5 Ways to be happier at work

Monday

Focus on "Get to" instead of "Have to" - While driving to work focus on what you “get to” do instead of what you “have to” do. With gratitude realize that you don’t have to do anything. You get to go to a job while so many are unemployed. Gratitude floods your body and brain with emotions that uplift you and energize you rather than stress hormones that drain you.

Tuesday

Don’t Expect your Boss, Co-workers and Customers to Make you Happy - Realize that happiness is an inside job. Our happiness has less to do with forces outside of us and more to do with what’s inside of us. The way we think about work, feel about work and approach our work influences our happiness at work. For instance, just by making yourself smile you produce more serotonin in the brain-which makes you feel happier. You’ll also be happier when you focus on what you are giving instead of what you are getting.

Wednesday

Don’t Seek Happiness - Ironically if you want to be happier don’t seek happiness. Instead share your strengths and decide to work with passion and purpose and happiness will find you. The research shows that people are most energized when they are using their strengths for a bigger purpose beyond themselves. Whatever your job, decide to bring passion to it and find purpose in it. I’ve met bus drivers, mortgage brokers, janitors and fast-food employees who are more passionate about their jobs and happier than some professional athletes making millions of dollars. Every job will get mundane and “old” if you let it but purpose and passion keep it fresh and make you happier.

Thursday

Focus on Excellence instead of Success - When you focus on success you can easily fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others, looking over your shoulder, feeling envious, playing office politics, and competing against coworkers instead of collaborating. However, when you focus on excellence you measure yourself against your own growth and potential. You strive to be the best you can be. You simply focus on getting better every day and this makes work more meaningful and rewarding.

Friday

Celebrate Together - While we shouldn’t depend on others to make us happy, by building a positive team or support group at work we will be happier. So instead of expecting others to make you happy, you proactively create the positive relationships that enhance your engagement, productivity and happiness. One great way to do this to huddle with your team/group at the end of the week and have each person share their accomplishments, victories, and great moments of the week. This will produce great feelings on Friday that inspire you and your team to come back to work and make a difference on Monday.

Source: http://www.jongordon.com/newsletter-060611-be-happier-at-work.html

Here are 4 Ways to Communicate Better With Your Team

1. Don’t Wait, Be Proactive – If there is a change coming or something notable brewing, let people know. Be honest, tell them you don’t have all the answers yet but that as the answers come you will inform them. Giving them at least a nugget is far better than not saying anything at all. They hear the rumors, they see the subtle signs but when you don’t speak… they are left to jump to their own conclusions and those conclusions will always slant negative, it’s just human nature.

2. Equip Them – Give them as much info as you can. If it’s an issue you don’t want communicated to the public yet, tell them so. If you have someone on your team who can’t keep their mouth shut then address it with that person specifically but don’t hinder the communication with the rest of the team just because of one loose cannon.

3. Stop Trying to Control Everything – If you are a leader or a manager, it’s not about you anyways. It’s about your team and you need to be doing everything you can to keep them in the loop and aware. The more they know, the more they can help you. Let them. Don’t get in their way. If you want them to communicate with you, you need to communicate with them… first.

4. Don’t Assume They Already Know - Just because you know doesn’t mean they know. Too often we get busy and sometimes think we have told people more than we have. Make sure you take the time to ask people if they are clear, if they are in the know and if they understand. Give them opportunities to voice their thoughts, listen and respond.

Source: http://www.danieldecker.net/4-ways-to-communicate-better-with-your-team/