Beyond nine-to-five

Most people, at the rate of a minimum of eight hours per day of a five day week, spend a total of forty hours at the workplace, from the 120 hours that are loaded or credited, each day into our lives by mother nature. That is a neat 33 percent of time spent or used at the workstation.

Depending upon each individual’s physical and mental make up, a third of that 120 hours is taken up by the impelling need to sleep — say a normal of eight hours. If commuting to and from office takes, say three hours each day, that is another 12.5 percent of the 120 hours. Effectively, most of us are left with approximately 15 hours per working week, to do ‘something different’ from the 100 hours deployed towards work, sleeping and commuting.

To gain a peaceful and calm mind, the time spent at office has to be looked through a magnifying glass, for it directly impacts, both physically and emotionally upon the state of mind. It is therefore important and imperative to keep both personal and professional life fairly well balanced; if they cease to be in sync, both can become a cause of pain. The pain then starts to gnaw at the tree of happiness, and hence takes away peace of mind, that goes to negatively affect performance at office and can usher an unsettling personal life.

With such limited time at disposal, happiness or its state must rank as a fundamental human right. Some countries have, ‘Ministry of Happiness’ with a designated minister, who has to implement and adhere to given metrics, for ensuring happiness in the society — reflects how much significance is attached by some societies to create happiness, generally and importantly at work place.

Regardless of how much anyone can maturely segregate between official time and personal time, it is a given fact and reality, that both inevitably impact and impinge upon each other. A peaceful living in one and facing a riot in the other has a telling effect upon, both, health and productivity. An environment of happiness guarantees high levels of retention of performers and is a catalyst for quality productivity. Indeed, happiness is a reflection of the emotional state.

The ordinary dictionary meaning of happiness is that it is a positive and pleasant emotion, ranging from contentment to intense joy. Happiness can result from satisfying and good experiences in life or it can for some be a blessing, that is not caused by an event or situation; such are divinely in a state of perpetual happiness. These types of individuals are generally happy with themselves and their surroundings, without having to depend on the crutches of the presence of a good environment. No matter where, when and with whom they are, they always remain happy. This feeling exudes from their personna and interactions with colleagues. It is a sentiment that is evident and visible to people around them.

Happiness has a sound impact on behavioural health, but the effect it has on the physical self, makes it a critical aspect, in developing the art of living, a life of peace and tranquility. There is substantive empirical medical evidence that suggests (proves) that feelings of joy and happiness give impetus, in boosting, the immune system, that helps in fighting stress and pain; and therefore the likelihood of living a long life, with no ailments.

Being happy is a choice each of us have; the decision is not made by others. We decide. Living in peace with your mind, that can be actively racing, is within our control. The mind, body and soul can coexist in tranquility, because these are internally controlled by us. To keep them in harmony no external input is required … but to get to this stage of understanding requires considerable effort, because in the real world, life, and working life is not all hunky dory. Happiness must remain a quest too.

Happiness resides in the mind. Those who search for happiness outside of themselves are mostly pursuing a shadow. Happiness can be had from the past, present and future; a glorious past can keep the restive soul satiated for the longest time; the exciting present can bring immense joys and the positive prospect of the future, being better than past and present can be a fountain of happiness. In essence it is all about an enduring state of mind consisting not only of feelings of joy, contentment, but also a sense that one’s life is meaningful and valued.

Happiness or a state of mind filled with joy sparks better social connectivity, leading to stable inter- personal relationships. It promotes feelings of satisfaction and gratitude — boosts vitality for greater productivity. Happy people in the organisation use positive language; are often smiling and are mostly good natured. They hold no malice, but have friendship towards all workmates.

Leaders and managers must feel the responsibility towards creating and making their followers a happy lot. This can be achieved only via the happiness of the leader him/herself. If the captain of the vessel is despondent about the present and unsure of future, it is highly unlikely that the followers would even endeavour to navigate the organisation towards shores of safety and hope … The followers would be devoid of happiness . A manager of gladness seldom falls into madness. A blithe heart makes a blooming visage.

While, happiness certainly is an internalised function of the mind and feelings, it does, however, severely dented by external factors too. Managers who create conditions of acrimony and animosity between people; especially those who subscribe and implement the theory of ‘divide and rule’; they develop a toxic work environment. Disputations and disagreements, in my view, should not last beyond the office hours of any day. These must be settled and resolved. Any failure to do so, will mean that the warring parties would carry a very ‘heavy baggage of resentment’ to their respective homes, which in turn will impact negatively, upon the hours, beyond the eight work hours — leading to loss of appetite, disturbed sleep, irritability and anger, that mostly would descend upon the poor family members.

The delicate and fragile crystal bubble of happiness can be pricked by the environment of the workplace, especially if it is one that is expunged of grace, dignity and empathy. A mere taunt, a word of sarcasm or a demeaning remark from the supervisor can spoil the mood of the teammates. A depressed and saddened worker can never operate at the optimum best, let alone do work beyond the call of duty. I have witnessed managers (brutes) who would premeditatively choose late afternoons to deliver bad news or to reprimand the co-workers. A sadistic approach, but not uncommon, in most institutions. Happy environment requires cautious handling, just like goblet brimming, which with slightest movement can cause it to spill over.

As a supervisor, I always urged my colleagues to settle disputes, before leaving for home — for nobody knows if the future moment belongs to us, to either say, sorry or to make up and deliver words of comfort and appreciation. Both regret and appreciation should never be postponed — must be done, now and here.

In an unhappy environment, all constituents are essentially mentally and emotionally ‘unemployed’, call it disguised unemployment, because they would all be in hunt for greener pastures. Nepotism is one example of creating an unhappy culture. Toxic is that organisation that promotes the happiness of one or few, over the unhappiness of one or more.

Happiness is an expression of the soul (Aristotle). Happiness promotes and induces intelligence to the heart. No happy colleague ever looks at the clock. A happy state of mind douses a thousand fires of grief.

Intelligent leaders/managers harness happiness and tame it to flourish in the organisation. Poor are those leaders and managers who do not know the power of a happy workplace. Thomas Jefferson said, “It is neither wealth nor splendour, but tranquility and occupation, which gives happiness”.

The writer is a senior banker and a freelance columnist