Tips to be Happy and Successful at Work
This episode is adapted from Episode 68 of Making Sense of Work Podcast by Jean Balfour.
Work has always fascinated me. Iโve been reflecting on what Iโve learned about work and what makes it exciting. And itโs not just from my own experiences, but also through coaching, leading teams, and running leadership programmes.
Feeling dissatisfied and unhappy at work is a common experience for all of us. When it becomes constant, it not only affects our quality of life but also trickles into other areas in our lives, reducing our motivation to perform and our overall wellbeing.
And that’s not a nice feeling! Work plays a central role in our lives, and over the years, I have come to recognise key truths that contribute to a happy and successful working life.
Here are 11 key insights Iโd love to share.
These are my thoughts, but I imagine you have your own perspectives too. So Iโd love to hear from you!
1. Take Responsibility of our Happiness
We all have a choice about how we experience work. It might seem like an unusual place to start, but I believe we have a responsibility in how we experience work.
For example, if Iโm having a difficult time with my boss, itโs easy to blame them. But what if I took responsibility for improving the relationship?
I could consider whatโs going on for them, explore what I could change, or even have an honest conversation.
Could I perhaps accept their humanity and lack of perfection and carry on with the current role?
And if Iโm truly unhappy and miserable, I can take responsibility for looking for another job.
When we are unhappy, we often default to complaining rather than making changes.
But change is within our control.
2. Stop Being a Victim
This ties closely to taking responsibility. Itโs easy to fall into a victim mentality, believing work is unfair, and feeling hard done.
But when we see ourselves as victims, we often blame others and wait to be rescued.
A victim mindset is a way of thinking where a person sees themselves as powerless, believing that external circumstances or other people are responsible for their struggles.
It often involves blaming others, feeling stuck, and expecting someone else to fix the situation rather than taking proactive steps to change it.
We all can fall into this mindset at some point but the truth is, we have choices. Shifting away from a victim mindset means recognising that we have control over our choices and actions.
Instead of focusing on what is going wrong or waiting for someone else to fix things, we take responsibility for how we respond.
This means looking for solutions, making changes where we can, and focusing on what is within our control rather than dwelling on what is not.
We will feel more in control of our work life when we take control.
3. Relationships Are Everything
Work is built on relationships. All parts of organisations are relational. Even in highly technical roles, success depends on how well we communicate, collaborate, and influence others.
When work goes wrong, itโs often because we didnโt talk enough, clarify expectations, or build trust. We donโt have to be everyoneโs friends, but learning to navigate relationships is important for success.
Relationships are also a two-way street – It is important for us to support others in performing at their best while we look at ways to build meaningful relationships that enhance our work too.
Itโs not transactional – but relational. I have a few blogs and podcast on building trust with people, or how to network, you can check them out.
4. Mindset Matters as Much as Competence
You may think competence is everything. You can succeed and climb mountains if you know how. But beyond competence, mindset is also important.
Being technically skilled isnโt enough, our mindset plays a huge role in success. For example, if Iโm nervous about presenting, my performance will suffer, no matter how well I prepare.
If I lack the confidence to ask for a promotion, I might get overlooked. The way we think about ourselves and our abilities has a direct impact on our outcomes.
Focusing on our mindset is essential, as it is often the very thing that holds us back. The thought patterns we develop about ourselves and others can prevent us from reaching our full potential.
Coaching and self-help can support us in improving our mindset. Just as we invest in building our competence, we should also invest in strengthening our mindset.
The goal is to develop a growth-focused mindset that enables us to look at ourselves in a positive light and not let self-doubt linger, embrace challenges, learn from setbacks and perform at our best.
5. Self-awareness is Non-Negotiable
Self-awareness is an ongoing process. Itโs a lifelong journey.
Self-awareness helps us understand what works for us and what doesnโt. It allows us to see our impact on others and make necessary adjustments. But itโs an ongoing journey. Just when we think weโve figured ourselves out, new challenges arise.
At work, a promotion, a new colleague, or a shift in team dynamics can all require fresh self-reflection. Staying curious about ourselves helps us grow and adapt.
It also builds upon our emotional intelligence – check out this guide to help you through your self-awareness.
6. Make Small Consistent Progress
Self-awareness is important, but so is taking action. Many professionals resist networking, influencing, or engaging in office politics.
But these actions are often essential for progress. Change doesnโt happen overnight, but making small, consistent efforts allows us to see big changes over time.
For example, if you are afraid of networking, perhaps having coffee with someone biweekly could help you overcome your fear of networking.
Make small, consistent changes over time, even if itโs just one percent at a time. Set reasonable stretch targets for yourself.
7. Itโs Our Career, and We Own It
In the past, organisations guided career paths. Today, itโs a different ball game. We must take ownership of our careers.
This means setting goals, seeking mentors, and creating opportunities rather than waiting for them. Reviewing progress regularly and taking proactive steps keeps us in control of our career trajectory.
We spoke to Vanessa Iloste on the topic of how we can have conversations about our own careers with our leaders, check it out.
8. Values Impact Us More Than We Imagine
Our values are like our guiding voice. They tell us if we are in the right or wrong place.
Our values act as an internal compass, shaping how we feel about work. Misalignment with our values can create dissatisfaction, while alignment brings a sense of purpose and fulfilment.
If youโre unsure about your values, there are many ways to explore them. You can take our exercise and find your own career values!
9. Ambition Has Many Forms
When you think about ambition, what do you imagine? Ambition isnโt just about climbing the corporate ladder.
It can be about making a difference, mastering a skill, or leading with impact. Our ambitions also evolve over time. What mattered to us at 20 might not be what drives us at 50.
Understanding what ambition means to us personally can help us shape a fulfilling career. What does ambition mean to you? What is driving you?
There is a key there when we understand our answer to the above question.
Check out this podcast if you need ideas on how you can rethink ambition.ย
10. Knowing Your Purpose Matters. But So Does Knowing What you Enjoy
Purpose is valuable, but it can be elusive. Some people have a clear sense of purpose; others find it through the work they enjoy.
If your purpose isnโt immediately obvious, start by identifying what brings you joy and do more of it. Sometimes, fulfilment comes from simply enjoying the work we do every day.
I hope this conversation inspires you to explore your own purpose. What do you enjoy?
11. We Have the Power to Change Our Story
Lastly, we have the power to change our story.
We all come to our working lives with a story. And the stories we tell ourselves shape our careers. โIโm not a leader.โ โIโm not good with numbers.โ โI canโt change industries.โ These are just narratives, and they can be rewritten. Iโve seen doctors leave medicine.
Journalists become teachers. If you are in finance and enjoy poetry, you could shape your career to incorporate both, finding the right balance between the two. If you want change, you can make it happen. It starts with believing a new story is possible.
Again, this is just an example.
To sum upโฆ
This is not an exhaustive list of how to be happy at work. Often, we have the privilege of finding enjoyment in what we do, or sometimes, we simply need to practise gratitude each day to make a difference.
Whatever path you choose, taking action is always a great place to start. If youโd like to speak to me about this, please send me an email, Iโd love to hear from you
About the Author
Jean Balfour is Managing Director of Bailey Balfour and Programme Director of our ICF Accredited Coach Training Programmes. Jean is passionate about helping people to have good conversations both at work and at home. She believes that coaching is a life skill and that you never regret learning to coach.