What makes for a happy, productive workday for you?

Here at Michael Management, we want our employees to be happy to work for us, and we have a specific formula to help them do just that. Happy employees are motivated and are glad to do more, and we allow them to work from home or utilize a WeWork space for meetings and conferences.

But what about you? Are you happy to work for your current employer, or is it just a job for right now?

A recent survey indicates that millennials believe that learning and growing as an employee is important, and value it more than Boomers and Gen-Xers. What also matters, particularly to millennials, is the company’s mission, and if it aligns with their own values.

Millennials are also averse to long commute times, so working virtual as an option is an important factor when choosing an employer. Some would take that high-stress job if it were their dream job, commute included. But more would choose the shorter commute if it meant a less-than-fulfilling job.

But on a day-to-day basis, do all these high-level points mean you’re happy at work? Maybe. It generally depends on the job, how well suited you are for it, the company you work for, and if you truly enjoy what you do, no matter what that is. Being happy at work usually entails more than just free coffee, snacks, or other available perks.

The Happy Employee

In a study on organizational success, the iOpener Institute found that enthusiastic employees are 65% more energetic than those who weren’t happy. They’re twice as productive and more likely to stay in a job where they’re glad to be. The report also found that:

• Happy employees spread happiness around by example, and create a friendlier work environment
• Happiness also builds positivity and helps an individual solve problems
• Happiness also reduces stress by not only keeping one in a positive mindset but improve the response to stress
• Happiness means a healthier life, with a reduced chance of experiencing the types of illnesses that coexist with stress (i.e., high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.)
• Happy employees create a more positive work environment, building stronger interpersonal relationships that build the organization.

All these things can start with just one happy person at work.

What If You’re Not Happy At Work?

Here are five things to consider if you’re unhappy at your desk.

1. There is an age-old saying that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” In other words, if you look for the good things at work and begin to see your job in a positive light, you’ll be able to enjoy it more.
    
2. The flip side of that is if you start feeling better at work, you’re likely to run into the negative people you don’t want to become. Don’t do it—avoid (best you can) unhappy people, gossips, and negative, unhappy conversations at work. You may start spreading the unhappiness yourself.
    
3. Make friends! It sounds simple, but if there are people at work that you get along with well, take time to get to know them better. When a “negative Nelly” shows up, you may need friendly support to shake off the bad feelings they leave behind. Difficult people can be even worse, and require additional tact to stop from becoming one yourself. Both can be counter-productive to a good working environment as well as your own happiness at work.
    
4. A big contributor to stress and unhappiness at work is taking on too many commitments. You may spend more time stressed out about the commitments than you do working on them, and that doesn’t help matters. If this is you on a regular basis, give some thought to planning and organizing so that you can not only see what kind of time you have but also deal with your current commitments. If your work exceeds your availability, it may be time to decline some tasks or ask your supervisor for additional help and resources. 
    
5. What do you enjoy doing? Think about your interests and skills, and look for one thing you enjoy that may or may not be work-related. Whether it’s writing, crafting, creating apps, writing code, cooking/baking, or something else, do a little of it every day. Consider how you can translate that into a career you will also enjoy.
    

Even when you work for an employer, ultimately, you work for yourself. You, therefore, are in charge of your professional development, not your supervisor or company. It’s OK to ask for feedback and advice, but it’s up to you to continue to grow as an employee, and as an individual.

If increasing your skill level or adding a new skill is something that’s warranted, such as learning or increasing your knowledge of SAP, it’s up to you to get started and stay motivated to get to the finish line.
 

Making A Clean Break

If all else fails, and there’s just no way to salvage the situation, the answer for you may be finding another job. This Gallup poll shows that 50% of people left their jobs to get away from their managers and improve their career elsewhere.

Once you start looking, keep in mind the things that are important to you in a job. From a positive corporate culture to working remotely, remember what’s most valuable to you in a company and your career.

And the process may just make you feel a little better. After all, you want to bring a little happiness with you into your next job, don’t you?

Is A Career In SAP On Your List?

Michael Management is the premier online e-learning platform to get the training and skills you need for a new career in SAP. More than 300,000 people have taken our training on their way to a new and better career. You can see more at our YouTube channel, with more than 75 SAP videos.

Ready to get started? Contact us today to find out how you can learn SAP quickly and efficiently.