Happiness at Work Archives - Page 3 of 4

Why Unfinished Business Always Pops in Your Mind

Brain, Goals, Happiness at Work, Motivation / My Holland

Before reading this, try to recall all the tasks you accomplished in the last five days. There’s a great chance you won’t remember all. Now, think of all the things that you left undone. But maybe you don’t have to because these keep popping in your head. And these might be causing stress right now. It’s not just tasks. How often have you stopped reading a book or watching a movie before the end? Yes, people love stories. But, they want to get to the conclusion as not knowing can drive them crazy. What can explain this behavior? Well, have you ever heard of the Zeigarnik Effect? a psychologist, postulated that incomplete tasks were easier to remember than completed ones. These remain in people’s conscious minds because they cause mental tension. It’s no wonder you recall unfinished business repeatedly. Not all experts agree on the effect, as more research has to be done. One of the questions is whether this is good or bad. But, everyone can agree that when you experience it, there are ways to deal with it. Here are three: Accomplish your tasks promptly. It’s relative for each person. Many jobs cannot be done by the end of a day. But, by completing small chunks daily, you finish the whole sooner. People put off working on tasks until the last minute. In short, they procrastinate. Everyone does. If you want to ease stress, begin working on your tasks ASAP. And, why not reward yourself when you accomplish something. It could be a glass of that expensive wine you’ve been saving. Use the Effect for your Benefit. If the Zeigarnik Effect is real, use it to help you. For instance, if you’re preparing for a presentation, forget cramming all that information in one sitting. Instead, divide these into smaller portions. Focus on each and take breaks. Then move on to the next one. You’ll realize you retain more data because your brain tells you that your presentation isn’t complete. Maybe you could use it in your job? Ads and movie trailers are good examples. Marketers use story-telling to get customers to stay tuned. Use it as Motivation. Maybe you have an alarm clock or use your smartphone to wake you up. You won’t believe it, but these regularize your sleeping behavior. Treat the Zeigarnik Effect as an alarm to attend to unfinished business. If you want that internal reminder to go silent, finish whatever you started. Instead of bugging your mind, treat the effect as motivation.

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Why To-Do Lists are Good for You

Brain, Goals, Happiness at Work, Productivity / My Holland

Post-it notes have become part of people’s lives. You’ll find it everywhere – on desks, the fridge, walls and doors. These are constant reminders of all the tasks that need to be done. Whether it’s not to forget to buy milk on the way home or pay bills, people are helped a lot by little pieces of paper. It’s not just Post-it notes. Others use memo pads, diaries and even their digital devices as reminders. Unfortunately, they can be overwhelmed by too many of these. But did you know that these can significantly help reduce anxiety and accomplish tasks. >> You achieve clarity Writing down or typing tasks give you a clearer picture of what needs to be done. When you do, you often realize that it’s mostly small stuff. The human brain can create mountains out of molehills. Remember, a small rock can cast a large shadow. It makes a difference when people focus on the former and not the latter. When people specify, the job ahead becomes more effortless. Or, if a task is too big, breaking it into smaller chunks makes it more manageable. But write or again, type these down. >> You prioritize What needs to be done now or today? Itemizing tasks can help you determine which are urgent and not. This also enables you to focus on one task at a time. Tests have shown a to-do list helps people. Try this out? Think of all the tasks you need to accomplish and often, you’ll forget one or several. Also, you can’t possibly sort your mental list according to importance. Now, try writing these on paper. Wouldn’t you agree, there’s a vast difference? >> You can schedule Some people get rid of simple tasks that don’t require effort and thinking. This is because it takes them time to warm up. Others, they like to handle challenging jobs first thing in the morning. With a to-do list, you can schedule which tasks to accomplish first. You can even set a time for checking on your social media accounts. Doing so will allow you to achieve more during the day. >> You Get a Sense of Achievement Every time you check or cross out a task on your to-do list, you feel a sense of accomplishment. This is important because you become more motivated and engaged in whatever job you need to do. There’s nothing wrong with feeling proud. In fact, it has positive effects on your health too. So start working on your to-do lists. These can make your life a bit easier.

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Happiness and Engagement at the Workplace

Emotional Intelligence, Happiness at Work / My Holland

There’s a healthy discussion between proponents of employee engagement and advocates of employee happiness. Companies are looking inward while trying to determine which of these should be prioritized. You might find the answer below. We agree with most that both employee happiness and engagement are different. It’s a mistake to believe that they are one and the same. Do they affect productivity? Can one exist without the other? These are just a couple of the many questions organizations are taking seriously. When we searched for the definition of employee engagement, the top result is this – the extent to which employees feel passionate about their jobs, are committed to the organization and put discretionary effort into their work. We searched for employee happiness but didn’t find one definition we were comfortable with. So, we had to ask ourselves how we would define a happy employee. We settled on one meaning with help from Oxford’s English Dictionary’s definition of “happy.” For us, employee happiness is the state of pleasure or contentment felt by individuals at the workplace. In other words, we feel happy at work if we feel good about our jobs. The question is whether we are satisfied, happy or elated? Productivity and Employee Engagement According to a Gallup Organization study, companies that promote engagement experience a 22% increase in productivity. These organizations suffer less absenteeism and turnover. Highly engaged employees have a better understanding of their role and how their work affects the overall picture. Also, they care more for their organization and colleagues. Communication is the key to improving employee engagement which, by the way, isn’t achieved with memos, e-mails, and newsletters alone. Although these can help, leaders and supervisors need to talk to their subordinates more often. Verbal communication is more effective in sharing goals, concerns, and decisions. Feedback is instant and employees are more inclined to participate in a discussion. It doesn’t have to be in a formal setting. Leaders have been known to discuss ideas with employees at more relaxed venues like bars and restaurants. Happiness at Work Winning the lottery will make you exultant despite having to report to a boss you can’t stand. This doesn’t exactly make you happy at work. It’s the workplace conditions, including benefits and compensation, which will determine the degree of employee happiness. Our personal lives have no real bearing on our satisfaction at work. On the other hand, unhappiness at the workplace can drive us to look for jobs elsewhere.

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Encourage Creativity and Innovation

Emotional Intelligence, Happiness at Work, Leadership / My Holland

Organizations claim they encourage employees to think outside the box. Not everyone practices what they preach. Many leaders become insecure when their subordinates come up with better ideas. Instead of encouraging creativity, they stifle it. But if you feel secure in your position, always ask your employees for their opinions and ideas. If there are better ways to perform tasks, it helps everyone in the organization. New ideas save time and also improve the bottom line. Make it a practice to listen to any new idea. Don’t dismiss it immediately if it hasn’t been tried yet. Be receptive and make comments later after you’ve made a proper study. Build Personal Relationships Get to know your employees better. Spend time with them at cafes, bars and restaurants. In a relaxed environment, you can find out what motivates them and what they enjoy doing. Who knows, you might even discover hidden skills which can be applied at work. Also, when they are comfortable with you, they’re likely to be more honest. Keep in mind you should be honest with them too. Foster friendships at your workplace. If employees work with people they see as friends, they’re more committed to the team and the organization. They’re bound to strive harder and become more engaging because they want to help their friends. You know this is true as you would always choose to work with people you call friends. Conscientiously apply the steps above and soon, you will see an improvement in your organization. What was once perhaps a group of indifferent people will now be replaced by highly engaged friends.

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Make Adjustments to your Team

Engagement, Happiness at Work, Leadership, Positivity, Workplace Culture / My Holland

Hiring new people is not always the answer. Sometimes, small tweaks can transform your group into a highly-engaged team. First, find out what each employee enjoys doing the most. Assign tasks that are based not only on skill but also on personal preference. Studies show that employees are more productive and become highly engaged if they perform the work they love. Second, include employees in goal setting and allow them to have their say. Don’t expect even the best employees to feel passionate about goals they don’t agree with. Expect indifference instead! On the other hand, having everyone on board has tremendous effects on your team. Each employee becomes more committed to goals they can call their own. Third, communicate with your employees more often. Find out how you can assist them in their jobs. Praise employees when they think outside the box and perform beyond expectations. A simple acknowledgment of an employee’s extra effort might be enough to push him/her to become highly engaged. Make it a habit to show appreciation to your employees. Consider following any of the tips above. Soon, you’ll have a highly engaged top-notch team in your organization!

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Happiness at Work

Why Unfinished Business Always Pops in Your Mind

Why To-Do Lists are Good for You

Happiness and Engagement at the Workplace

Encourage Creativity and Innovation

Make Adjustments to your Team

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