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Blending work and pleasure: the necessary ingredients!
Posted on Tuesday May 22, 2018
Blending work and pleasure: the necessary ingredients!
Ah, the daily grind. It's where you end up spending a lot of time. Fine if your work is its own reward. But what if work is just means to an end? While this is less common than it once was, it still takes an employer who's willing to foster personal and professional fulfilment. Below, seven of the essentials for on-the-job happiness.
1. The famous ?comfort zone?: a question of reasonable timeframes, well-aligned values and respect for skills
Working within your comfort zone ? that spot where you feel like you're on top of your game ? is a big part of enjoying what you do. Deadlines that let you deliver your best work, tasks that play to your particular strengths, a job that aligns with your core values: all of these will keep you feeling good. Still, there's a limit to everything. If finding your comfort zone is important, so too is stepping into the unknown, letting yourself experiment, learn, change, innovate and optimize. Strike the right balance, and your enthusiasm for your work will skyrocket!
2. Varied tasks and opportunities to stretch
The flipside to comfort is that too much of it can spell routine ? a word that for many of us is synonymous with boredom. We all need novelty, surprise and challenges. The challenge needs to be the right size, of course, since otherwise it will just lead to stress. But the chance to push your limits will keep you on your toes, which in itself will pay off dividends. Don't be afraid to show initiative and ask your manager for a ?stretch assignment? ? something that falls outside your current knowledge or skills. After all, an employee who's keen to learn more is every organization's dream!
3. Recognition and valorization
Naturally, job recognition starts with payment. But money can't buy happiness; and in a job context, satisfaction is also ? and perhaps above all ? tied in with feeling your contribution is appreciated. Colleagues who recognize your skills and expertise are gold. No surprise that many employers have staff appreciation programs: more so than even salary, recognition is key to motivation. But it doesn't have to end there. You too can help spread good feelings by recognizing others. Pat someone on the back for a job well done, smile, say thank you or simply say hello. Develop habits like these and they'll soon become second nature, in addition to gaining you a great deal of satisfaction.
4. Being part of something bigger than you
Does your work have meaning? The short answer is yes: you're working to pay for the car, the house or your next trip to Bali. All very important, of course. But feeling like you're accomplishing your life's work, are part of a collective endeavour, are ploughing your energy into something that's bigger than you: here is where true satisfaction lies. Does your contribution make a difference? Are your efforts helping your organization achieve its goals? To feel happy and in sync with what you do, it must have personal resonance; and at the same time, you need to feel your efforts are instrumental to something beyond the personal sphere. If your job falls short these fronts, then you might consider getting involved in a community project or a non-profit organization.
5. A certain autonomy
What could be more satisfying than being able to do things your way, using your own methods, your creativity, your capacity for reflection, your drive and initiative? Enjoying a degree of autonomy and enough room to manoeuvre is fulfilling and empowering: it lets you feel you can influence your colleagues, managers and even aspects of your organization. But before launching into a major undertaking, try running a pilot project with a handful of colleagues. This will give you a sense of how to make your big ideas more credible, better positioning you to convince others of your initiative's feasibility and the necessary conditions for success.
6. A sense of belonging
Work also means teamwork: being part of a group with a common aim and shared experiences. When you have collaboration, mutual aid and solidarity, happiness is never far off! You don't need to be clones or share the same interests. Simply interacting and working together in a friendly, respectful manner can make a huge difference to everyone's satisfaction. Good old fashioned courtesy can change the workplace climate significantly and foster closer ties between colleagues. Indeed, it's the kind of environment that makes the winning companies stand out.
7. Knowing your organization's mission and objectives
Understanding what your organization is trying to accomplish and aligning your priorities accordingly (in terms of your tasks and projects) enhances the significance of what you do each day. You'll feel more connected with your fellow workers; you'll also better understand the notion that each of you has a role to play to achieve a collective aim. If you don't really feel you understand this aim, then start asking questions so that you can. Otherwise, what's the point of your work?
Looking for fulfillment on the job? Then try to inject more of these ingredients in your workplace. Keep in mind that each of us has our own recipe: a little more of this, a little less than that . . . However way you choose to get there, being able to enjoy what you do every day is where it's at.
At UNI, we pride ourselves on maintaining an ongoing dialogue with our employees. Looking for quality work environment where respect, initiative, synergy, collaboration and exchange are valued? Click here to see the possibilities!
References
http://oserchanger.com/blogue_2/2013/05/21/du-plaisir-au-travail-cest-possible/
http://www.ithaquecoaching.com/articles/job-ideal-les-7-ingredients-du-plaisir-au-travail-455.html
http://www.dynamique-mag.com/article/prendre-plaisir-travail-est-possible.5515
