This is how Dr Fong helped an assistant human resources (HR) manager in the hotel industry.
The man was unhappy as he believed he should be up for a promotion to HR manager, after the hard work he had put in for four years.
He often asked if he would be promoted soon and planned to resign if the organisation offered him no advancement opportunities.
His bosses told him to craft a personal development plan towards becoming a manager and assigned him Dr Fong as counsellor.
“Many times, he became unhappy, frustrated and wanted to quit, but aligning him back to his vision of wanting to be a manager gave him a strong purpose to carry on,” says Dr Fong.
Working on a personal development plan also provided a structured framework for him to account for his own learning and career development and take responsibility in areas that needed improvement, adds Dr Fong.
After six months, the man impressed his bosses and won the promotion.
While happiness at work is important, Dr Fong notes that setting happiness as the primary goal might lead people to feel the opposite.
“Why? Happiness, like all emotions, is a fleeting state, never a permanent one. Hence, finding purpose and meaning to your work is the best solution,” he says.
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/invest/how-to-be-happier-at-work
