You ask 10 people this question and you will get 10 different answers. Some won’t even have an answer as the job no longer has a meaning and only equates to a pay check.
Let’s start with what is work according to Google:
An activity involving mental or physical EFFORT done in order to achieve a PURPOSE or RESULT. A task or tasks to be undertaken.
Nowhere here does it say that you must work HARD. Nowhere does it mention time or putting in long hours…that’s someone else’s expectation or is it your own? Time does not equate to money. I can sit all day at a desk and with today’s distractions readily available on the internet, it doesn’t mean I am accomplishing anything or working to my full capacity. Integrity is key if temptation is available.
Covid threw things in the air about the need to have people all come to work in one place to get work done when sometimes more could be achieved in one’s home. Some say there are too many distractions at home, I say there can be just as many at work with everyone wanting to stop and chat about their day, meetings for the sake of meetings and unlimited Wi-Fi to instantly search the net when you have a thought about your next holiday.
Feeling good at work can start with the environment and the people. They can make or break your experience no matter how much you love your job. If someone is determined to make your life hell, they will succeed if the workplace has a toxic culture comparable to a rotting piece of fruit. No matter how ripe and juicy you are when surrounded by mouldy, dying, infested pieces, it will soon affect you unless you are the waxed version. If there is shit in the river, it flows down from the mountains.
What is the feel-good factor at a workplace?
Communication + Belonging + Expectations + Growth = Happy people that stay in their roles
This starts with:
- Being part of a team, feeling like you add value to what the end result of that business produces or what they stand for.
- Mutual respect from others for your role and you as a person.
- Having a voice whether that be to share ideas or even ask for time off when you need it.
- Having a life outside of work.
- A sense of belonging. We all want to feel like we belong. We weren’t put on this planet to do everything on our own. We rely on each other to survive, just like trees. You support each other, help out when needed and want to see each other succeed.
- Two-way communication. Listening not just talking.
I was introduced to the FISH PHILOSOPHY 20 years ago and have embraced their key needs for people in workplaces ever since.
- Creativity
- Passion
- Flexibility
- Wholeheartedness
Tie that in with:
- Play
- Being present
- Making someone’s day.
- Choosing your attitude
If you’re looking for something to ignite a spark in your workplace, grab a copy of this book and share it will your team. It’s an easy read and one that will inspire you to create a more positive and productive workspace. Improve Company Culture Today! | FISH! Philosophy (fishphilosophy.com)
If you’re considering a change in career or contemplating whether you will stay with the company you are currently working for, an easy way to work this out is to see if your company’s values align with your own. Start with knowing what’s important to you. If you are unaware of what the company stands for then that can give you a few clues right, there.
While it is the company’s responsibility to provide a safe working environment for its employees, it’s your personal responsibility to manage your thoughts, values, diet, exercise, and lifestyle all of which can equally enhance your work life or make it harder than it needs to be. Happiness is a choice. You can choose to feel good or the opposite at any given moment. In the same way you can choose to respond or react to any of life’s circumstances. If you are miserable at work, then the first thing to do is look at yourself. Maybe it is you. Don’t be a dick because you have outgrown the place and become the vine strangling the tree for survival.
If you are job hopping, I would suggest getting clear on where it is you thrive and your expectations. If you haven’t processed emotions or events from the last workplace, do this before taking your unwelcomed baggage into a new one. If you’re a leader in any shape or form, the priority is always people.
Feeling good anywhere in life starts by taking a long look in the mirror and getting to know the reflection. When you know who you are, your values, your boundaries etc., feeling good at work and about work becomes a choice you make on a daily basis.