Five ways to stay happy at work

Around 24% of employees globally were disengaged at work, according to a Gallop study in 2013, indicating they were unhappy and unproductive.

Considering employees deal with crushing lows and ecstatic highs at work, building a self that’s balanced, happy and motivated is critical to survive and sail through. ET shares tips on becoming happier at work.

1 Gain Clarity

Understanding the significance of your role can lead to a sense of fulfillment, says Pallavi Jha, chairman and managing director, Dale Carnegie Training India. “Internalise the objectives. Competition is high and people need to be clear about their objectives,” says Abhishek Goel, assistant professor, behavioural sciences, IIM Calcutta.

2 Build your Network

In both good times and bad, one needs a support system in order to stay calm. “It could be peers, someone senior, or across functions and divisions. Forging lasting relationships and building one’s own network can help employees,” says Jha.

3 Use Feedback

Most progressive organisations have robust feedback mechanisms, which can be used to address one’s career dilemmas and progress. “Feedback can help one assess shortcomings, which could be behavioural or technical,” says Goel.

4 Note the Good Things

A positive state of mind, which can be forged by taking note of things going right, and building a sense of gratitude can help one tide through the lows. “The important thing is not to dwell on something negative and not to let the negativity sap you,” says Jha. Taking stock of things gone wrong factually and with reason and not taking them personally can help one stay balanced.

5 Build Balance

Research by the University of Warwick reveals that happiness makes people more productive at work. Taking time out from work, going on vacations and spending time with family or friends to build a work-life balance can help one unclog.