| What accounts for the difference between
"Oh crap, it's Monday" and "Thank God it's Monday"? It's your
happiness. And, for your own emotional and mental health, you need to feel happy at work.
It all boils down to seven habits that can change
everything about the culture of your workplace.
1. Show up fully and commit with all your heart
At work, we think of home. At home, we think of work. Time
to stop that. The first step toward a TGIM workplace is being present and accounted for at
work. Thinking about being elsewhere leads to resenting where you are.
While you are at work, commit to work with all your heart.
This is what I call throwing your heart over the bar--committing 100 percent to the moment
and task before you.
2. Communicate clearly
Use powerful and positive language about what you will do
and the attitude you expect from others. If a TGIM workplace is your goal, take the time
to make your communications clear on every level.
3. Go beyond the job description
Going beyond the job description happens when you pitch in
and help others at work without expecting reward. Willingly share the load. If you're
caught up on your tasks, help someone else who is crunching for a deadline. Instead of
feeling like it's an extra burden, you will actually feel like you play a bigger role in
your company than you ever did before.
4. Don't tolerate dysfunctional behaviors
Establish a zero-tolerance policy for talking behind
another person's back. Then give each other permission to address conflict head-on, out
loud, courageously and honestly. Create a trusting and open environment and watch the
dysfunction ebb away.
5. Clean up your messes
Relationships are built on trust. Without that foundation,
there is no basis for a relationship. We breach the trust each time we don't do what we
said we would do. But here's the thing--that breach can be healed quickly IF you come back
and clean up the mess. Acknowledge that the results are not okay then make a commitment to
make things right and prevent a recurrence.
6. Live a life of profound service
Once you place yourself in the service of those around
you--your family, your colleagues and your customers--every moment becomes imbued with
purpose and significance. You will feel GOOD.
As you drive to work, begin thinking about how the work you
do is serving others and contributing to their success and happiness. This is the essence
of true service, and the key to a workplace that draws you happily back, Monday after
Monday after Monday.
7. Celebrate
Every project consists of little steps and little victories
along the way. Recognize and celebrate them in both large and small ways. Build a system
of celebrations and rewards -- quarterly, weekly, daily -- and follow through like your
company's life depends on it. Because, (psst) it does.
Acquire these seven habits and spread them through your
workplace. Then be sure to notice the first Monday your hand reaches for the alarm -- and
you smile. You can love your job and feel happy at work if you follow these 7 secrets. |
