Tag Archives: happiness

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The Single Daily Choice which will Change Your Life for Good

  By Christina Lattimer • April 10, 2013 - 9:48 am
Yesterday,  I had some news which made me want to cry with frustration. This problem had come up a couple of times before, and I had, with much annoyance, sorted it out, and here it was again.   I won’t bore you with the problem because problems are two a penny, and the real issue is what I did about it.I had always thought of myself as “A cup half full” person until about 15 years ago.  I had an ability to identify and solve problems, and therefore make (what I thought) was a positive contribution to whichever world or organisation I was impacting upon at the time.It was in a session with a coach I had hired to help me make a particular transition in my life who brought that self-concept sharply into question.  We had been talking about a situation in my life where I was explaining what was wrong and how I thought I had done all I could to make changes, when she looked me straight in the eye and said “You have a slightly negative outlook on the world don’t you think?”

The silence must have only lasted about 30 seconds but it felt like about an hour while I contemplated with horror what she had just said.  In one fell swoop she uncovered one of the biggest blind spots in my life.

In the moments that followed, I didn’t even try to deny it, the only words I could muster were “Do you really think so?”  And she nodded.  I felt like I had been punched.  The horror I think was more acute, because I actually woke up in that moment and realised it was true.

The pattern of my thinking and my self-concept had been mismatched for the majority of my working life up until that point and I’d had no idea until that moment.  It was a defining moment for me because it made me look within, and thus the journey to uncover the largely unconscious and negative thoughts and beliefs in my mind began.

For the next few years I worked at becoming conscious of my beliefs and thought patterns and it was amazing how judgmental I had been, not only of myself but others.  During the journey, I uncovered many patterns I had acquired.

For me ingrained beliefs and patterns of thinking are like well learned habits, which like tying shoelaces or riding a bike, you have learned so well they’ve become unconscious.  When you try to go back to identify the sequence of the beliefs and thoughts it takes some effort to uncover them, and then some real practice to change the way you’ve habitually become used to believing and thinking.

The journey has been painful and liberating and in the end totally empowering.  I would love to say that I no longer participate in negative thinking but it’s a lifetime’s work I think for me.  I now have strategies in place which can almost instantaneously change my thinking for the better, and some of my limiting beliefs at the same time.

The barometer which measures my progress is my feelings.  When I am feeling positive and peaceful emotions, I know my thinking is aligned with who I really am at my core. puts forward the idea that your emotions are a result of your intentions, unconscious or not.

So when I started feeling anxious and fearful as a result of the problem.  I realised that my intention in that moment was flawed.  I was about to let my beliefs ideas and thoughts turn towards a victim mentality.  “Why did this happen to me again?, it must be karma”   Helplessness, “What if I can’t solve it?” When you see this pattern in black and white, it seems quite silly.  But much of our suffering in life is because of the habitual default to our mostly unconscious negative fears, beliefs and thoughts about us.

You may well have heard the quote “Pain is inevitable, Suffering is optional,” By the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami.  If you put this with the quote by the Greek playwright, Aeschylus, “Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times.” In those two quotes you have the single choice, which can, if practised habitually, transform your life.

It is making the choice to be happy, no matter what.

So this is what I did about the problem yesterday.

  1. When I began to feel anxious and worried, I stopped thinking about the problem and let my feelings come up.  It took a few moments for the feelings to pass through.
  2. I contemplated for a few minutes, and then decided to look at the problem through a different lens.  I realised I had solved the problem twice before and I could very well do it again.  The fact I had this problem again, didn’t make me a bad person. In fact, the problem was a real gift because it allowed me to release some of the unconscious worry and further reinforce liberating beliefs, ideas and thoughts which I knew to be true.
  3. Despite the problem, I decided to be happy, and I began to think about and feel grateful for the good things and people in my life.  I thought about how blessed I was because I could actually choose to think empowering, and peaceful thoughts, which then translated into positive feelings.

I have this now down to a fine art.  The whole process took about 5 minutes in all.  All those years ago, it could have taken me 3 days to feel positive again after encountering such a problem.  Progress indeed.

If you’d like to read more about some of my methods I have learned over the years, sign up for my weekly blog and download your free e-book:  The 6 Secrets of Great Emotional Intelligence”

If you are a leader, you are continually developing and "Sharpening the Saw".  If you lead and manage teams, then you must read about our Inspirational New Leadership Programme.  Sign up now to find out more details when we launch in July 2014.  There is no obligation to undertake the programme, if you sign up today, you will simply be sent more information about the programme.  You can unsubscribe at any time!  Click below to register for further information.

   
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Leaders: Should Employee Happiness be on Your Agenda?

  By Christina Lattimer • February 28, 2013 - 9:19 pm

International Day of Happiness

In April last year, the United Nations held its first conference on happiness and wellbeing in New York City.   The conference introduced the concept of “Gross National Happiness” which I have to say made me very …Happy!

One of the announcements made was there will be an International Day of Happiness on 20th March each year.

I am a big believer in happiness, and the benefits happiness can bring.  I have had many discussions with peers and colleagues and I rather believe I may be in a minority.  Not that many people disagree that happiness is a good state in which to be; mostly they just think it’s unrealistic.  Certainly in the workplace many people think it’s not even a consideration.

Happiness is An Inside Job

Now I know that employers and leaders cannot be responsible for employees’ happiness.  Happiness is an inside job.  If any of you have been in a relationship with the intention of “making someone happy” and that person is not intrinsically happy, you know how impossible it is.

The truth is, people choose to be happy or not.  Self-aware people understand that external “things” may help you get in touch with happy feelings, but rarely do they last.  In fact really happy people understand that due to the temporary nature of anything in the world, happiness is an internal state largely consisting of acceptance, interpretation and choice.

As a Leader, all you can do is increase the odds of people being happy

As you can’t control how people choose to feel, act and think; all you can do is create the right environment which increases the odds for people to happy.   You might be asking why on earth you should even consider taking such steps when you are financially strapped, your employees are revolting and daily your problems seem to be increasing.  Haven’t you enough on your plate? And why help people to be happy when there is no guarantee of success?

With the right direction, the benefits of people being happy at work are: They

  • get more work done
  • will be more committed to the task and the company
  • will be physically, mentally and emotionally more healthy
  • will infect your customers with their happiness
  • have more productive relationships with other employees
  • have fewer conflicts
  • be more resilient

Develop a Happiness Quadrant

If any of you are battling with poor employee feedback, performance issues, high absence rates, conflicts and complaints, then you might want to take some positive measures to change things.

Alright I know if you go along to the board meeting and suggest a “happiness quadrant” your fellow board members might be checking your temperature and looking for signs of addiction, but the following suggestions can be combined with your organisational development or strategic activities.

Create respect and admiration at the organisation identity level

  • Commit and demonstrate company values
  • Develop and maintain a meaningful purpose
  • Identify and communicate a worthy contribution

Celebrate and engage employees and teams

  • Monitor and put in place measures to help people meet 4 basic needs, of feeling valued, safe, in control and being a contributor
  • Help people be responsible and gain autonomy to deliver their contribution
  • Celebrate success, internally and externally
  • Tell great and meaningful organisational  and individual stories which engage emotions

 Develop a Community Culture

  • Have a defined social structure – even if it’s just the annual Christmas party
  • Accept that people aren’t perfect, create environments where people can let off steam, solve problems, or deal with frustrations and fears – safely
  • Develop sensible work/life balance
  • Develop an ethos of internal as well as external customer service.
  • Encourage and allow people to care about each other

 Create a Learning Ethos

  • Help employees gain mastery and transferable skills
  • Introduce learning which helps people to understand themselves and engenders personal growth
  • Turn mistakes into learning opportunities
  • Help people to learn and take responsibility for their own wellbeing, whether physical, emotional or mental

I know some people will think putting happiness on the agenda is not a strategic move.  My challenge for those people would be my favourite mantra “Would you rather be right or happy?”  So go on I urge you to choose “happy” and celebrate the World Happiness Day on 20th March, with some strategic thinking about creating a happy environment at work.

In the spirit of the World Happiness Day, I hope this article made you smile as well as giving some ideas about creating a happier culture at work.

If you are a leader, you are continually developing and "Sharpening the Saw".  If you lead and manage teams, then you must read about our Inspirational New Leadership Programme.  Sign up now to find out more details when we launch in July 2014.  There is no obligation to undertake the programme, if you sign up today, you will simply be sent more information about the programme.  You can unsubscribe at any time!  Click below to register for further information.

   
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What If Everything Was OK?

  By Christina Lattimer • February 8, 2013 - 6:05 pm

blog pic 2 What if things were really ok?

Two nights ago, I went swimming.  It was an activity I had been looking forward to all day.  I usually go quite late because it tends to be more peaceful and as I swim I can ruminate and contemplate.

Tired and tense for the first 10 lengths or so, instead or relaxing, I found my mind worrying about a number of pieces of work I had still to complete. The anticipated peaceful relaxing swim was eluding me

As I carried on, I remembered a technique I use quite frequently with clients.  It is the “What if” frame.  It’s a well-known Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) technique used to help people tap into their imagination and explore situations they otherwise might consider being impossible.   It is usually used to break down limiting beliefs.

For example, a friend of mine loves his sales job, but confessed once he sometimes felt frustrated because never seemed to earn more than £50k annually.  He had never exceeded this figure and was convinced it wouldn’t get any better.  When I asked why he thought that was, he explained he didn’t think the number of customers were available to exceed that limit.

I recognised his frustration because he had simply hit a limiting belief.  I asked “What If you wereable to find ways to exceed earnings of 50k?”  What would you have done differently, and what else could you do?  He furrowed his brow and started thinking.  What this technique does, is lift a person over the “I can’t” barrier, and helps open up possibilities, to incorporate ideas and suggestions, to achieve a different outcome.

Asking “what if” can be a powerful way to get your creative juices flowing.  So when my daughter’s friend was planning her wedding, she floundered about the kind of venue she wanted and the colour of the bridesmaid’s dresses etc.   So I asked her “what if, you had the wedding of your dreams, what would the surroundings look like?”  This and questions like it helped her to begin to describe her highest desires.  From there, she was able to begin to imagine and thus describe what would work for her.

When swimming, two nights ago, I didn’t need to use my imagination, or break down my limiting beliefs.  On the contrary, my imagination was working overtime, and it was my lack of limiting beliefs, (I know only too well the possibilities open to me!), that were actually overwhelming me and making me feel stressed.  So when the “ What if ” came to my mind it was in a different context again.

As I swam, I recalled the final way I use “What if” exercises with clients, which helps them to get in touch with feelings.  Used in this way asking “what if ” is used to switch feelings.  If you are feeling low because you are scared something isn’t going to happen, or things haven’t worked out in the first place, the state you are creating can become like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

For example, you’ve applied for a job, but you didn’t get through the last job interview, and your confidence took a dent.  Your anxiety about failing and the pressure you feel to be successful this time round simply intensifies.   You worry about it for days beforehand, and by the time you get in front of the interview panel, you are so nervous, they can’t help but wonder if actually you are up to the job because you have been wringing your hands, and stammered your way all through the interview, simply because your anxiety took over.

If, before the interview, you had asked yourself the question, “What if I were successful at getting this job?”  You imagine what it would feel like and get in touch with the joy, excitement, gratitude and enthusiasm you would experience.  If you took that experience/state into the interview room, believe me, your interviewers would also have a completely different experience of interviewing you.

Ten minutes into my swimming session, I simply asked myself.  “What if everything was OK?”  I immediately stopped worrying, the knots in my back started to relax, and suddenly my state felt peaceful.  As I swam on, I realised the worst thing I can do is not take my own advice.  What was almost certainly going to turn out a most stressful hour of battling against feeling overwhelmed and anxious, completely switched.  I realised if everything was OK, I could enjoy this hour, and simply unwind and relax.   So I transformed the next fifty minutes.

Why not transform your next hour and imagine “What if, everything was OK?”

If you are a leader, you are continually developing and "Sharpening the Saw".  If you lead and manage teams, then you must read about our Inspirational New Leadership Programme.  Sign up now to find out more details when we launch in July 2014.  There is no obligation to undertake the programme, if you sign up today, you will simply be sent more information about the programme.  You can unsubscribe at any time!  Click below to register for further information.

   
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7 Uncommon Ways to be a Positive Influence on You and Your Team

  By Christina Lattimer • January 18, 2013 - 8:05 pm
The psychology of leadership simply fascinates me, and no more so than when leaders have a positive influence on their team.   You may not class yourself as a leader, but you are a leader, whether you’re leading a team, a family or even yourself.  In your role, as a leader, the energy you emit is vital, and cannot fail to affect yourself and others.

Positive psychology sounds like another fad or for those of us chronic doomsayers, just plain “Pollyanna”.  We all know the world we see has positive and negative energy.  The question I have been asked on occasions is “By being positive, aren’t we just lying to ourselves?”  Another concern centres on being authentic.  ”Surely being positive constantly can’t be authentic, because bad things happen”.

Be a positive force

Well actually I do believe you can be a positive force, in all types of situations.  If you want to lead people in the right direction, here are 7 uncommon ways you can be a positive influence on yourself and others.

7 ways to be a positive influence

  1. Someone says something negative about you or something you value.  Immediately you want to give a stinging reply, rush to your own defence or complain to others.  Worse, you actually take the criticism on board.   Haven’t we all been in that situation?   Pausing to regain your composure and objectivity in such situations is vital before you reply.   Pausing to think gives you an opportunity to respond instead. Response instead of reaction means you take the emotional charge out of the situation, incident or problem. It is a great opportunity to turn towards positivity and win/win.
  2. Life is indeed difficult.  There are good times and bad.  Leading with positive influence means you navigate your way through the peaks and troughs, with hope and optimism.  When the facts, which present themselves, seem to daunt, then you will command a positive influence if you remain neutral and objective as opposed to blaming, emotional and subjective.
  3. Being a positive force doesn’t mean you have to deny your own negative emotions, in fact, it means you get in touch with them with a view to healing them.  Too often people will blame other people for how they are feeling, but everyone’s emotions are their own.  No one can make anyone else feel anything.  Owning your emotions means you do not make anyone else responsible for you. It also means the power is in your hands, to take any situation, look on the bright side and change how you feel.
  4. Being glad for others for most of us is quite easy.  It’s great to see people doing well.  Showing you’re glad means actively helping them to celebrate their successes.  When someone gets that qualification or loses that 6lb, find a way to help them celebrate.  Buy a bunch of flowers or send that card, or take the time to drop an email, pop your head round the door and tell them “Well done”.  Too often in our fast paced lives, even though we may be glad for others, we fall short of showing we are.
  5. When people’s lives are in the troughs rather than the peaks then, it’s time to concentrate on their strengths, and everyone has some strength.  The trick here is to feel compassion for how they feel, and to be there for them, but not to join in with blaming others, cultivating a victim mentality or disempowering them from their own inner coping mechanism.
  6. It is through painful situations people have an opportunity to find their strength and a positive influencer knows and gently encourages this.
  7. Happiness is a choice.  Every piece of information you process can be interpreted in a million ways.   If you choose to interpret the information in a way which makes you sad, then it’s simply a choice you have made.  Things happening around you do not determine your state, only you do.  You have the choice, why not choose happiness instead.

People who choose to be happy are a joy to be around.  They raise energy and raise spirits, which can only positively influence all around them

When you know you have a tricky meeting, or a difficult time coming up; then it’s time to begin intending your day.  Intending your day or meeting or event, is extremely powerful.  Instead of worrying about the content, think about the outcome.  So, for example, you have a difficult meeting with your boss. Imagine it will be positive despite the difficulties, and imagine yourself feeling really pleased that you handled it so well.   You will be amazed at the difference intending positive outcomes can make.  When you intend great and positive outcomes day to day, then your energy impacts greatly on everyone around you.

Come and join our Challenge: A collaborative work of genius for everyone to join in.

If you are a leader, you are continually developing and "Sharpening the Saw".  If you lead and manage teams, then you must read about our Inspirational New Leadership Programme.  Sign up now to find out more details when we launch in July 2014.  There is no obligation to undertake the programme, if you sign up today, you will simply be sent more information about the programme.  You can unsubscribe at any time!  Click below to register for further information.

   
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Five Ways To Step Out Of The World And Honour Yourself

  By Christina Lattimer • September 21, 2012 - 12:27 pm
You have to strike an equal balance between Work, Rest and Play

I write a lot about inspiration and all that goes along with that.  I am great at describing great vision and different strategies and behaviours needed to make things happen.  Big action is often my cry.  And don’t get me started about emotional intelligence, intellectual dexterity; resilience, unity consciousness and how we relate to each other for example.

I read and share a plethora of intellectual, insightful and inspirational articles and blogs about what makes a great leader, manager, boss, HR Director or whoever may be paving the way for others.

There are many people out there who tell us how to live our lives and what to strive for, how to do things well, improve, be better, be best, and yes I do that too.

For the majority of the time, I love it.  I love finding new ways to motivate interest, excel and go the extra mile.

But there are times, just sometimes when it’s great to be just ok, in the here and now, right now, without any wish to be, do or think anything else.

The world is mostly in a queue, a whirlwind, aspiring to something, wanting to improve, getting better results, being more honest, moving forward, changing at the speed of light, a hive of activity which can be true in our personal lives as well as at work.

Stress is one of the biggest reasons for absence and one of the biggest costs of presenteeism at work.  There are a number of causes of stress, and most of them caused as we live out the challenges of moving quickly, changing lives, work, roles, partners, houses, jobs, and the way we do things and there are many more.

And we don’t really have much choice.  Unless everyone stood still at once, we need to keep up with it all, or risk being left behind, and that is our fear.

Sometimes though we need to stop and do something different.  Oh the sweet relief of taking time out.   Taking time out is important for anyone, whether you are a leader, a team member, stay at home or business owner.  The world would be a better place, if everyone gave themselves a real break. So if you are endlessly busy and the adrenaline is wearing thin.  Or you are too busy, too worried, stressed or in the throes of any kind of change: The following are some of my suggestions about how you can give yourself a respite from the madness of your daily life:

  1. Accept everything completely as it is and make a decision just for even half day or so, not to wish for anything different.  Just accept and surrender to where you are right now. Stop wanting people, situations or ourselves to be different.  You don’t have to be happy about “what is” just make a decision not to be unhappy about it.  That’s called being at Peace. And it’s refreshing.
  2. Be with yourself:  Watch yourself, feel your feelings, if you feel happy indulge yourself and let yourself really feel the happiness.  If you feel sad, then give yourself permission to.  Know it isn’t going to destroy you.  Feel negative emotions instead of repressing them, just don’t act on them.  Your emotions are simply a guidance system. If they are happy you are on the right track, if sad they are telling you that there is something you believe which is not true about yourself.  Feeling and releasing negative emotions can feel brilliant, as long as you don’t wallow in them and don’t identify them as being who you really are.
  3. Breathe; get away from the hustle and bustle if you can.  Breathe in some healthy fresh air and enjoy the feeling of taking the air into your lungs and right into your body.  When you are breathing you are relaxing your body, and giving it a rest.  Conscious breathing is like having an inward shower, all your cells and your being benefits.
  4. Meditate:  For years I struggled with being able to meditate. I read all of the guidance and yes of course when I tried to stop thinking, the thoughts crowded in.    Once I realised the true purpose of meditating is to focus on the gap between the thoughts I cracked it.  The beauty of concentrating on the gap is twofold.  Firstly you are in touch with your higher self who is all powerful and wise; and secondly, by being in the gap between your thoughts you are actually giving yourself a well-earned break.   Thoughts are energy and too much thinking depletes us, yes even if most of our thoughts are happy ones.
  5. Appreciate: Gratitude is a brilliant state to be in.  Appreciation is even better because you tend to be grateful for something you have or have earned, or have been given.  You can appreciate situations, people and stories which have nothing to do with you and as a result you are simply being appreciative of the world around you.  Appreciation is akin to real love because real love is unconditional, all-encompassing and not limited to the personal self.  Therefore feeling appreciation is restful, energising and soothing.

So go on, give yourself some much needed time off and practice some of the relaxing ways of “being” described.  If you have your own ways of de-stressing or relaxing please do let me know, I’d love to hear from you.

People stressed in your workplace? Not sure what to do? Grab your free copy of Christina’s book “Getting To Grips with Workplace Stress”   You can get your copy here.

If you are a leader, you are continually developing and "Sharpening the Saw".  If you lead and manage teams, then you must read about our Inspirational New Leadership Programme.  Sign up now to find out more details when we launch in July 2014.  There is no obligation to undertake the programme, if you sign up today, you will simply be sent more information about the programme.  You can unsubscribe at any time!  Click below to register for further information.

   
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Gross National Happiness on the balance sheet?

  By Christina Lattimer • April 16, 2012 - 9:46 am
National Happiness is a tangible outcome!

Because of my commitment to great people management and engagement, I was heartened to discover that the UN conference on national happiness and wellbeing which began in New York City on 2nd April came to the conclusion that good performance on GNP (Gross National Product) didn’t automatically mean that GNH (Gross National Happiness) increased at a similar rate.

Yes, really, Gross National Happiness!  For those who always thought soft skills were the soft option, then the introduction of the measurement of Gross National Happiness might mean they have to think again.

The conference reported that whilst economic growth was important, 4 other factors were independent causes of national happiness.   These are; community trust; mental and physical health; quality of governance and finally rule of law.

The conference pointed to the premise that you and I know only too well, that “money is not the root of all evil, it is the love of money which is”.  Or in other words, whilst financial wealth is desirable, it because of what it brings to our lives, not the objective.

The conference which is a first of its kind may well be an extremely important landmark in the drive to change the way we do business.

If you haven’t yet heard of “” by Jeffrey Sachs et al; upon which the summit referred to in their discussions on national happiness, then you may want to get yourself a copy of this.  The report makes the link between economic growth and the impact on national happiness and wellbeing, which is fast (it seems) becoming a measurable commodity.

The theme of the report centres on the premise that happiness as a by-product of increasing wealth is no longer sustainable.  From a global perspective, in terms of sustainable development, we need to concentrate on: ending poverty, environmental sustainability, social inclusion and good governance.

Most leaders know and understand that financial reward is not usually top of the list to help motivate staff.  But leadership development programmes must include some of the social issues addressed by the overall message from the conference.   The overall message from the conference and report is that the following factors are important to people in the world of work and as a measurement of  national happiness.

“Working hours, good opportunities for advancement, job security, interesting job, allows to work independently, allows to help other people, and useful to society:  A sense of overall purpose for the job, a degree of autonomy in discharging it, and the competence to do the job – a proper fit between worker and job.  Allied to this people need support and recognition for their efforts.  In addition, more personal factors include mental and physical health, education and family experience”.

As a people manager for many years, I always knew through experience that happy employees were productive employees.  But it is more than that.  As human beings, if you break down any motivation for any action we take, it is usually to help ourselves become happier.  We have an inner drive towards happiness and wellbeing.  That is because happiness and wellbeing are our natural state.

While I think the conference is merely a beginning, and it will remain to be seen whether the subject of happiness is taken seriously or not by world leaders; at least it is a start.  So along with me, watch this space!

Do you believe happiness is important?  What might this focus on happiness mean for leaders, managers and HR professionals in the future?  What are your views?  I’d love to hear from you.

 

Why not read “The Single Daily Choice Which Will Change Your Life For Good“ national happiness

 

 

If you are a leader, you are continually developing and "Sharpening the Saw".  If you lead and manage teams, then you must read about our Inspirational New Leadership Programme.  Sign up now to find out more details when we launch in July 2014.  There is no obligation to undertake the programme, if you sign up today, you will simply be sent more information about the programme.  You can unsubscribe at any time!  Click below to register for further information.

   
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Happiness at Work

  By Christina Lattimer • March 11, 2012 - 3:23 pm
We all want Happiness at work!

Today the sun is shining and the hope of a beautiful spring and lovely summer are in the air.  Most of us know the feeling of happiness and wellbeing that comes with a lovely sunny day.

The day made me think about happiness at work, and the happy memories I have over the years.  It was interesting that the images that sprung up were:

  • The memory of times when the full team were on the same wavelength and really felt like what we were doing mattered and made a difference.
  • When someone did something they were proud of and a personal success had materialised
  • When we laughed when we worked, even when things weren’t perfect.

It’s funny that what didn’t come up when considering happiness at work,  were the memories about performance, or profit margins, or great management, or any of the traditional things we try to get right in the workplace.

Stories about Steve Jobs and his questionable leadership style abounded after his untimely demise.  Although he was celebrated as a great leader, some of the rumours hinted at bullying tactics, micromanagement and a sheer determination to get results no matter what, certainly no consistent tales of happiness at work.

I don’t know if these are true, but If I were an Apple employee, I would guess that being part of some of the most world changing set of products and how amazingly they were marketed and accepted, would be up there in my portfolio of happiness at work. The fact that Jobs wasn’t the perfect people leader may well have been irrelevant.  Who knows?

Having significant meaning in your work can be the happiest experience you can achieve.  It can be the most motivating, resilient inducing factor.  It is amazing how being involved in a meaningful way creates determination and builds character, despite the odds.

Likewise being in a place where individuals can grow and feel proud of what they do is one of the best cultures to foster.   When people feel a sense of achievement, when they’they’ve gone the extra mile and made a difference, it can not only be for them, but can brilliantly move the whole team to action.

You might laugh to think that workplaces could be exciting, inspiring and create enthusiasm.  It might be that it is difficult to muster these states in ourselves and people we work with for long.  But it is these factors which the majority of us will remember about our working lives.

These qualities don’t have to be present only for world changing products.  Making a difference to the care of our elderly population or with our kids who need help to have a better sense of themselves and therefore achieve more with their lives for example, can be equally inspiring, even on a one to one.  Providing an everyday service, or producing inexpensive products can be inspiring if they make a real difference to others’ lives.

I’ve met many wonderful people over the years and worked with some inspirational leaders and individuals across all different roles.  The ones I remember the most are the ones who could laugh in the face of adversity.  The people who had a sense of fun.  This entailed a sense of detachment and lack of  seriousness about the job in hand at times, but never a lack of commitment or dedication.

Studies have shown, that laughter can have the following positive effects on our own and others wellbeing in the following areas:

  • Reduce the effects of stress
  • Invoke muscle relaxationHappiness at work
  • Reduce pain
  • Invoke essential cardiac exercise
  • Maintain healthy blood pressure
  • Improve Respiration

And we all know that people who feel better and have a greater sense of wellbeing are more productive.  So can you afford to spend the time to focus on happiness at work?  I would suggest that you can’t afford not to.

Wishing you happiness at work today, and if you aren’t feeling happy, try to bring some sunshine into someone else’s life today.

What do you think?  Is your workplace a happy one?  Do you have happy memories of work?  We’d love to hear from you.

The above blog post is available in audio.  If you aren’t able to see the audio button below, visit: https://peoplediscovery.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Happiness-at-work.mp3

 

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