Want to Be Happier and More Productive at Work? Consider These Factors
Gretchen Rubin
6x NYT Bestselling Author | Host of the "Happier with Gretchen Rubin" Podcast | Order "Life in Five Senses," out now in paperback
In the fascinating book First, Break All the Rules, by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, the authors discuss their work to describe, among other things, the qualities of the best workplaces, the kinds that attract and retain the most productive employees.
They devised twelve questions. If employees answered “yes” and were happier in their workplaces, they also tended to work in business units with higher levels of productivity, profit, retention, and customer satisfaction. This shows a link between how employees feel and how they perform.
Are you a manager who wants to create a happier and more productive work environment? Are you a job seeker/holder who to know how to size up a workplace? This list can help.
Also, one of my twelve Personal Commandments is to Identify the problem. Often, when we very specifically identify a problem, solutions appear. If you're not happy at work, you can use this list to identify the problem, and then you might be able to think of some steps to take to improve your situation. You can't change your boss, but maybe you could get an equipment upgrade.
1. Do I know what is expected of me at work?
2. Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right?
3. At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day?
4. In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for doing good work?
5. Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person?
6. Is there someone at work who encourages my development?
7. At work, do my opinions seem to count?
8. Does the mission/purpose of my company make me feel like my work is important?
9. Are my co-workers committed to doing quality work?
10. Do I have a best friend at work? [But don’t have an office affair!]
11. In the last six months, have I talked with someone about my progress?
12. This last year, have I had opportunities at work to learn and grow?
According to the authors, the first six questions have the strongest links to business outcomes (productivity, profitability, retention, and customer satisfaction).
I was also interested to see that the study suggested that people’s opinions of their workplaces are more determined by their immediate manager than by the overall company. It was their direct manager – not money, benefits, perks, or a charismatic leader at the top – that was the critical element for people.
Does this list help you understand better what's helpful -- or not -- at your workplace? Can you think of steps to take, to improve your situation?
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I'm finishing up my next book, Better Than Before, about the many strategies we can use to make and break habits. The most fascinating subject ever. The funniest strategy? Loophole-Spotting. The most fun strategy? Treats. If you want to hear when the book goes on sale, sign up here.
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Gretchen Rubin is the author of the blockbuster New York Times bestsellers, The Happiness Project and Happier at Home. She writes about happiness and habit-formation (the subject of her next book, Better Than Before) at gretchenrubin.com. Follow her here by clicking the yellow FOLLOW button, on Twitter, @gretchenrubin, on Facebook, facebook.com/GretchenRubin.Photo: davemelbourne, Flickr
Very nice piece - thank you. I'd be interested to know whether you think the manager can affect #10? No I don't mean having an affair with me :-) I just don't think they can help the best friend element. And maybe you can't find a best friend at work. It's the one that sticks out for me as being the least anyone can do anything about. Maybe there are others?
I help people tell their story the way they want it to be told. I work to your priorities, to ensure your memoirs, works of fiction, poetry or short stories get written and completed; edited, proofread and published.
9 年"Don't have an office affair" Gretchen - you spoil;sport! No, seriously, I worry that we are all becoming a bit too reliant on the sort of feel-good factors you encourage, albeit there's nothing inherently wrong with any of it, but ultimately, and because most people don't look to their work place to provide the joy in life that you are suggesting it might, a good pay packet and genuine prospects - exactly the two things often missing from employment nowadays, would make a lot of people a lot happier.
Curator of Culture | Leadership Coach | Developer of Talent | Team Builder | Strategist | People Champion
10 年This is a great list - a nice standard to set.
Technical Leader & Hands-on Systems Architect
10 年...there's an old saying, "You only go as your manager." -- or something like that. So yes, the relationship between you and your direct is important. And how far your direct moves up also. But I think as you get older, have kids -- the perks start having a say in things. Does health insurance cover the family with minimal cost to you? Can you work from home? Does the company buy you lunch? etc. Your relationshp with your boss could be "mediocre" at best or he/she could be mediocre, but if certain perks are there -- you have to take into consideration. The only way the perks can get ignored is if your boss is a total jerk (which of course has happened - albeit i sometimes wonder if i should have stuck it out).
I say Yes to most of the question except questions 7 and 10 they seem to be more personal. Question # 10. Its good to have best friend at work yes, but there must be a demarcation between professional friendship and personal friendship. A best friend at work is the one that will encourage you on how you can exceel to improve your performance and build a good relationship with your co workers and supervisors. On the other hand ,Let us not forget the danger of having relationship between a Female workers and the boss. This type of relatioships may end in romance that can jeopardize your Career. What happened if your best friend at work made a big mistake and your boss does not khow? Will you report your best friend? Definately no and the Company will lose Money because you want to cover the shame. Question # 7. 0pinions seem to count at work Yes, But most Company specially big Companies they Consider 0pinions of majority not Manority. However your 0pinion can be valid but your boss will find barrier to make your opinion effective because it have to be evaluated and compared with other opinions of your co workers.