3 Common Workplace Woes and How to Conquer Them

We spend approximately a third of our lives at work. While years ago, job security overrode things like personal happiness and challenging coworkers, today’s employees (and their managers) increasingly want to be happy on the job. And it’s no wonder. Happy employees are 31% more productive, and have 3 times more creativity than their unhappy coworkers.

But sometimes, the happiness you seek on the job may seem illusive due to a number of challenges seemingly beyond your control. Here are a few of those challenges, and how you can combat them in an effort to find true happiness at work.

1. Boredom

Blank stares. Wishing the minutes on the clock would speed up to the power of ten. Surfing the web for a new job (while at work—not a great idea). Many of us have been there. But before you give in to this fate, know this: many have also learned the secret of beating boredom at work.

So what can you do when your job is giving you the boredom blues? Challenge yourself. Just because your job is rote doesn’t mean you have to yawn your day away. Create mini competitions for yourself. Try accomplishing a task in a set amount of time. Figure out a new way of accomplishing it. Get creative. Who knows—through it all you might come to discover a new appreciation for it, or for your own abilities.

2. Bad boss

Difficult bosses are the bane of many employees, but they’re also becoming a problem to the workforce at large. After all, nearly 50% of employees who don’t feel valued by their boss start to look for another job. And those who do stay are costing their employers up to $360 billion in health care costs due to mental health issues and stress.

That said, no bad boss is created equal. That is, sometimes bad bosses are relative to each person. Maybe they provide poor direction or aren’t great at providing actionable feedback. Or maybe he/she is truly a bully. Either way, communication is vital to improving your situation (and potentially that of the entire office). Follow these action steps to talk to your boss:

1. Write out the facts and points you want to discuss.
2. Be assertive in the conversation.
3. Be aware (and willing to accept) that there might be fallout from you taking a stand.
4. Avoid becoming overly emotional. Stay cool, calm, and collected. Remember to focus on the facts.
5. If the behavior continues, follow proper HR procedures for complaints.

3. Challenging coworkers

Unlike the one boss man (or woman), challenging coworkers can come in a variety of types. Chatty. Critical. Slacker. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. But rather than let it knock the groove out of you, choose to communicate. If your coworkers are making work unbearable, you don’t have to just accept it. Just as in any relationship, communication is vital to fostering a healthy, happy environment. But do it with respect. Try to understand where they are coming from, and to develop trust and rapport. Don’t just give a rundown of how they constantly offend you. Focus on actionable points. If good old human communication isn’t getting through to them, talk to someone in your HR department.

Despite your best efforts, sometimes it might just be time to move on. If you’re ready to get in the job search game, connecting with a recruiter could be a great resource to ensuring you’re on the right track to finding the job of your dreams.