Happiness at work

RE: Happiness at work

Rob Davis — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 09:06:51 GMT

[quote user="ih220"]I found the original post very interesting and would love to become more resilient and stoic though not quite sure how to go about it! [/quote]

I found Derren Brown's book interesting - a modern take on Stoicism.

RE: Happiness at work

Nhombokisheni — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 14:46:38 GMT

Interesting all round. What I have not heard yet is the definition of happiness.......for instance, after going through the survey questions, I failed to appreciate how they will decide if I was happy or not, let alone whether I am happier than someone elsewhere. Seriously, can you walk up to someone and tell them you are happier than them?????

RE: Happiness at work

Sarah Keir — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 13:13:14 GMT

Maybe not, but it is new to me.

RE: Happiness at work

J G Wray — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 21:21:24 GMT

[quote user="Sarah Keir"]

Just started reading this

https://followthegoodlifecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/why-should-we-bother-about-happiness.html

[/quote]

If you like that then check this out

http://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_eudaimonism.html

There's very little new under the sun

RE: Happiness at work

Sarah Keir — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 18:40:59 GMT

Just started reading this

https://followthegoodlifecampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/why-should-we-bother-about-happiness.html

RE: Happiness at work

Bob Russell — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 17:43:45 GMT

It is nice to be happy at times but really the trick is to be content.

Ups and downs but overall life being good!

I find 'happy' people can be exhausting at times.

RE: Happiness at work

ih220 — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 13:41:42 GMT

Thank you Iain, I agree that remembering the positive aspects of the job are really important.

RE: Happiness at work

Iain Richards — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 17:17:57 GMT

Rather than pursuing happiness, it would probably be more realistic to pursue contentment. There is a tendency to look on this issue that people are "not happy enough" when the reality of life is that happiness comes in short bursts. Contentment is a more long term attitude and a more solid platform for resilience. Being, "the vet" in a community or being introduced as, "our vet" by a client is good for the soul, even today, when it's 6 years since I was in practice.

Ih200 - it can be learnt, and you have to learn that the little things, the thank-you, the first time you hear a client ask for you, the nurse bringing you tea after an op, being asked to judge the local dog show. These are the priceless aspects that help the days go better. You also have to accept the praise with good grace and reciprocate, so say thank-you when a client or a nurse compliments you, don't make light of it or joke. They've made the effort, so acknowledge it. When you are older and are more established, that's the time for self deprecating humour.

RE: Happiness at work

J G Wray — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 17:15:35 GMT

[quote user="Utlendigur"]

It is equally unlikely to find favour with the employer who feels entitled to have their their version of the world ie one in which the constant stream of burnt-out employees in their practice is simply due to poor selection of undergraduates, poor training at university, the snowflake generation, too many women, people who aren't resilient enough etc etc....Bad employers are equally inclined to blame everyone but themselves either through arrogance or avoidance of accepting some responsibility.

[/quote]

This sounds ever so slightly bitter, however if you enjoy feeling hard done by, if that's what makes you happy then carry on with your own narrative in life. There is an alternative

RE: Happiness at work

Utlendigur — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 15:10:30 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]Or, there may be another way....but it requires thought, time, patience, extra work, attunement, perseverance and clarity and that is to set about making the case to an employer for a change in work conditions. This approach is unlikely to find favour with those who feel entitled to have the world move to their version[/quote]

RE: Happiness at work

J G Wray — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 14:35:37 GMT

Couple of points. First of all there is the question of free will. When I hear accounts of hard hours I want to know what attracted the employee to that job in the first place. There is no compulsion to take up a post, there is free will and there is also the free choice to leave. If a post is not what was offered, then there is some justification in feeling hard done by, but if it is a mismatch for other reasons, like poor personal organisation or the realisation that the reality of the content does not meet the personal expectation, then a mature view would be "I tried that and it wasn't for me", not placing the blame at the employers' door.

If, as some claim, they have personal circumstances which prevent moving job then there is an onus on them to rethink their view of the job and find a new way of working, because to do otherwise will lead to the dreaded unhappiness.

Or, there may be another way....but it requires thought, time, patience, extra work, attunement, perseverance and clarity and that is to set about making the case to an employer for a change in work conditions. This approach is unlikely to find favour with those who feel entitled to have the world move to their version and are impatient to see that world moved to their version.

On the specific point of missing lunch........for whatever reason, then make the case for 15 minute consultations, make the case for avoiding the "busy trap", make the case for providing better quality care and perhaps even enhanced performance worthy of greater personal reward and then deliver on this reorganisation, the third leg of my thesis for being happier in practice.

RE: Happiness at work

ih220 — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 13:30:28 GMT

PS I also agree with Thomas Johnson that however stoic and resilient you are, if it becomes the norm to work an overbooked 12 hour day with no lunch break then most people will sooner or later burn out. Obviously the nature of clinical work is that it is unpredictable, so lunch breaks won't always be guaranteed etc, but if the sort of day described above becomes the norm this is not sustainable.

RE: Happiness at work

ih220 — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 13:28:13 GMT

I found the original post very interesting and would love to become more resilient and stoic though not quite sure how to go about it! I think the list of 'are you happy' questions is very useful.

This point reminded me of a friend who is a primary school teacher - she said that the policy now is to stretch the brightest children until they get to something they can't do, so that they have the experience of 'failing' at something, in order to make them more resilient. I thought this was actually a very good idea and maybe might help the veterinary student population in future who will tend to be the brightest academically.

You said that you 'praise frequently and reward small successes'. I think this can be very much lacking in some practices and has the potential to make a big difference to the work environment. I just wondered if you could give some examples of how you make sure you do the praise/reward on a day to day basis - I wasn't sure if it is just you (and any other bosses) trying to make sure you remember to notice things or whether you have a more structured system?

RE: Happiness at work

Thomas Johnson — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 16:26:19 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]

[quote user="Thomas Johnson"] What it's worth remembering is that while the emphasis is on the action of the individual vet, it's only possible to do all of these things when you are given the time and support by the management of the practice.[/quote]

I don't entirely agree with this. It is not all management's fault (blame) or even responsibility. There should be some sort of willingness to adapt, to adopt a different "mindset" from a profoundly fixed one to one that is more flexible - a growth mindset in the jargon - to be flexible about congruity or there will be no change. Vet Futures is about changing what is there to suit a new generation. I don't think it will change very much because it is flawed in respect of not making it plain that there are two parts to the equation, to get past the entitlement.

[/quote]

I agree that the individual has to adapt to their work environment, but if, for example, an assistant finds that they are consistently over-booked on consults and the choice is either to rush everybody through or to end up running so late that don't get their operations and medical investigations started in a timely manner, lose their lunch break, start afternoon consultations late, which are also over-booked, and they finish work 2 hours late, how are they supposed to adapt to that? I know this is an extreme example, and while I agree that the individual can do a lot to improve their wellbeing, it is wrong to lay all of the responsibility at the feet of the individual vet.

RE: Happiness at work

J G Wray — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 11:42:27 GMT

RE: Happiness at work

Thomas Johnson — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 10:40:17 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]

Are you happy you have done the best possible to resolve the clinical issue?
Are you happy the client is satisfied you have given an appropriate professional recommendation?
Are you happy that you will see a satisfactory financial resolution in this case?
Are you happy that your actions will accord with your own ethics and your colleagues values?

[/quote]

I broadly agree with what you've written, and I think the part I've quoted above is very good and fits with how I try and think about the job. What it's worth remembering is that while the emphasis is on the action of the individual vet, it's only possible to do all of these things when you are given the time and support by the management of the practice.

RE: Happiness at work

J G Wray — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 10:21:03 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]Happiness is nice, contentment supreme![/quote]

There may be a generational issue with this. There is a broad characterisation of Millennials which is that they feel they have a higher personal calling, a need to change things right now, wrapped up in a life with multiple facets. Some people have characterised this as a narcissistic, impatient and entitled frame of mind and you can kind of see why, because it is about self fulfilment (wrapped in altruism), short, unrealistic timescales and compromise in quality - multitasking to a high level of quality is a myth.

Finding contentment takes time in my view.

RE: Happiness at work

Bob Russell — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 09:36:11 GMT

Happiness is nice, contentment supreme!

RE: Happiness at work

J G Wray — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 09:17:06 GMT

[quote user="Julie Innes"]But regarding the culture of "happiness" .... A good moan once in awhile is not the end of the world, and having your feelings validated can leave you much calmer! [/quote]

There is a cultural precedent for this. Look up the etymology of kvetching and its association with humour, particularly Yiddish humour. Like most things probably best done in moderation.

RE: Happiness at work

Julie Innes — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 00:04:02 GMT

My tuppenceworth- the job is what is it is. Some days are less inducive to happiness than others (I had to put a friend's old dog to sleep today. Did it make me happy? no. Did I do the job well? Yes, but there isn't a great deal of satisfaction in that)

there is a quote from a favourite film of mine, dangerous Liasions, re happiness- "women are not made happy by the happiness they receive, but by the happiness they give" (disclaimer- not that I necessarily believe that, but substitute "vets" for women, and it makes sense)

But regarding the culture of "happiness" , I have a friend who works in retail. She works part time, but the management are corporate like in their management style, and she must ALWAYS be seen to be "happy" If she is not, her manager will pull her aside, and a great discussion and debate will follow. no one is allowed to express any "negative" feelings, so no back shop cathartic rantings about difficult customers etc. She is miserable. She quotes other staff members as "dying on the inside" while purporting to be happy . I can't fathom this at all. Surely it's better to acknowledge the situations that make you unhappy, and rant, sorry, discuss them and then put it behind you, having acknowledged the sympathies and support of your colleagues, rather than this pretence at "happiness". A good moan once in awhile is not the end of the world, and having your feelings validated can leave you much calmer! There is "support" and then there is management support, which in some firms seems to be "Be happy or be gone!"

RE: Happiness at work

Iain Richards — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 21:58:00 GMT

I agree completely JW and eloquently writted.

I've just finished a month stint with APHA on Avian Influenza. I was struck by a poster on a door with a picture of the APHA chief exec, during staff to stand up to bullying. Ironic really as APHA must be a bout the most top-down bullied organisation I've known. The culture is one of fear - fear of getting it wrong. So no-one does anything unless it's written down and no-one is encouraged to think. What makes this sadder is that when I worked at the VLA in Penrith (2014) the over-riding culture there was as you describe your practice. On the whole haps staff who enjoyed their jobs. They found it interesting and challenging and there was a good team feel. It didn't need managers or leaders, it just worked. Now it is the leaders and managers destroying that good feel, no doubt with their mantras of "no-blame", "inclusive", and "stakeholder".

RE: Happiness at work

Nicola Cole — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 20:52:38 GMT

Not sure why this deserved an anonymous 1 star so I've given 5 to balance it up!

Whilst I don't agree with everything said here I do agree with a lot of it-we were actually talking about this very topic at work this morning (although far less eloquently!)