Being Happy In The Corporate World

There is a lot of truth in this quote, especially for those who are positioning themselves in the wild wild jungle of the corporate world. 

Be Happy. Be Yourself. If others don’t like it, then let them be. Happiness is a choice. Life isn’t about pleasing everybody. 

A lot of people misunderstand that being a manager means being able to keep everyone under you and above you happy. This is a big misunderstanding for the following reasons. 

1. You can never make everyone happy 
2. Your job is in the job description, in the company’s employee handbook and in the Vision, Mission, Culture and Values statements of the company
3. You can try making everyone happy, but you also have to look into your own happiness

Let us look at the three statements above more closely. 

First, you can never make everyone happy. Let us say in the sales industry. If your targets are higher and you meet them, you make management happy. If you lower the targets, you make the employees happy, but your managers upset. If you help one of your sales associates to meet the target, you make another associate jealous and angry. There will always be someone who is unhappy or there will always be someone who will ask for your arm when you offer your hand. 

Second, your job can be found in your job description. Yes, please read your job description and what exactly does it entail. There will be the famous line “and anything else that management deems for you to accomplish.” However, please do read your job description and how you can match that description to you as a supervisor or you as an employee of the company. Your job is also in the company’s vision, mission, culture and values. Especially, if you are in the management team, you need to take ownership of your job and the company goals, so you can be more successful. 

Finally, you try making everyone happy, but remember that your happiness is also important. Your own happiness will help you get up from bed everyday and get to work. Your happiness will help you help other people. Your happiness will help you put on that smile every day. So, be the best leader that you can be, know what your job is, find inspiration in those that count and learn to choose your battles. When it comes to making everyone happy, that may be a battle that will be worth more surrendering to.