It’s hard to think about how to increase job happiness during stressful times, as people tend to focus solely on simply keeping their jobs.
Your stress builds after each media report about the recession. You
start hearing whispers of a merger, layoff or the all encompassing
“restructuring.” Your manager does not listen. Your customers don’t
listen. The guy that sells sandwiches in the lobby does not listen.
Maybe it is just easier to be cranky.
We are all facing challenges. Today, the economy is our main concern.
Tomorrow, there will be other obstacles. How do you increase job happiness during difficult times? First, you need to stop worrying
and relax. Give yourself a break. You have to figure out a way to work
without being cranky and stressed. Yes, you need to have more fun in
order to increase job happiness.
Many of you may have this belief that you aren’t allowed to have fun
and that fun causes you to be unproductive. The truth is, fun does work
and it helps increase your job happiness so that you don’t dread
coming to work every day.
Here are 4 simple tips to increase job happiness, reduce your stress, and create a foundation to have more fun.
1. Be patient and positive in your tone of voice. Sounds simple, but a
reassuring and patient tone in your voice will do wonders for teamwork
and for helping reduce stress. You will rarely see a stressed,
impatient person having fun. If you try to have a positive outlook at
work, then it becomes easier to increase your job happiness.
2. Take a break. Again, a simple idea but something that has very real
results. Ever try and assemble something from the store? Ever get
frustrated? Ever throw the directions across the room in frustration?
Stop, take a break, and then reassess. Employees who take time to
unwind for a few minutes to increase job happiness than those who
just keep going and going.
3. Think about what makes a great day at work. The next time you have
fun at work, take a moment to reflect. Write down what happened that
made the day so great. What did you do? What did you say? You now have
your “great day” list. The right way to increase job satisfaction is
different for everyone. Take a few moments each day, gather your team,
and ask your employees to share something on their “job satisfaction”
list. Not only will the group enjoy the experience, but will gain
appreciation for each other.
4. Sometimes you have to ask. If something is bothering you and causing
stress, then speak up and say something. If you ask nicely, most people
would be happy
to oblige and help. They probably don’t even know their words or
actions are bothering you. If you want to increase your job happiness, you have to speak up.
Visit Joel’s blog to read more about how to job happiness
and motivate yourself to have fun. Fun helps create the energy
and passion that fuels our productivity, creativity, and ultimately,
our ability to be happy at work.
Fields marked with * are required.
