Five minute hacks - Tiny changes you can make to be happier at work
A simple practical guide that shows you how you can be a little bit happier at work
For those who don’t know me, my name is Richard Clarke, and I founded the company Secret Source in 2014, an IT company which defines success by the happiness of their team. I stepped down as CEO in 2022, and now I show businesses how they can make their workplaces a little happier.
Why am I writing this blog?
I believe that work should be an amazing place for everyone. A place where you make lifelong friends and feel fulfilled, a place you want to get out of bed in the morning to go to.
And I believe I can help a few people reach that goal.
Being happy at work is not out of your control. If you are a manager, you can take little steps to make your team happier. If you are an employee, you are not powerless, you too can make a difference.
Happiness is a complex, nuanced subject but there are some basic rules. With this blog, I want to help people understand what makes them happy at work and give some easy ideas to help them along the way.
My story
When I was 24 years old, I worked as a waterski instructor in Turkey. I drove a brand new ski boat, the best in the bay. I lived in a hotel and ate at restaurants every single night. Every day was hot and sunny and my workmates were like best friends. I often look back at the time as the happiest time of my life.
Nine months later, I quit.
Happiness at work isn’t defined by how much fun you have, how much money you earn, or your job title. They help, obviously, but not as much as you think. Happiness at work is far deeper than the material rewards.
In my case, I felt no purpose, and I had no future. And, even though I was having the best time of my life, being a waterski instructor in the sun wasn't making me truly happy.
If you really want to be happy at work, you need to think beyond your bonus and next promotion and reflect on your needs.
So what can you do to be happier at work?
The first thing I want to make clear is that “everybody is different”. Everyone has different needs, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Techniques that transform one person’s life will have zero effect on another.
You think Gandhi would have been motivated by money? Or Nelson Mandela would have been fulfilled with a new car?
However, there are some general rules. And if you dedicate a little time for self reflection, you can probably work out what you need.
So what are these rules?
There are five essential areas that you need to fulfil to be happy at work …
Safety
Firstly, you need to feel safe. If you don’t feel safe, you cannot feel happy. This means you need to feel your job is secure, you’re not going to get injured or hurt, and you feel safe to ask questions and challenge others without fear of recrimination (psychological safety - you should read up about this). If your work doesn’t feel like a safe space for you to be yourself, it’s time to move on because, whatever salary they offer you, whatever perks they throw your way, you will never be truly happy. This one is non-negotiable.
Community
Secondly, you need to feel part of a team and part of a community. You need to feel that you belong and have support around you. Gallup says you need a “best friend” at work. I don’t necessarily agree with this, but you do need friends and people you can talk to. Feeling part of a team is actually the most powerful driver of happiness in the workplace, so if you work in a company where you feel really close to your colleagues, that is a great start.
Autonomy
Thirdly you need to feel you have control of your life, your schedule, and your work environment. You need to feel you are trusted by your employer and that you won’t be blamed if anything goes wrong. Obviously, many jobs won’t allow you to work the schedule you want or from where you want, so if you need flexibility make sure you really take this into consideration when you next look for a job. It could make a huge difference to your feeling of happiness.
Purpose
Fourthly you need to feel your work has meaning, or at least understand why you are doing it. You’ve all heard the story of the bricklayer.
One day in 1671, Christopher Wren observed three bricklayers on a scaffold, one crouched, one half-standing and one standing tall, working very hard and fast. To the first bricklayer, Christopher Wren asked the question, “What are you doing?” to which the bricklayer replied, “I’m a bricklayer. I’m working hard laying bricks to feed my family.” The second bricklayer, responded, “I’m a builder. I’m building a wall.” But the third brick layer, the most productive of the three and the future leader of the group, when asked the question, “What are you doing?” replied with a gleam in his eye, “I’m a cathedral builder. I’m building a great cathedral to The Almighty.”
Now, if you’re flipping burgers, you might not think this applies to you. It does. If you take pride in your work, if you believe you are doing your job for more than just the pay check, you’ll be happier. For some, purpose is everything. Think of those volunteers on the frontline of war zones; they can sacrifice all the other essentials for happiness because they have purpose. For most people though, you also need connection and safety; however don’t underestimate purpose and being recognised for your achievements, it’s more important than you may think.
Side note - this is where salary comes in … as part of feeling meaning in your work you need to feel you are being recognised for your efforts. If you don’t think you are being paid fairly, that will lead to unhappiness too.
Opportunity for growth
Finally, you need to feel that you are going to grow personally and professionally in your job and you need to be challenged. You often hear the term dead-end job. If you feel you’re in one of those and it is affecting your happiness, it may be time to speak to your manager about some training or have a look for a job that will fulfil your need for learning.
Everybody is different
These are the five areas that will drive your workplace happiness. You need at least a little of all of them, but the amount depends on you.
If you’re an emotional person. If you’re passionate, creative and enthusiastic, you’ll probably need freedom to work how you want (autonomy) and to be surrounded by people (community). However, if you're more rational and systematic, you’ll need clarity (purpose) and planning and won’t have such a great need for community.
Next steps?
If you’re not happy in your job or you’re a manager who really cares about their team and wants to help them, this is what you need to do …
Have a good think about what you or your team need. Do you want to feel more part of a team for example? Do you need more control of your work?
Look at little ways you can fulfil that need. If you need purpose, have a look on Google on how to find meaning in your work, there are hundreds of ideas.
Still stuck? Just follow this blog - happyteams.substack.com - Each week I’ll be sharing a tiny little bit of advice to help you feel happier. A priceless nugget of information that you can read in two minutes and apply in less. A small change that could make a huge difference to your life.
If you want to chat please feel free to email me at hello@richardclarke.eu. Or DM me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardmclarke/
If you are a manager and need help in your company check out the workshops I run
It’s more of a defense mechanism than anything else. I work in an environment where toxicity holds the whip hand.
I find the easiest way to be happier at work is to have zero expectations that my contributions, experience, tech skills, and input will be in any way sought out, or that they or my opinions will be in any way appreciated, valued, respected, or welcomed.