Happiness in the workplace - the basics

When I was 24 I worked as a waterski instructor in a hotel in Turkey. I drove the newest, fastest boat in the area, and it was hot and sunny every single day. I worked with the most amazing group of people (I’m even married one of them :)). I lived in a hotel, ate great food and partied all the time. I had some of the happiest moments of my life.

Nine months later though, I quit.

I had everything that people think makes you happy. A fast car (well … a boat), friends, money and not a care in the world. So what went wrong?

It turns out that happiness at work doesn’t depend on how much fun you have, or whether you have the latest toys, or whether you have a fancy sofa in the office or free fruit. It helps (a little) but there are other far more important factors.

So what does actually make you happy at work?

It depends on who you speak to. Just google “the factors that make you happy at work” and you’ll see there are anything from 5 to 25 things you need to do. All the suggestions are broadly the same though, just categorised differently. As an overall summary I like the US Surgeon General’s guide to wellbeing because it divides into just five factors (and five is easier to remember than twenty five) and then links them to their human needs. 

To be happy at work you need to feel …

1. Safety - This is the most important one. You need to feel you are safe at work. Safe against bullying or discrimination and that your job is secure. It also means you feel safe to speak up - you feel psychological safety (more about this later). Arguably, without a feeling of safety you cannot feel happy. This is based on the human needs for safety and security. 

2. Connection and community - you need to feel you are included and part of a team, and that you have the support you need around you. This is based on the human need for social support and belonging.

3. Autonomy - you need to feel that you have control over your work and that you are trusted and won’t be blamed if anything goes wrong. You need to feel some sense of ownership. This is based on the human needs for autonomy and flexibility.

4. Purpose - you need to feel that the work you do has some kind of meaning and that you are recognised for the work you do. This is based on the human needs for dignity and meaning.

5. Opportunities for growth - finally you need to feel that there is a future in your job, that you are going to grow. This is based on the human needs for learning and a sense of accomplishment.

What about salary and benefits? I hear you ask. That fits into security and recognition. You need to feel your job is safe and that you are recognised fairly for your work. The actual amount you get is important but not as important as you’d think. In short, it’s difficult to buy a team member’s happiness.

Obviously there are hundreds of factors that will influence a team’s happiness, and every team is different, so this only scratches the surface. But if you intentionally focus on these five areas, reflect on what you already do well and look at what you can improve, you’ll be off to a pretty good start.

Now you understand what makes people happy, how can you do it?

How can you give your team a feeling of safety? How can you give them purpose? That is what I’m going to write about this year. Each week in 2024 I will share one small hack, one behavioural nudge you can do to help fulfil these five “essentials”. 

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One final thought …

What makes people happy is different for everyone, and even changes throughout your life. As a business owner or team leader you’ll never be able to make everyone happy all of the time, but you can create an environment where you maximise the chances.

I like Matt Phelan’s analogy with gardening. “As any expert gardener will explain, you can’t guarantee all your plants will grow, but you can provide the right conditions and ingredients to give your seedlings the best chance of success.” The Happiness Index 2023