How to Be Happy At Work

At least a couple ways to try

I had the absolute pleasure of being interviewed by Ray Smith for The Wall Street Journal about the reduction in quitting.

No jobs mean no quiet quitting and no actual quitting either. No one can afford to. I could go on and on about the cognitive dissonance I encounter every day (and I will in another newsletter), seeing endless desperate posts about months of joblessness and my own family's job insecurity, juxtaposed with no mention of a Recession. The last time I felt this way was in 2009.

But that's a topic for another day and only part of what Ray and I discussed. Though much of our conversation could not make it into the piece, we talked about job satisfaction. I shared why I felt happy in my current work and the organizations where I contribute, in addition to what I learned from the past two years studying positive organizational psychology.

I'll say that for those who feel trapped in a role because of a stagnant job market, here are three ways I can feel satisfaction and motivation in my role wherever I am. Hopefully, this can help you, too:

1. Find Your Friends

1. Find ways to seek out and foster strong relationships that create a sense of camaraderie and support. I bet there's at least one person to connect with, start with just the one colleague and see how your community grows. Personal connections breed motivation, and a desire to make everyone look good. And if you love who you work with, you'll start to love the work.

2. You Do You

Carve out autonomy over your schedule and work style. Decide how you want your day to look within the confines of the role's expectations. Speak up if you learn or work differently. Want to use Google Docs instead of Slides? Are you braindead at 3pm, but ready to jam at 8pm? There are always multiple paths to arrive at the same destination, and most people don't care how you get there, as long as it's on time. If there are small ways to become more autonomous, take them. You might need to get creative, but so what!

3. Become An Expert

While I embody a "team player" and love hopping in where I'm needed, I also try to guide my role and tasks to align with my skills and talents, which are where I really shine. Being the expert most of the time makes my job easier (for everyone), more fulfilling, and more efficient. I try to shoot for a 70/30 split, at least. If I can be firing on all MY cylinders 70% of the time, it helps me feel more confident to stretch in other areas 30% of the time.

Do you have any other hot tips to share? Leave them in the comments and lets discuss.