What makes people happy at work?

‘What makes people happy at work’ is an age-old question that is relevant even today because work continues to be a big part of our lives. In my interactions with people as a coach, I come across too many who remain either unsatisfied or at best neutral about their work lives. 

I remember my own time working as an employee for various organisations and a strong itch for more fulfilment and a sense of meaning at work. Did people also feel it? Which factors play a dominant role in how they feel and what kind of an impact does their paycheque have on the satisfaction levels? 

Seeking to understand answers to these questions, I conducted a survey. The 55 participants of the survey are based mostly in either India or the United States and are working in white-collar jobs in the IT, Accounting, Consulting, and Construction industries with organisations such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Deloitte. A small percentage (<15%) is self-employed.

Here are some of the findings from my research:

1] Not surprisingly, money is one of the key motivators for people to go to work. Money not only provides stability and safety but also a sense of accomplishment and is a means to provide for people’s ever-increasing needs and desires.

Moreover, the comparison fuelled by social media pushes people to want more of what others have and money makes the lifestyle they and their families aspire for accessible.

2] A common cause of dissatisfaction is a lack of boundaries w.r.t work timings. Although the pandemic is behind us, a lot of people continue to work primarily from home because of the flexibility it offers them. However, they also find themselves working till late including taking calls and meetings with teams from other countries. The struggle to draw boundaries between work and personal life is still on and frustrates many people.

3] Work politics in both big and small organisations impacts quite a few who find themselves struggling to navigate it and feel victimised due to the lack of political skills

4] People who are aligned in what they desire and what they are doing at work seem pretty fulfilled. 

E.g. 1: Those that are aware that contributing to the world in some way matters to them and find a way to do it either at work or in their own time feel satisfied with themselves professionally. 

E.g. 2: Those that have found a way to navigate their careers to reach a place or position where their strengths meet the needs of their jobs.

5] There are quite a few who seem to be lacking clarity between their wants and needs. While they desire a higher paycheque, making a tangible difference to the world has provided them meaning and fulfilment in the past yet they seem to want and work towards the former more than the latter.

‘Are you confusing your wants for your needs’ is a question worth finding the answer to, especially if you are unsatisfied and think a better paycheque will change the way you feel.

6] I also observed that:

People who are clear about the role of work in their lives and don’t let it define themselves seem happier. 

This can come from having a life outside of work whether it’s a fulfilling family life or working on a personal passion project or even a spiritual pursuit. This ties in with the age-old adage: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket (in this case: the work basket even if you love what you do).

A person’s paradigm about work makes a big difference in how they feel about their professional lives. If their paradigm is aligned with their values, they feel in control and thus, motivated. 

For some people, work is primarily a means to an end. They treat it as such but the lack of joy and fulfilment in their work still bothers them (even if it happens subconsciously) probably because of the large amount of time spent there. This leads to them feeling like a victim and blaming the wrong factors for their emotions.

Seeking answers to the following questions can help create clarity: 

• What are the things that matter to you in life?
• What do you see your work as a way to do for yourself and others? 
• Is the way you’re presently spending the majority of your time and efforts aligned with answers to the aforementioned questions?

7] The factors that have impacted people’s work lives positively in the past were found to be one of the following:

• Being appreciated
• Making a visible impact
• Inspiring people and/or managers
• Flexibility, work-life balance, and boundaries w.r.t work hours

Note: their paycheque is not on the list.

Similar factors made people feel good about work but the ones that most impacted them negatively were quite personal (individual issues).

What is something that has made the biggest impact on your work life in the recent or distant past? Do my findings resonate with your experiences?

Also, are there any questions you want answered on this subject? Please let me know.

In this series on ‘What makes people happy at work’, I will share findings from my research and discuss ways to make work life more satisfying for you. If this subject interests you, keep a look out for upcoming articles over the next few weeks.