How to Be Happy at Work
Being Happy at Work starts with aligning your personal needs with the job and company you work for. Many people find themselves unhappy at work and blame their unhappiness on a bad boss, a caustic work environment, coworkers they can’t relate to, a lack of appreciation and low pay. While these reasons may be valid, before jumping into another job, make sure you understand the role you play in your unhappiness.
“My friend Sara was a 10-year employee at a CPA firm. She became disgruntled when the company lost a number of employees due to poor management. Her workload doubled to make up for those who had left. With no appreciation from management or pay increase for the additional workload, and pushed out of her comfort zone, she became unhappy. Her efforts to bring solutions to upper management were ignored. She found it necessary to resign her position. Knowing I was a career counselor, Sara came to me asking for my advice on what to do next.”
To better understand Sara and her needs, I had her take two primary assessments. The results of one revealed that she was an introvert, preferring to work alone. Therefore, when her company came to her and assigned 10 new clients and demanded she visit face-to-face with them, it threw her outside of her comfort zone.
The other assessment revealed that one of her top strengths was “achiever”. This typically means that she will take ownership of anything assigned to her and do whatever is necessary to accomplish the tasks. She found herself working 80 hours a week, getting paid for 40 and not receiving any appreciation for her effort.
Realizing her situation was hopeless, she submitted her resignation. After taking the assessments and learning more about her needs, she used the information to find a company more suited to her strengths and preferences.
How can these assessments help you, like they did Sara?
In my last blog, I explained the Strengthsfinder tool that Sara took.
http://www.lorrainegrubbs.com/confused-find-right-career-path-happy-work-experience/
In this blog I will discuss the second tool I use with my coaching clients, called the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
This assessment helps determine how you prefer to communicate, take in information, make decisions and whether or not “last-minute” energizes you or stresses you out and what to do about it.
The best way to take the assessment is to go to: https://www.mbtionline.com
The cost to take the online assessment is $49.95 and you will get instant results.
Once you know what your strengths are (Strengthsfinder2.0) and combine it with your natural preferences (MBTI), you will have much better insight into what work environment will make you happier. It will also help you communicate those needs in your resume and throughout your interview with a prospective employer to make sure you are a good fit.
In Sara’s case, knowing she was an introvert (MBTI) and an achiever (Strengthsfinder), she updated her resume explaining that she works best independently and is able to be a high producer. Sara eventually found employment with a firm that gave her an individual office and a heavy, but manageable workload.
Join me next month to discuss how to find that right job for you.
Lorraine Grubbs is a career coach, author and consultant who works with individuals to help them find happiness at their work. To learn more go to: www.lorrainegrubbs.com
