Happiness at the Workplace
riter Annie Dillard said, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” What we do everyday matters; in fact, every day we spend approximately one third of our time at work. With today’s technological advancements, we are seeing the pace at which our lives move increase exponentially. Today, we have access to more information, we have many more choices; and hence, we are required to make many more decisions. As a result, we feel disconnected, overwhelmed and stressed. To help us adapt and change in an ever-changing world, we must learn how to learn.
We spend so much of our time at work that it is in this space that we have the opportunity to enhance our skills and widen our knowledge. Today, millennials are leading the change in the corporate landscape and seeking out opportunities in organizations that support them in their learning and growth. Actually, millennials have a greater awareness of the influence their experience and how they feel at work have on how they experience their life overall.
According to a Gallup study, millennial engagement in the workplace is at 29%*. Understanding the reason behind the latter can help employers find ways to create a culture that aligns expectations, learning and actions. People want to work “better” not harder, operate meaningful work, cultivate strong social connections, have more flexibility and live a healthy lifestyle. In summary, they want to be happy. Happiness researcher, Shawn Achor, defines happiness as, “the joy one feels moving towards their potential.” When engaged, moving towards our potential, using our skills to make a positive impact, we are happier.
To support the process of engagement that focuses on the happiness of the individual, as well as the health and growth of the organization, businesses must cultivate a learning culture. Learning is an active process that gives employees the autonomy to acquire knowledge, grow and enhance skills in their own unique ways. A learning culture is at the core of a successful organization and here are ten reasons why:
