Ten tips to be happy at work

Happiness in your business life and your personal life is often a matter of subtraction, not addition.

Psychological research has shown what makes people unhappy at work, and it’s not lack of smiling. Here are ten factors truly associated with being happy at work.

1. Blaming.

People make mistakes. Employees don't meet your expectations. Vendors don't deliver on time’s you blame them for your problems.

But you're also to blame. Maybe you didn't provide enough training. Maybe you didn't build in enough of a buffer. Maybe you asked too much, too soon.

 And when you get better or smarter, you also get happier.

2. Do Something You Love Every Single Day.

You may or may not love your current job and you may or may not believe that you can find something in your current job to love, but you can. Trust me.

Of course, you can always make your current job work or decide that it is time to quit your job.

3. Get control

Psychologists have consistently found that people who work in jobs where they have little control find their work very stressful and consequently unsatisfying.

The more control people perceive in how they carry out their job, the more satisfaction they experience. Look for ways of taking control of your job.

Even exerting relatively small amounts of control can make you feel happier with your work.

4. Clinging.

When you're afraid or insecure, you hold on tightly to what you know, even if what you know isn't particularly good for you.

An absence of fear or insecurity isn't happiness: It's just an absence of fear or insecurity.

Holding on to what you think you need won't make you happier; letting go so you can reach for and try to earn what you want will.

Even if you don't succeed in earning what you want, the act of trying alone will make you feel better about yourself.

5. Ask for Feedback Frequently

Have you made statements such as, "My boss never gives me any feedback, so I never know how I'm doing." Face it, you really know exactly how you're doing.

 Especially if you feel positively about your performance, you just want to hear him acknowledge you. If you're not positive about your work, think about improving and making a sincere contribution. Then, ask your boss for feedback.

 6. Interrupting.

Interrupting isn't just rude. When you interrupt someone, what you're really saying is, "I'm not listening to you so I can understand what you're saying; I'm listening to you so I can decide what I want to say."

Want people to like you? Listen to what they say. Focus on what they say. Ask questions to make sure you understand what they say.

They'll love you for it--and you'll love how that makes you feel.

7. Fair pay

The bigger the difference between what you think you should earn and what you do earn, the less happy you’ll be.

The question is, who do you compare yourself to: the other people in the office or other people with your job?

Both comparisons will likely affect how happy you are with your job.

 8. Preaching.

 The higher you rise and the more you accomplish, the more likely you are to think you know everything--and to tell people everything you think you know.

When you speak with more finality than foundation, people may hear you but they don't listen. Few things are sadder and leave you feeling less happy.

9. Positive communication.

Analyze the way your staff communicates with each other to work towards optimum results. Do your employees use active-constructive responding?

For example, tell an employee you are happy with their performance and begin a discussion by asking them questions rather than giving a passive or limited response. Inquiry is a practical way of steering an employee to reach their potential.

If an employee makes a suggestion you think won't work, ask them to explain how it works rather than immediately rejecting their idea. 

10. Ask for support

Workers often complain that the big bosses communicate little about the overall direction of the company.

People want to know their organization cares about them, that they are getting something back for what they are putting in.

We get this message from how the boss treats us, the kinds of fringe benefits we get and other subtle messages.

If people perceive more organizational support, they are happier with their job.

If this area is lacking, try asking your manager for more information and support, and point out why it is needed.