Give Yourself a Happiness Promotion

Feel you’re not getting the most out of your job? Over the next eight pages, we’ll work through all your carrier issues, form getting the job you want to negotiating the pay packet you deserve (and even finding love). Plus, our experts solve your biggest work worries, and the fashion gurus show you what to wear.

We spend around a third of our lives at work, but how many of us skip happily in the door on a Monday morning? Whether you’re weighed down with stress, or dealing with the boss from hell, stop worrying, we’re here to help you give yourself a happiness promotion. We’ve spoken to the best in the business to get advice on how to feel 100 per cent on top of the world while you’re at work. The look at the most common dilemmas that stop us being happy at work and how to beat them…

Problem: You work hard, but your boss seldom praises you, and just keeps piling more work onto you. How can you talk to them honestly about your problems without it backfiring?

This is a tricky situation and one of the most common dilemmas, but unless your boss knows how you feel, how can they change their behavior? Most companies hold regular appraisals; so bring it up in the ‘anything else to discuss’ section of yours.

If you don’t have appraisals, set up a time to have a meeting. The key is to be positive. Start with, ‘I find certain aspects of the job very challenging,’ rather than ‘I can’t handle the workload’. They should respect the fact you’ve spoken to them, and take your pints on board for the future. However, if you still feel it’s affecting you, or they haven’t acted on your comments, you can take things to the next level by going to your HR department. All companies have grievance procedures designed to help if there’s an issue like this. Look in your company handbook for details.

Problem: Groups of people on your team are good friends and they often socialize outside work. Listening to them chatting makes you feel left out. What can you do to join in?

Are you sure you want to be part of their clique? It might just be you feel insecure because they’re having a laugh at work, but you know you actually have nothing in common with them.

Listen to what they talk about and decide if you really do want to socialize with them at work and, potentially, after hours. If the answer is no, remember you can’t be friends with everyone, then enjoy the fact you can get your work done without being distracted, and arrange the meet friends who work nearby at lunchtime. But if the answer’s yes, open the conversation with something such as, ‘I really like your outfit, where’s it from?’ By complimenting them and asking for their advice, you’re boosting their confidence and giving you a common bond for the future.

To move things up a gear, why not organize a night out such as karaoke or dancing, perhaps, then invite them along. By making the evening your own, you won’t feel as if you’re gate crashing ‘their’ night, and they’ll think to include you next time around.