Make your working day better

June 27, 2010 11:15 am | Updated 11:15 am IST - Chennai

Happiness at Work, Maximizing your Psychological Capital for Success. Author: Jessica Pryce-Jones

Happiness at Work, Maximizing your Psychological Capital for Success. Author: Jessica Pryce-Jones

At the individual employee level, what have been the effects of the economic crisis? Staying longer in the job, taking less time off sick, and working longer hours – all that if the job has not yet been lost. The flipside is that energy and productivity have decreased significantly across the board, so you might feel that you are doing more but you will be feeling worse and delivering less, writes Jessica Pryce-Jones in ‘Happiness at Work: Maximizing your psychological capital for success’ (www.wiley.com).

“And as a result you may want out as soon as economic upturn comes along. Yet the fact is you don’t have to quit to change: you can make your working day better and your job more personally sustainable, and there are lots of practical and simple things that you can do to help yourself.”

Why happiness at work matters

If you wonder why happiness at work matters, the author reasons that there are huge downsides when you don’t have it and upsides when you do. “If you’re happy at work you: get promoted faster; earn more; get more support; generate better and more creative ideas; achieve your goals faster; interact better with colleagues and bosses; receive support reviews; learn more; achieve greater success; and are healthier.”

The last benefit is a big one, emphasises Pryce-Jones. The higher your happiness levels, the stronger your immune system, and you will be less affected by stress hormones, develop 50 per cent more antibodies to flu vaccines, be less likely to get heart disease, diabetes or have lung problems, she adds. “In fact happiness looks as if it makes the same difference to your health as smoking or not smoking does. And that may add more than a decade to your overall life span.”

Comparing the unhappiest and happiest people at work, the book cites findings of research that the really happy people at work: are 180 per cent more energised and 50 per cent more motivated; have 40 per cent more confidence and achieve the goals 30 per cent more; and are 108 per cent more engaged at work and contribute 25 per cent more.

Tough stuff results in learning

What is happiness? There can be debate on whether it is about the journey and the goal, as Aristotle says, or the high points on the way, as Epicureans argue; however, happiness “isn’t about always smiling, thinking positively, or about being in a permanently sunny mood.”

Studying large and small organisations, the author observes that happiness at work is not something you do on your own; you need others to help you achieve it. It involves a mix of high moments accompanied by some low ones, a journey in which you grow and flourish, and at the same time overcome your negative emotions, she explains. “Sometimes the tasks, resources, outcomes, and time-frames are clear and comfortable, sometimes they’re not. But the tough stuff results in learning. Because that’s when you have to struggle to perform at your best, or make a breakthrough in what you’re doing. So you extend yourself and fulfil your potential.”

The book, therefore, defines ‘happiness at work’ as a mindset which allows you to maximise your performance and achieve your potential, by being mindful of the highs and lows when working alone or with others.

Happiness is about stretching yourself to achieve your potential and you only do that by doing difficult things, reiterates Pryce-Jones. In the process, the ‘highs’ matter, she avers. “The moments when you make a breakthrough, have a brainwave, connect with someone, or simply experience a strong positive emotion are important. These are the internal signals that you’re doing the right thing. You’re on track. And if you don’t have enough of them, it’s time to reconsider what you’re doing. Right now.”

Recommended addition to the reading list of the stressed-out managers!

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