In a busy world, it is very easy to feel as if you are unhappy or in need of self-fulfillment. Maybe you feel as if you do not have enough money, or your relationships are not where you want them to be. You may easily catch yourself wondering, “I just had this or that, I would be happy”. 

The truth is, self-fulfillment cannot always come from material things. Fulfillment is a mindset, and happiness is found when you can reflect and find contentment. So while exactly what will make individuals at different companies feel happy and fulfilled at work may vary, here are a few golden rules that work across the board. 

1. Recognize even routine jobs. 

Employees are motivated when they can see the impact of their work, Thomas says. Find ways to show employees at every level how their work has an impact on the overall company. If your manufacturing line or warehouse team fulfilled a big order on time, go tell them how much you appreciate their work or buy lunch for them. Some jobs can feel thankless -- change that. 

2. Reward outstanding work. 

When employees do a great job or go above and beyond the call of duty, it has to be recognized, Thomas says. That does two things: It makes the employee feel valued, and it also models that behaviour for other team members. “Find the behaviours that you want to cultivate and reward those in a public way”. Be careful not to overemphasize one employee, as that can breed resentment. Instead, if you have an employee who consistently performs well, find a way to move him or her into a mentoring position to further cultivate that behaviour. 

3. Understand what really matters to your employees. 

Make sure those little feel-good perks actually hit home. Thomas says it makes no sense to spend money on coffee gift cards or company t-shirts if your employees don't care about them. Instead, use surveys, focus groups and interviews to get information about the rewards that matter. For some employees, it's about money. Others are delighted at an evening out on the boss or when they're treated to lunch. Earning a half-day off or the ability to have some flexibility in work time, when possible, can also be powerful ways to keep employees motivated to perform. 

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