Jenna Goudreau | October, 28, 2010
Research shows that happy employees are better paid, enjoy more job security and are less likely to quit or burn out. In order to boost your own workplace happiness and that of your team, positive psychology expert and author of The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor suggests taking the following steps.
Start believing.
Studies show that positivity fuels success. Some easy ways to jump-start positivity are daily meditations, more frequent exercise, planning something to look forward to and spending money on fun outings rather than on material things.
Think again.
Start recalibrating the world as one full of opportunities rather than obstacles. People who view work as less of a “job,” which is a chore and takes away from their free time, and more as a “career” or “calling” are exponentially more likely to feel fulfilled–and be successful.
Practice positivity.
Make positive thinking a habit. Jot down three things you are grateful for each day or start journaling more about positive experiences. Soon, scanning for the positive rather than the negative will become second nature.
Use failure to fuel success.
Think of failure as a learning opportunity. Analyze how you handled the situation and what to do differently in the future, rather than blaming others and stewing in negativity.
Focus on small goals.
Create small, manageable goals that you know you will be able to achieve. Begin by articulating your current situation and pinpointing the aspects of your job that are under your control. Once you understand what can be changed, map out how to make those changes little by little.
Use the 20-second rule.
Make positive habits 20 seconds easier to start and bad habits more difficult. If you want to exercise in the morning, for example, sleep in your gym clothes. Then do the activity for 21 days in a row to make it a habit. {end}