What makes you (un) happy at work? And what can you do if you are unhappy in your job?

May 16

More people than ever are unhappy in their job. Although the study results vary a bit, research suggests that around half of the workforce is not satisfied at work and almost 60 % of the workforce is open to changing jobs or are actively looking for new opportunities. This has been a trend for several years now, with COVID certainly pushing these developments. as two-thirds of employees feel empowered by the pandemic to make changes to their work-life balance and seek a different way of working. ...and half of them consider reaching out to a coach to prepare for a potential career chance (if you are part of that 50%, have a look at my 1:1 Designing Your (Work) Life Coaching)

Why are people unhappy at work?

The question that arises is why are people unhappy at work? The reasons are complex and manifold but several reasons stand out:

Although salary ranks as the top reason for many to quit, other factors such as too much stress and missing work-life balance, an unsupportive work environment, a lack of flexibility, and no room to grow are among the top answers too.

And although the majority of the data available is from the US, it shows that Europe experiences very similar tendencies.

A great resource with more insights into those trends is the Randstad Workmonitor, and if you keep on reading, you´ll see the bigger picture behind those reasons - and also what pillars create a fulfilling work environment and satisfying career.

Is this all because of COVID?

So the big question is: is this all COVID's fault? The short answer is: yes and no.

No, because these have been tendencies for a long time already, but a clear yes, because the global pandemic has pushed these developments.

Confinement, the confrontation with global suffering and personal losses, and more room to think about life, work, and oneself created clarity for many about what truly matters to them.

This again is supported by research that shows that 70% of all people have gained more clarity around their personal and professional goals over the last two years.

A second important factor here: it´s not necessarily that the work conditions worsened over the last years, but the global pandemic and the shift in values as a consequence thereof had many people realize that they simply didn't want to tolerate an unsatisfying work situation anymore.

And thirdly, as much as COVID disrupted our lives, it also showed that a different way of working is possible. Remote work became the new standard, and more flexibility in regards to the work schedule and the necessity and opportunity to work more independently was a direct consequence of that. This brings new challenges, but many employees decided that they don't want to go back to the old normal but take advantage of this new work world and newfound flexibility instead.

What makes people happy at work?

After analyzing the current situation in the labor market it's pretty obvious that a lot of people are not happy with their jobs. And we also identified a lot of reasons why that is the case. So the really important question now is: But what makes people happy at work? What are the factors that influence motivation, engagement, and happiness in the workplace? Let´s have a look!

Three factors for workplace happiness

We can find a lot of studies about workplace happiness and many different theories around motivation. I would like to focus on one specific model here because it is a well-researched theory, and very practical too: the ARC model, whereby ARC stands for autonomy, relatedness, and competency.

The ARC model is also part of Designing Your Life tools such as the Good Work Journal which will help you better understand what drives you at work!

What influences your happiness at work and what is the ARC model?

Studies (and meta-research) driven by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, show that human motivation is influenced by three things:

Autonomy

Autonomy refers to the feeling that you are in control of your tasks and schedule, and have some flexibility in how you do your work. Working in a job that allows freedom and autonomy became increasingly important to many employees over the last years and is a core pillar of the “New Work” movement.

Examples of autonomy at work

You can organize your tasks independently

```
you decide what projects to focus on
```

you have flexibility in regards to your working hours

```
you can choose where to work from
```
```
you can make decisions independently
```

Relatedness

Feeling related to your work is a crucial factor in whether you feel happy in your job or not. Relatedness refers to the connection you feel with your work, your profession and industry, your company, your colleagues, and the tasks you do.

Examples of relatedness in your job

```
You like your company
```

you work for and feel connected to its values and mission you get along well with your colleagues and enjoy spending time with them

you are proud to work in your industry and think your products and solutions are exciting

you care about the work you do and the people you work with

```
you like to tell others about your job 
```

Competency

By competency, we understand the drive towards mastery and skillfulness, the chance to learn and grow in your job, and opportunities to apply what you already know.

Examples of competency in your job

You know what you are doing and confidently work on your tasks

you can use your education, training, and skills, at work

your job allows you to learn new things, grow, and expand your knowledge

you can bring in new ideas and exchange thoughts with your colleagues

you feel valued for what you know and do at work

Before we move on, let's address the elephant in the room: money! Because you might think “This is all beautiful, but at the end of the day, I need to pay my bills So I go to work to earn money!”

...and what about money?

It's undeniable that we need to have our basic needs met before we can think of anything else. Only when we feel safe, have a roof over our head and food on the table will we be able to think about deeper needs and desires like a fulfilling work-life. Money is an enable for these things. It's your salary that pays the rent and your meals, and it's your salary that provides you the freedom to go to a restaurant or on a holiday once in a while.

But the interesting thing with money is that once your basic needs are met, money can mess up your intrinsic motivation.

Research shows that humans inherently like to work for the joy of being challenged, learning something new, or simply because the tasks interest them. In other words: we humans work for the joy of working. But if you start paying people for tasks they initially found interesting something unexpected happens: their performance goes down. They will lose interest!

So instead of money being the main driver for motivation at work, it is actually how sovereign you feel in your job (autonomy), how connected you are with what you do (relatedness), and how much opportunity you have to use and expand your knowledge (competency).

How does Designing Your Life (DYL) use the ARC model?

The ARC model is one of the key thoughts in Designing Your Life (DYL) as DYL believes that you always have the power to change something about your current situation - and one easy way to do so is to adjust your autonomy, relatedness, and competency at work. Is there a way for you to create more freedom and autonomy in your job? Is there something you can do to connect more with your colleagues or find a deeper meaning in what you do? Do you have the chance to acquire new skills at work, do advanced training, or change your job in a way it allows you to use more of what you know already?

Usually, there is always something you can do! And usually, even small changes have a big impact on how you feel at work! Whether that will lead to a new sense of fulfillment in your current job or make the time until you found something new more enjoyable.

The starting point of this all is to know where you are standing. A great tool for that is the Good Work Journal. (GWJ).

How can Designing Your Life and the ARC model help you to feel happier at work?

If you are unhappy at work, knowing where you stand in regards to your autonomy, relatedness, and competency will help you to take the necessary action to improve your situation.

So take some moments after your workday and ask yourself these questions:

What did I initiate today?

This puts your focus on where you experienced autonomy and were in charge. With this question, you´ll also better understand in what circumstances you experience freedom and a sense of sovereignty.

Who did I help?

Answering this question will show you the moments when you felt connected at work and strengthened your relationships with your colleagues. It will also help you better understand what makes you relate to your job and when you care about your company, colleagues, and the work you do.

What did I learn?

This question is related to competency and asks you to observe when you felt skillful that day. How could you show that you are good at what you are doing? When did you have the chance to learn something new? Could you grow professionally and personally in your work environment?

Answer these questions every day for at least two weeks and then see if you spot any patterns or if you detect certain situations that regularly make you feel good, connected, and free at work.

And then dive deeper:

What specifically makes you feel that way at work?

What situations increase your level of autonomy, relatedness, and competency.

```
Are you happy with how things are?
```

Do you want more of any of these three things in your work life?

What would feel like the right amount and balance for you?

And what specifically can you do to change that?

What specific actions would help you to feel more sovereign, connected, and proficient in your job?

Because there is always something you can do. Be it to enjoy your current job more or make it more endurable until you found your new path in life.

💥 PODCAST EPISODE! If you want to dive deeper (and speak German), my friend and fellow coach Eike and I recorded a podcast episode for ZWEI COACHES QUATSCHEN in which we talk about this topic more in detail. You´ll find more info here or listen to it directly on Spotify or iTunes. 🎙️

————

Hey, I am Laura a certified Designing Your Life Coach, recruitment professional, podcaster, multi-passionate career changer, and business owner, In my Designing Your (Work) Life 1:1 Coaching series, I will help you to gain clarity about what you want in life and your career, equip you with the tools you need to create a fulfilling (work) life and move through challenges along the way. Because this is not only about a job but about what life you want to live! 🌿

Laura Beyer