Happiness at work: Bringing more joy to your job

There’s no doubt that those who are happy at work are more productive and more likely to go the extra mile.

Research has shown that happy employees are 12% more productive than their unhappy counterparts. In addition, happier people are also much more pleasant to be around and make stronger leaders and co-workers.

Granted, no employee is happy at work every single day, and even jobs that people are passionate about can sometimes be frustrating or tedious. We have all experienced shifting happiness levels, suggesting that our overall happiness isn’t predetermined by genes or personality.

Seeing happiness as a skill that can be learned is a useful way to incorporate a growth mindset – and that can have overwhelmingly positive benefits both at and outside of work.

So how do you increase your happiness at work? If you focus on developing your “happiness skill,” you may find that you are consistently feeling better, more positive and happier both at work and in other aspects of your life.

Tips to Increase Your Happiness at Work

Here are five suggestions you can integrate into your daily routine that will have profound benefits:

• Take charge of your own professional development. Professional development can be anything from taking classes to reading the latest research on how to be a better manager. Also, volunteer to take on new assignments within your organization that might help you achieve career milestones or learn specific skills.
• Ask for frequent feedback. Receiving feedback about your work can either provide positive reinforcement that makes you feel valued, or it can help you to understand and to improve your skillset gaps enabling you to fit into your work environment more successfully.
• Maintain a work-life balance. If you find you are working all the time, you may need to make adjustments and put boundaries in place. While some jobs demand longer hours than others, there may be ways to manage this, such as requesting to work from home or you can make a point of not checking work emails during nights and weekends.
• Practice professional courage. Many people are afraid of conflict, especially in a work setting when it feels like conflict can impact your professional future and financial security. When addressed openly, with positive communication, clear goals and respect, conflict can be a positive thing at work.
• Avoid negativity. As simple as it may sound, sometimes we do get caught up in negativity in the workplace. Making the decision to be happy at work means actively avoiding gossip, negative conversations and the unhappy people you can’t change.

Add Positive Energy to Your Team with a UBC Master of Engineering Leadership or a UBC Master of Health Leadership & Policy Graduate

Having the right leaders in place – people with strong interpersonal skills who know how to create positive workplace cultures – can contribute to a happier work environment for everyone.

If you’re looking to bring a confident and progressive perspective into your department or organization, consider hiring a graduate of the UBC Master of Engineering Leadership (MEL) or of the UBC Master of Health Leadership & Policy (MHLP). UBC MEL and MHLP graduates are adaptable, leaders and experienced professionals.

These adaptable leaders and experienced professionals add unique value thanks to the multidisciplinary technical knowledge gained through UBC Faculty of Applied Science graduate-level courses and fundamental business and management skills gained in courses offered through UBC Sauder’s Robert H. Lee Graduate School.

Contact us by emailing to hire.mhlp@ubc.ca or hire.mel@ubc.ca, to learn how you can access our MEL Alumni Network or MHLP Alumni Network to find your next hire.