The title of this article might actually say, “10 strategies to always be happy and feel good in Any work environment”, as the strategies intersect with other jobs and professions. In fact, most are also effective in personal relationships. It is written assuming that one really wants to be happy and feel good at work and anywhere else If you are one who does, then this message is for you.
While the last statement may have sounded a bit sarcastic, I assure you it wasn’t meant to be. It was simply a recognition of the truth for many people today. Although we live in a society obsessed with “feeling good” and seeking happiness, many if not most people must enjoy being unhappy and feeling bad. Why else would they do things to themselves day after day that give such sad results? I won’t read about what those behaviors are. If you honestly consider my point, you will fully understand the actions I am referring to.
Happy selling environments are more productive than those where sadness is the norm. From a financial and business standpoint, striving to be happy and feel good makes sense. So, even if you don’t feel the need to be happy, feel good, most of the time, do it for the money, because it’s nice to get paid!
To be fair, there’s actually another reason besides enjoyment for regularly creating those unwanted results. Many people are unaware of what it takes to produce the desired “feel good” results safely and effectively. So I’m going to share some proven strategies that will help you be happy and feel good on a more consistent basis. That assumes you really want to be happy and feel good more often.
1- Work to be positive. This step is both a starting point and an end point. It’s what you need to resolve to do, even if you’re not feeling or acting particularly positive as you begin the process. You will need to take personal responsibility for your own happiness and feelings. Don’t bother looking for happiness outside of yourself somewhere. Your happiness cannot be satisfied solely by other people or external things. You will find yourself within as you apply these strategies. Also, if you’re doing it now, stop accepting the idea that you don’t deserve happiness or somehow don’t deserve it. I’ll be as polite as I can. That concept of unworthiness is a load of rubbish. Yes, you deserve to be happy and feel good! You can choose otherwise, but have no doubt that it is not about not deserving it.
2- Avoid office politics. Have you noticed that office politics always focuses on the negative, disagreements, and divisions? Those aren’t ‘happy’ and ‘feel good’ areas, are they? Therefore, avoid the trap of getting involved where you will have to choose sides and potentially face unnecessary confrontation with others. If you find yourself drawn, against your will and better judgment, try working to bring people together by calling attention to similarities rather than differences. Conciliators are leaders and are promoted within organizations. Those who find themselves on the wrong side of the office political debate often need to update their resume.
3– Avoid controversial topics in informal conversations. Growing up, I was always told that there were two topics I should avoid talking about so as not to get into arguments. Those topics were religion and politics. It was good advice then and it’s good advice now. Both issues are divisive and invariably challenge people’s core belief systems. The issues generate fear, mistrust and often anger. Fear, mistrust and anger are not happy feelings. They don’t make you feel good. Do your best to avoid casual conversations that trigger those reactions. If, even for a second, you doubt this concept, consider the two most talked about topics in today’s media. How does the average newscast make you feel? There are places where conversations about these issues may be appropriate. The sales workplace is usually not one of them.
4- Help others. Be as generous with your help to others in your workplace as possible without allowing others to use or mistreat you. Random acts of kindness generate gratitude and appreciation in return. Those feelings are definitely good feelings for everyone involved. Helping others is a great self-esteem builder. Try it and see for yourself.
5- Respect the time of coworkers avoiding the irrelevant war stories, I’m sure you’ve heard them. Perhaps you yourself have counted a few. I mean the times when salespeople corner an unsuspecting coworker and retell and retell old stories about the sale that fell through or the customer who wasted hours of time and then bought elsewhere. Misery likes the company, doesn’t she? Complaining never seems to make people happy, at least in the long run. Old told stories of past failure create “mental movies” that allow people to “feel” that failure again. How uplifting is that?
6- Reduce the time you watch the news and read newspapers. Let’s face it, the news and media reports in general are 95% misery. That’s what makes it news. Don’t worry. If something is really vital news, it will reach you. After all, there are a lot of unhappy people watching the news all the time feeling bad. You don’t need to be one of them. Be informed though, there is no point in being obsessed like most people have been conditioned to be today. It has always intrigued me why so many salespeople spend the start of each day reading depressing news. Hmm.
If your mind isn’t cluttered with news of things you can’t do anything about and that make you feel bad, you’ll be happier and more productive.
7- Take a look at what your beliefs are and give up the need to always be right. Beliefs are powerful and interesting things. All the world has them. They often define us. In many cases, these beliefs have been given to us or conditioned by others. Beliefs are not physical things. Rather, they are thoughts. They are thoughts that we think over and over again. Beliefs are personal. That is exactly where they should be held if you want to feel happy and at peace.
Treasure your beliefs, whatever they are. If they work for you, great. Other people should respect your beliefs. Others also have beliefs. They are entitled to theirs as you are entitled to yours. Strive to coexist, and if arguments arise with co-workers where differences in beliefs clash, let go of the ego-driven need to always be right.
Protect your right to hold your beliefs while defending that same right for others. Don’t feel the need to force your beliefs on others when they don’t seek them out. Wars and much misery are the by-products of that behavior. Having your beliefs and allowing others to have theirs is, in my opinion, the ultimate expression of true freedom and equality for all. Wars in the workplace are counterproductive.
8- Stop judging others. On the surface, this strategy seems impossible to achieve, but it is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. Too often we make the mistake of judging ‘people’ rather than their actions or behaviour. When we choose this course of action, we label, stereotype, condemn, demonize, and ridicule them. We become intolerant of them, fear them, and as a result, build emotional walls around ourselves. This behavior happens every day in the workplace and in the world at large. It creates division instead of inclusion. Create enemies instead of friends.
When our judgment is restricted to ‘specific actions’ that affect us personally, we are less likely to find ourselves in conflict over things that are really none of our business in the first place. Think about that for a moment. Consider how this approach will create more harmony in the workplace and elsewhere.
9- Forgive. Sounds good in theory, but forgiving, for most of us, is difficult in practice. Why forgive when it’s easier to be angry, hold a grudge, or even hate? Why forgive when the other person is acting like a jerk all the time? Why forgive, forgiveness is not a sign of weakness and surrender?
Let’s consider those questions. Anger, resentment and hatred are thoughts that you have inside of you when you don’t forgive. None of those thoughts allow you to feel good. They actually affect you in a much more negative way than the person you have feelings against because they are “your feelings.” They are inside you! Forgiving dispels those feelings and allows you to feel better. Forgiveness is often more beneficial to the person. forgiving than for the recipient of forgiveness. Take a moment and think about that statement. It is so important that it bears repeating. Forgiveness is often more beneficial to the person who forgives than to the recipient of the forgiveness.
Why forgive when the other person is acting like a jerk all the time? You can’t easily change someone else’s behavior, you can only change your own. However, you may be able to set an example and influence behavior through your example.
In my opinion, forgiveness is a sign of taking higher ground and showing leadership. Is it not giving up but rather a chance at a new beginning that leads to a different and more desirable outcome?
10- Relax. Despite all of our best efforts, situations will arise that annoy or even anger us in the moment. When that happens, take a moment to remember these thoughts. First, “Don’t worry about the little things… and they’re all little things.” That, by the way, is the title of a book written a few years ago by Richard Carlson. I think the title is brilliant.
Second, writers of long ago regularly used the phrase “and it happened.” Note that they did not write “wine to stay.” When you find yourself upset, try to take a moment to center yourself, relax, regain your balance, or whatever you want to call it. Explore meditation techniques to help you reach the quiet place within yourself.
Here’s a final point that you have to share. It’s not about whether these strategies are right or wrong, it’s about whether or not they work. Try them and you will see the results in your workplace and in your life in general from the first day.
