My name is Adam Stoehr and I’m “happy” to be here this afternoon to answer any questions you might have about how to be happier at work.
How do I manage my expectations in order to not set myself up for a let down?
Lorri Williams:
Hello Adam, Can you start with some simple steps or starting points you use for when you arrive, to set-up your day?
There are 3 things that you can do to help make this a reality.
1) Shine a Light on Strength
2) Be nice to people
3) Look for companies that are focused on Strategic Quality
- Shining a light on strength is about your outlook. Try to see the great things around you and be positive about them. Be grateful for the good that's around you.
- Being nice to people sounds super obvious, but unfortunately it's not. We have to actually train people to not be jerks. Three tips for this are to be kind, be active and be present.
- The third one is the hardest. If your organization is not serious about strategic quality. You might have to leave and find one that is.
Charles McCarthy:
Hello Adam,
How do I manage my expectations in order to not set myself up for a let down?
Brain releases extra energy as soon as it sees the chance to win.
Having a wider lens helps us see more possibilities which helps us achieve more
Look backwards at what we've already accomplished. This reminds us of how good we are and boosts our energy to continue working towards our goals.
Jamison Kovach:
What were some of the key findings from your research about what makes us happier at work and/or why people are generally not happy at their workplace?
I playfully mention when I visit companies that they should hope for a “Yay, it’s Monday!!” mindset
Unfortunately not too many employee feel that way. I conducted some research to find out that
only 26% of employees are happy at work,
18% are actively grumpy,
56% are generally not happy
only 26% of employees are happy at work,
18% are actively grumpy,
56% are generally not happy
Nicole West:
Hi Adam! Happy Friday! I'm a lover and follower of positive psychology, and I find myself often using those concepts to make work happier and more productive. However I'm currently consulting within an organization that is struggling with deeply rooted culture problems. It's been a year of modeling the behavior and trying to teach and coach improved ways of working, but we're still stuck. I'm curious what tips or tricks you have to help leverage happiness at work for those around us to inspire culture change. Thanks!
Out of the strategies that I recommend.
1) Shine a Light on Strength
2) Be nice to people
3) Look for companies that are focused on Strategic Quality
The 3rd strat is the one that will work best for you. In Canada where I live. We have an award that is built to spread excellence via Strategic Quality. It's called the Canada Awards for Excellence. In the US it's the Baldrige award. I would recommend the implementation of the principles embeded in those awards criteria.
Barbara Butler:
What is Strategic Quality?
A strategic approach to quality management is when quality approaches move beyond incremental, operational improvements to those that influence the strategy process for the organization.
In other words it's when Quality drives the company/organization forward.
Thanks for facilitating this discussion today! One question I have is: How can quality be used as a happiness driver?
Lorri Williams:
It would seem that being happy at work also means you need to be happy in your job, with the company, and with yourself. I know it is that way for me. The people may come and go (colleagues), however if you aren't happy with what you do (and often who you work with), it makes it harder.
- Happiness at work is a combination of cognitive, affect, and shared measures
- Specifically the cognitive measure of satisfaction, the affect measure of engagement, and the shared measure of morale.
- Happiness lives where these three things overlap.
Jamison Kovach:
Any specific reasons you found for why?
only 26% of employees are happy at work,
18% are actively grumpy,
56% are generally not happy
Jamison Kovach:
How can we help our organizations develop Strategic Quality practices?
Most organizations that take this seriously implement quality through the lens of a National Standard. In Canada it's the Canada Awards for Excellence (I'm from Toronto Canada. GO LEAFS GO!! LET's GO RAPTORS) standard. In the US it's the Baldrige. The principles embeded in the Canadian model are:
Principles of Excellence
- Leadership involvement
- A primary focus on the customer experience
- Co-operation, teamwork, and continuous learning
- A focus on excellence, innovation and wellness
- A focus on continual improvement
- Commitment to fact-based decision making through the use of data and measurement
- Commitment to corporate social responsibility
- Commitment to good governance, including enterprise risk management, and financial controls.
Barb Gamez:
Hi Adam,
Thanks for facilitating this discussion today! One question I have is: How can quality be used as a happiness driver?
Our facility is at an all time low and upper management isn't engaged in improving the working conditions and have been setting unrealistic expectations of a near skeleton crew.
