Last week, we shared a blog on the habit of negativity. In the article (which you can read here), we raised the notion that perhaps negativity has become a habit of the workplace, rather than something employees realise they’re doing.
It’s interesting that so many people consider that they’ll be miserable from 9-5, Monday to Friday. And they’re happy to continue this way.
Just take a moment to consider that statement one more time – thousands of people, all over the world, are perfectly happy to continue to be unhappy.
I know what you’re thinking – it’s madness! If a person realises they’re miserable, or if they thought there was anything they could do about it, surely they would? The logical answer tells us that people would take measures to improve their happiness, should they realise that improvement is an option.
However, as we’re all too familiar, employees around the globe drag their feet, every Monday morning, towards their dreaded office. They slump into their chairs, with cries of “Urgh, Moooooonday,” to agreeing, empathising colleagues. We’ve all seen them; they’re everywhere. Negativity is an epidemic that’s swept thorugh the workplaces of companies the world over – and people continue to put themselves through it, as though it’s just what’s supposed to happen when you grow up.
Now that we are grown up, maybe it’s time to take a step back.
What was YOUR dream as a child? I’ll take a wild guess: A vet? An astronaut? A pop star? Take my little nephew’s reply as an example – “A doughnut, with pink icing and sprinkles!”
The point is that it doesn’t matter. The role you sought as a child was meaningless, really. We didn’t seek to make a stack of cash or improve our status – we wanted to be happy, and as children, we envisaged the things that would make us happier than anything.
So why, as adults, do we allow ourselves to continue to be unhappy? Why do we assume that our working lives have to be miserable – why can’t we have fun and enjoy what we do, everyday?
At People Lab, we’re big believers in the power of happiness at work. We truly believe that positive psychology and employee engagement go hand in hand – and we’re passionate about promoting a happier future for every employee. You can check out our presentation on the Positive Psychology of Employee Engagement here, for further insight and information on how you can make a change in your organisation – today.
[box]So here’s our challenge to you…why don’t you take a step back today?
Take 5 minutes out of your day today, and think about 1 or 2 things that you could do to make your working life a happier one. Maybe it’s as simple as performing a random act of kindness every day, requesting flexible working, or making an effort to smile and make conversation with colleagues in different departments. Whatever it may be, write down your improvements, and see what you can do to make your organisation – and your working day – a better place to be. [/box]
