Find a company that cares; you’ll likely be happy at work. Companies that care have a caring culture. Learn how to identify the right work culture for you.
Employees are forever asking what they can do to be happier at work. With this question typically comes the inevitable list of suggestions such as those offered by Jeff Stibel in his Harvard Business Review blog, “7 Ways to Be Happier at Work.” Stibel suggests things like smiling, stopping worrying, and taking a break.
These are all commendable actions that place the responsibility for individual happiness on the employee, where it should be. However, if you work in a downright miserable environment, you may find it challenging to muster the joy and energy required each day to implement Stibel’s recommendations.
Instead, the ideal situation would be to find a more positive work environment and one that meets your values and work goals. Then smiling would come as natural as breathing.
Identify What You Want in a Company
Five years ago, I wrote the article, “Employees Thrive When Employers CARE: Camaraderie, Achievement, Recognition, and Equity in the Workplace.” I identified the four factors that make for a positive and caring work environment. The advice is still accurate today. Employees are happiest when they have good coworkers and growth opportunities and receive recognition and fair compensation.
In fact, in a 2011 survey from Monster.com and Unum, People desire to work for a firm that “really cares about its workers’ well-being.” Here’s how participants responded:
- 84% want challenging and fulfilling work
- 82% want job security
- 74% want an attractive benefits package
According to Gladys Stone and Fred Whelan’s article “Describe Your Ideal Work Setting” on Monster.com, “people are happiest and most productive when working in an environment that matches them.”
Find the Company You Want
The best way to be happy at work is to find a caring environment. But the ideal workplace varies from individual to person.
While Stone and Whelan suggest several factors to consider when looking at potential work environments – size, structure, formality, and mission statement – the best way to view potential new employers is through the company culture.
Culture is an organization’s personality. As with any relationship, you will enjoy it more if your characters match, just like with a best friend and/or significant other. As Scott Ginsberg suggests in his article, “7 Interview Questions to Uncover Corporate Culture”:
You can’t work where you’re not at ease. Unhappiness prevents success. Unwelcome guests can’t succeed.
Ginsberg also offers excellent insight into finding out about an organization’s culture by asking the right interview questions. Or you might want to check out my article, “Five Questions to Ask in the Job Interview: Getting Information from the Recruiter at the End of an Interview.”
Ultimately, if you want to be happy at work, it means taking the time to interview prospective employers. Next, it means matching your personality with the personality of the organization. Lastly, it involves finding a caring employer.
