an otherwise not-so-great job downright tolerable.
A good boss knows you and your particular wiring, like whether you prefer to receive praise in public or privately in an email. Don’t make them guess what skills you’d like to develop or what management style works best for you. Instead, try to share the information they’ll need about you to support you.
This will do one of two things: help a good boss become a great boss or let you know that your boss isn’t the right fit for you.
2. Work-life balance
When you’re not on the clock 24/7 and you feel like your time is actually your own, you’re much more likely to be happy during the time you are at work.
But work-life balance looks different for different types of people. Are you the type to check work emails in between innings at your kid’s little league game in case something comes up (so it doesn’t worry you later)? Or do you shut your laptop at the end of the work day and let whatever happens be a tomorrow problem?
Neither is right or wrong, but you’ll be happiest in a job that respects your style.
3. Enough money
If your basic needs aren’t met in the form of a fair, living wage, you’re not going to be happy even if many other happy-at-work boxes are checked.
You don’t need to be wired a certain way for this one. Everyone deserves to be paid what their work is worth. Doing your job because you love it is great, but you’ll burn out fast if you’re stressed financially.
It can be a gamble in this economy, but smart employers know it generally costs more to replace you than to keep you. Ask for a raise if you think it’s fair.
4. Autonomy and flexibility
Being treated like a responsible adult who is capable of doing their work without micromanagement is a humane and respectful approach employers can take to make employees happier.
The pandemic taught us that most people will do their best at work, even when they’re sitting at the dining room table.
Ask for more autonomy and flexibility if you’re not getting enough. If your employer says no, it might be time to look for a similar position elsewhere that gives you a bit more credit.
5. Professional growth
Having the chance to advance makes a person feel like they’ve got a future at their job, which makes them more content and confident.
Your boss might not be thinking about ways to grow your career. It’s up to you. Think about skills that could help you in your current role and the ones you want in the future, and find professional development opportunities to match. Many companies have budgets for these things — like tuition reimbursement benefits — so be sure to take advantage of that.
6. Meaningful work
Having a sense of purpose and believing in your work is a key component to workplace happiness. In fact, research says that it’s the most important workplace happiness factor.
We don’t all have to be out there on the front lines, teaching kindergarteners, running an emergency department, or fighting for the underprivileged in a nonprofit. Meaningful work looks different for everyone. As long as you believe what you’re doing is making some kind of difference, you’ll be happier.
If you can’t see it right off the bat, I suggest zooming out a little bit. Find out how your role contributes to your company’s success and how that makes a positive impact on the world. If that doesn’t help, you might want to work toward finding a company or cause you believe in.
And in the meantime, do your best to find meaningful “work” outside of work. Raising good humans, volunteering, and being a kind person can bring meaning to your life even if your work can’t right now.
William Vanderbloemen is the author of “Be The Unicorn: 12 Data Driven Habits That Separate the Best Leaders From the Rest″ and “Work How You Are Wired: 12 Data-Driven Steps to Finding a Job You Love.” He is the founder and CEO of Vanderbloemen Search Group. Follow him on LinkedIn.
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