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What does happiness mean for you? Some TV time after a hard day at work? Sneaking a second chocolate eclair? A hug from someone who cares about you?

It’s tempting to go for complexity when considering this question and to dream up extravagant trips abroad, or opt for consumer goods, when real happiness can be enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

As a young man I thought happiness came in the shape of a BMW car. My boss had one, so when he suggested I change roles and train as an accountant I jumped at the chance. Forget the studying and exams and even if I was cut out for the role, the car was my motivation.

I like business finance very much and accountants too, but I’m not an accountant. I failed my first finance exam, which turned out to be a lucky break as it put me on the path to my current coaching life.

Failure can be a gift, rather than a setback and now, instead of being a so so accountant, I’m an excellent business coach, a role I love.

And I’ve never owned a BMW. Nice cars for sure, but happiness for me comes in a different shape.

As for work, well happiness often isn’t based on salary, or a snazzy chair, or being able to boast about leading a large team.

We need 3 things…

1. A manager who is supportive.

2. Work that fulfils us and that we’re good at.

3. Autonomy.

The first two items are essential, but without the third they become meaningless.

Autonomy means that we can choose how we work, set our priorities and make decisions for ourselves. Obviously these have to be grounded within the organisational culture, as we can’t simply have free rein to disrupt the customers and their needs.

However, humans do like to set their own agenda and to have the freedom to enact it. If we are told what to do, how to think and when to act we can become resentful, or institutionalised.

Our sense of self diminishes and we can spend our working lives trapped in a grinding existence.

Autonomy doesn’t have to mean we are in charge of all decisions, just some of them. Some freedom is always better than none.

One chocolate eclair is better than none!

So, this week we can all think about our leadership style. Are we too autocratic? Too directive? Or do we invite opinion amd discussion? Do we set a task and let people work out the details for themselves?

The more we give people a sense of autonomy, the happier they will be.

And we know this to be true when interacting with children. They need space to think and to learn and grow. It’s the same with adults, as we were all children once.

Hmmm….and now I think I’m going to the shop and will autonomously buy a chocolate eclair. Just one. Okay, maybe two!

Next week: Getting Senior Hands Dirty

Many years ago I decided that when people needed tools for work, in the factory I was running, they could take £50 from petty cash. Then they could pop to the local hardware shop, purchase said tool, return to base and get on with their work.

No signatures, or forms to complete. Just me trusting them that they wouldn’t take advantage. They didn’t. They just wanted to be productive, same as we all do.

Conversely, I know of an organisation where to buy a PC monitor you have to wait 6 months and complete a mountain of paperwork. A monitor will arrive, but will cost £600 more than the same item in the shop round the corner.

The same item you can buy on the day you need it. Cheaper and ready to use.

Of course the corner shop isn’t an approved supplier, nor will be. Items can only be purchased through head office. Which isn’t even in the same country.

This is, to me, an excellent example of organisational bullshit. It’s not like me to swear here, so apologies if you’ve learned a new word and are offended.

However, it’s good to say it straight sometimes. The working world is hard enough, without adding silly processes and systems to make it harder.

There’s often a good reason for having a process, and I’m all for an orderly workplace. And yet there are times when an organisation actively sabotages its own employees with needless red tape, or unfair working practices.

Staff become stressed, or they just give up and accept the status quo. Their productivity suffers and profits can slide as the organisation sub-optimises itself.

What a waste!

A lifetime ago, one of the first businesses I worked in had a clear company car policy. Cars had to be either Ford, Vauxhall or Rover and have 4 doors. No exceptions. Well, apart from the MD, who drove a 2-door Jaguar sports car, which was never used for transporting visitors. The MD would help himself to one of the Directors’ cars for that. What a lovely message of inequality to pass on to the workers.

I’ve never understood why junior sales people often end up with a low spec car, which they have to sit in all day, when the sales director has a massive 4×4 parked up all day.

And now we are heading for warmer weather it’s time for us men to wear shorts. Except mostly, we’re not allowed. Imagine the outcry if ladies were forced to wear long trousers all year round! Unthinkable!

Organisational BS comes in all shapes and sizes. Complex procedures, unfair purchasing decisions and a myriad of frustrations all add up to waste time and energy.

So, this week have fun spotting BS in your workplace. Find a gentle way to challenge it. Make a noise and ask exactly what the purpose is of something that makes no sense to you.

We can all name our frustrations and help our organisation to be more productive and more profitable.

Maybe we can all pop to the corner shop and buy what we need!

Next week: Happiness Through Autonomy