How many times have you been having a horrible day at work, only to find yourself cheered up 5 minutes later by a work bestie that came to your rescue? It could have been a funny meme, or even better, they insistently took some of your workload knowing it would relieve you. Think about how much better you felt because they picked you up, with a smile and a rescue at your wit’s end!
I’ve been in Mortgage MarTech for 15 years and much of my career has been forming deep team collaboration at the intersection of business leaders, technology teams, and sales experts. In the last few years, I’ve come to a realization that changed my outlook on the daily grind: getting through the day is not fun if I’m only getting tasks done. Yet when I was collaborating through engaging teamwork, the day became emotionally uplifting.
This simple pursuit keeps my chin up and builds respect with my teammates simultaneously. It helps create a framework in which I can work hard, smart, and happy.
The Foundation I Lay
My starting point for building happiness in my work is to build camaraderie among team members; it’s my foundation for a good team environment. With this present, sacrificing my time or expecting it in return becomes much more friendly and enjoyable. When a teammate asks for help, I’m genuinely motivated to answer promptly and with a natural smile. And when you need help, you're comfortable asking because it’s a 2-way street; I know they’d do the same for me in a pinch.
Camaraderie is cultivated through consistent, reliable service, and a genuine pursuit for the success of your colleague. Helping them, as you want to be helped, will allow for all forms of teamwork to flourish.
Work Hard, Work Kind, Be Likable
Working hard doesn’t mean working joylessly. The most productive teams I’ve been part of are the ones that remember to be kind and support each other, even when the situation is at its most difficult.
I’ve observed several notable business moguls who say the people they consider the most valuable are 1) enjoyable to work with and 2) work hard.
Increasing your own “enjoyability” is simple: show up with energy. Smile. Be present and actively listen on video calls. Express genuine empathy when someone's struggling with a deadline or dealing with a difficult stakeholder. Make people laugh when the moment's right.
And here's a big one that isn’t always easy: own your mistakes. Be humble and recognize your own faults, then research and provide solutions on how it won’t happen again. Boom! Instant credibility and likeability.
Something I’ve been learning from the military leadership of Echelon Front is to be ready to challenge your own stance on a topic, direction or decision. Consider the value of pausing and checking if a newly presented idea is more strategically sound than yours. This isn’t showing weakness, but rather emotional intelligence, patient leadership and intellectual maturity. Perhaps the new idea is better! And you’re giving an opportunity for others to win… after all, corporate culture should be treated as a team sport; when a teammate wins, you win too.
Don't shy away from social time on team video calls ! This goes back to consistently building camaraderie. Remember the moments you learn about your teammate's interests, weekend plans, or favorite hobbies. Ask about that next time you see them. These aren't distractions from work, they're investments in relationships that help you keep each other’s chin up.
An easy way to cultivate a “we work hard” culture is to be urgent with your communications. Think about when you order something from Amazon; you get updates when it will arrive, if it’s delayed, the delivery window, when it arrived… that all made you feel relieved, right? Proactively updating your stakeholders is a huge benefit that goes a long way. This type of communication conveys “I’m working hard for you and I don’t want you to sweat the details.”
Take Care of Yourself, Set Boundaries
This is crucial, and it's where many of us stumble. You can't be in a good frame of mind to serve others when your head is a mess. How are you going to clean up someone else’s problem when you’re in that state?
Taking care of yourself isn't selfish, it's necessary. Set boundaries on your time. Protect your mental expenditure. Time block your calendar for time to think, write and give yourself space from the chaos. Make space for the things outside work that help you be healthier, more cheerfully engaged.
When you're operating from a place of personal wellbeing, you show up differently. You're more patient when people dance all over your last nerve. You're a more creative problem solver. You're more resilient when projects don't go as planned.
I’ll Leave You With This…
Doing these things isn't just a way to influence others positively, although it certainly achieves that end. It's a way to help you find enjoyment when working alongside customers, leaders, and team members. When you approach work as an opportunity for mutual support rather than a series of transactions, every interaction is better.
Projects that feature more cheerful engagement are easier and more enjoyable to complete. Difficult conversations become opportunities to understand motivating factors you might not have considered before. The high stress weeks become shared experiences rather than solitary struggles.
So here's my question to you: What are you doing in the workplace that helps you facilitate better relationships and find enjoyment in your work?
Because at the end of the day, we spend too many hours of our lives working to do it miserably. Finding joy through helping others and being open to being helped isn't just good for your career, it's good for everyone involved. In my experience, the teams that embrace this principle don't just perform better, they actually enjoy the journey.