Do you ever get tired of the rat race? Commuting to the office? Long conference calls? Weeks of travel? Of course you do! Have you ever thought of leaving it behind to do your own thing and reporting to no one but yourself? Of course you have!
In today’s issue of Promotional Consultant Today, we share the perspective of business author Scott Mautz who left corporate life behind after several years at Procter & Gamble. Based on his experience, here is a summary of his recommendations for bringing more joy both to your workplace and your personal life.
1. Reduce the number of meetings you attend. Mautz recognizes that a great deal of time is wasted in meetings, and in so many ways. He suggests making it a point to get your time back. Question why a meeting is needed. Is the in-person collaboration really required for making a decision on an issue? Only attend meetings that are critical.
2. You’ll miss the people, not the processes. Mautz says that while process can serve a purpose sometimes, the people we work with give us purpose all the time. Take the time you would spend on processes and, instead, spend it on relationships. Life is relationships. You need to invest and reinvest in those that matter in order to have meaning—both at work and in your personal life.
3. It’s less about being impressive, and more about making an imprint. In the corporate world, it’s easy to get caught up in worrying about how you come across in meetings or what your boss and other leaders think of you. In the end, it’s not what people think of you that matters; instead, it’s how you make an imprint on others’ lives. Focus on authenticity, not approval and find more ways to make a difference to others.
4. All that little stuff really is little stuff. It’s easy to get caught up in all the little stuff at work. For example, worrying about the tone of an email, why a co-worker dropped the ball or an outdated process. Mautz says that whatever your little stuff is, just remind yourself that it’s just that and don’t let it cumulatively eat at you. Instead, be aware of perspective and focus on having a positive attitude.
5. Flexibility is intoxicating. Flexibility can be more productive than a 9-to-5 schedule. People need that flexibility to have more balanced lives and, as a result, will often do their jobs better. If you’re a boss, have trust in your team and try to provide flexibility; and if you’re an employee, ask for it.
6. Be present. Find ways to manage your stress so that you can be more relaxed, less preoccupied and more present with others. When you are more present, you can fully give your mind and talents to the project at hand.
7. Look for ways to be challenged. When you do repetitive work and your mind isn’t challenged, this spills into other areas of your life, leading to lack of fulfillment. Put yourself in a position to ask for and accept challenges and growth opportunities. This will give you renewed energy and more joy.
8. Take care of your physical self. Your work life can be synonymous with sacrifice, both mental and physical. It’s easy to set aside your health by putting work first. Mautz points out that being able to invest in your health will also pay dividends in your professional life. Health and work don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
So you don’t have to jump ship to achieve happiness; just jump into the right perspective. Read PCT again tomorrow for more inspiration.
Source: Scott Mautz is the author of Find The Fire: Ignite Your Inspiration and Make Work Exciting Again. His original article first appeared on Inc.com.
