How to Find Greater Happiness … at Work
The Harvard Study of Human Development has been collecting data since 1938. And this ongoing, longitudinal study on human happiness (the longest ever run) says the most important factor to living a good life is …
good relationships.
So if you’re not investing in your work relationships, whether with colleagues or clients, in addition to those with friends and family, you could be missing out on a fantastic opportunity to live a more healthy, fulfilling and meaningful life. And developing good social hygiene doesn’t need to take up a lot of your time.
Things like really listening, feeling heard and connecting on a deeper level, even in short interactions, can make a big difference. Many of us spend a lot of time working, whether in offices or from home on Zoom calls, so if we don’t invest in developing those professional relationships, we could really be missing out on a significant source of happiness.
Here are tips to help deepen your work relationships — and cultivate greater happiness:
- Be authentic. Share some of your outside interests and life with those you work with.
- Practice empathic listening. Pay close attention to what others are saying, and show that you’re listening through your body language and responses.
- Show appreciation. Recognize and appreciate the efforts of coworkers.
- Give credit. Recognize others’ contributions privately and publicly.
- Be supportive. Offer help and support to colleagues when they need it.
- Regular check-ins. Schedule regular one-on-one meetings with team members to catch up on both work and personal fronts.
- Meet for lunch. Conversing in a relaxed setting can help foster greater camaraderie and build deeper personal connections.
On workdays, most full-time employees spend about half their waking hours at work. That’s a lot of opportunity to put some effort into doing the No. 1 thing that research says can help you live a happier life — so put that time to good use.
Sources
https://www.bls.gov/charts/american-time-use/emp-by-ftpt-job-edu-h.htm
