Workplace Happiness Grid

Happiness is an abstract concept but not so abstract in the workplace. Good work, growth, compensation, and learning drives happiness in the workplace. But on a day-to-day basis, it is our relationships and interactions that matter the most.

Not every transaction happens the way we wish to. Winning (getting things done your way) may be desirable but is not optimal.

Let's understand it through the "Workplace Happiness Grid". I have conceptualized this framework based on my leadership and coaching experience over the last two decades.

1] LOSE-LOSE

This is the worst quadrant. We know it is a losing position, but we also ensure others won't win. It impacts relationships adversely.

Strategy [0%]: Best is to stay away and spend 0% of your time here. It only feeds your pride.

2] LOSE-WIN

We should be here when we know we have to drive things our way no matter what. Often in situations of crisis or urgency, one can be here as there is no time to collaborate. Effective decision-making and implementation are more important than keeping others happy.

Strategy [25%]: Communication is the key here. Misunderstandings should be avoided. One should also not spend more than 25% of their time here.

3] WIN-LOSE (25%)

We know that losing out on a few things doesn't affect our big-picture. It ensures better relationships with others.

Strategy [25%]: Letting other people win works well when the impact on you is minimal or when you don't have a choice. Try to keep it within 25% of your time.

4] WIN-WIN

This is the best quadrant. It does require alignment and a lot of hard work to ensure everyone wins.

Strategy [50%]: One should strive to be here as much as possible. It does impact your personal bandwidth adversely. Be mentally prepared to deal with work-life balance issues.

If you follow the Strategy mentioned above, 75% times you are winning, which is quite high. When you prioritize "focus on self" a lot, the others may feel like a loser thereby impacting the relationship.

This framework conveys an important message:

"Maximization of winning at the workplace often leads to difficulty in one's relationships. Optimizing it is a better strategy. Learning to let go is important."

PS: You can use this framework on your personal side too.

What are your views on driving happiness at work?

Thanks for reading and share your feedback on this article.

About the Author?

Rahul Gupta ?is the founder of?Transform Ahead?? , a world-class Coaching and Leadership Development institution. He is an?ICF Professional Certified Coach ?and an?Everything DiSC? ?certified trainer. On LinkedIn, he has 80K+ followers. Rahul is a published thought leader and his articles have been featured in Entrepreneur, BusinessWorld and CFO Connect.

About?Transform Ahead??

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