The 10 things to do to be happier at work

Happiness - in your business life and your personal life - is often a matter of attention to others as we pay attention to ourselves. Consider, for example, what happens when you?start?doing the following 10 things:

1. Taking responsibility

One of the first bad habits we can get rid of is blaming others for our problems. On the fact that everyone makes mistakes, i.e. employees who aren't meeting your expectations, or vendors not delivering on time, we use these excuses to blame them for your problems.

If many of us do this instinctively, we all should think first if ever we're also to blame. Maybe we didn't provide enough training. Maybe we didn't build in enough of a buffer. Maybe we asked too much, too soon.

Taking responsibility when things go wrong instead of blaming others isn't masochistic, it's empowering, because then you can focus on making things happen better or smarter next time. And when you get better or smarter, you also get happier.

2. Listening

Do you want to have all the attention? Then you should first give it. And at work is easily done: listen to what people are saying to you, and focus on what they say. Ask questions to make sure you understand what they say.

Also do not interrupt them. Interrupting isn't just rude, it is saying out loud that you are not listening to understand their point, you are listening to them just to take time to think about what you want to say.

3. Be patient

All the time and effort you spend complaining about a situation that is not working is a waste of time. You could better put that effort into making the situation better, also because unless you want to whine about it forever, you'll eventually have to do that.

Moreover, your words have power, over you and over others. Complaining about problems makes you feel worse, and make feel people around you sick of listening to you.

A good rule is talking about how you'll make things better, not about what's wrong. Be patient about the present, even if with yourself only, and project yourself towards the better solution you are about to work. Do the same with your colleagues or friends and avoid welcoming their whining being the shoulder they can cry on. In the end, a good friend helps friends to make their lives better.

4. Be substantial

No one likes you for your clothes, your car, your possessions, your title, or your accomplishments. Those are all "things". People may like your things - but that doesn't mean they like you.

Sure, superficially they might seem to like you, but superficial is also insubstantial, and a relationship that is not based on substance is not a real relationship.

Only genuine relationships make you happier, and you'll form genuine relationships only when you stop trying to impress and start trying to just be yourself.

5. Be consistent

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. This facilitates you in the short range, but an absence of fear or insecurity isn't a synonym of 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.

6. Be trustful

Sure, you're the boss. Of course, you're a titan of your industry. Maybe, you're the small tail of your team but you run into a huge corporation. Whatever your situation, the only thing you really control is you.

If you find yourself trying hard to control other people, you've decided that you, your goals, your dreams, or even just your opinions are more important than theirs. Plus, control is short-term at best, because it often requires force, or fear, or authority, or some form of pressure - and none of those things make you feel good about yourself.

Find people who want to go where you're going. Be clear, transparent, and explain what is your goal, your vision, your direction. They'll work harder, have more fun, and create better business and personal relationships. And all of you will be happier.

7. Be easygoing

Maybe yes, you're more educated. It might be also you're more experienced. And you've been around more blocks and climbed more mountains and slew more dragons.

That doesn't make you smarter, or better, or more insightful. That just makes you,?that unique, matchless, one of a kind, the you that you are. Just like everyone else - including the newbie you hired last week.

Everyone is different: not better, not worse, just different. Appreciate the differences instead of the shortcomings and you'll see people - and yourself - in a better light.

8. Be compliant

Over being easygoing, search to be compliant. They share the same mother: open-mindedness. Be careful because 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. Be Forgiving

The past is highly valuable. Learn from your mistakes. Learn from the mistakes of others. Then let it go.

Easier said than done? It depends on your focus. When something bad happens to you, use it as a chance to learn something you didn't know. When another person makes a mistake, use it as an opportunity to be kind, forgiving, and understanding.

The past doesn't define you, it was training you and it does not contain a life sentence. Think about what went wrong in terms of how you will make sure that, next time, you and the people around you will know how to make sure it goes right.

10. Enduring

It happens we are afraid, of what might or might not happen, of what we can't change, or what we won't be able to do, or how other people might perceive us. This is why it is easier to hesitate, to wait for the right moment, to decide we need to think a little longer or do some more research or explore a few more alternatives.

Meanwhile, days, weeks, months, and even years pass us by. And so do our dreams and others'. Don't let fears hold you back. Whatever you've been planning, whatever you've imagined, whatever you've dreamed of, get started on it today.

If you want to start a business, take the first step. If you want to change careers, take the first step. If you want to expand or enter a new market or offer new products or services, take the first step. No matter how long is the journey, it starts with a single step.

Otherwise, today is gone. Once tomorrow comes, today is lost forever. Today is the most precious asset we own - and is the one and only thing you should truly fear wasting.

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Raffaella Grassi?is Senior Managing Partner at?Origami Engineering; she has a consolidated background as being Officer specialized in Management and Business Development, Contract Management, and Long Term Marketing Strategies for a long time. She also held diverse VP positions with major industrial engineering players. She has been part of innovation in the energy field and in industrial processes optimization. At?Origami Engineering, she develops excellent Business Development combined to Advanced Engineering in many areas. She writes on blogs, like?The Next Generation, about innovation, science, discoveries or?The Best Myself, about self-improvement. Visit?About Me?to know more about her, and follow?@RFGrassi?and?@OrigamiEng?on Twitter.

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