Do you use the same work tools or ways of thinking over and over again only to get stale or uninspired results? One way to be happier at work is to keep learning new things or finding new tools or templates for your toolkit. I make it a habit to learn new tools so I can get different results.

For example, I used to check out business books written by the consulting industry. Two of my favorites are The McKinsey Wayand The McKinsey Mind: Understanding and Implementing the Problem-Solving Tools and Management Techniques of the World’s Top Strategic Consulting Firm. The first book helped me understand the 80/20 rule, the “Elevator Test,” and defining a hypothesis. The second McKinsey book offered advice on how to frame the problem, designing the analysis, data gathering, interpreting results, and presenting ideas.

One of my favorite tools from the McKinsey books is how to generate the initial hypothesis by creating an issue tree. From the example below, this diagram shows several top-line recommendations like how to improve ROI by increasing profit through increased revenue with increased volume or improving ROI by reducing investment with reductions in fixed investments. The issue tree was a simple, yet elegant tool that provided deduction on a problem that inspired new thinking, approach, and results.

Research new work tools that you could use
If you need ideas, there’s always a business book that offers new creative tools. Research new techniques that gives you ideas for new approaches. You’ll be surprised how work can be more fun when we challenge ourselves by continuously learning. Why wait for the fun projects to cross our path, when we can be proactively looking for them in our existing work.

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23 Ways to be Happy at Work Series

The 23 Ways to be Happy at Work series reflects on 23 ways to help you reflect about the course of your career. After deciding to identify what made me happy at work, my list became this list. Here the are the drivers to my happiness at work that may help you manage your career:

1. Work by your values
2. Love your work, love your career
3. Decide what makes you happy in your job
4. Work can be play
5. Know the big picture
6. Walk in your boss’ shoes
7. What is the problem?
8. Try the same old thing to get different results
9. Try something new to get different results
10. List your accomplishments
11. Don’t gossip
12. Don’t react
13. Don’t worry
14. Don’t be unhealthy
15. Read up
16. Read It
17. Share knowledge
18. Mend fences
19. Be a squirrel
20. Change your workspace
21. Give yourself a gift
22. Let it go
23. Change this!

For previous entries in this series, click here.

Similar Posts:

• 23 Ways to be Happy at Work: #8 - Try the same old thing to get different results
• 23 Ways to be Happy at Work: #12 - Don’t react
• 23 Ways to be Happy at Work: #10 - List your accomplishments
• 23 Ways to be Happy at Work: #22 - Let it go
• 23 Ways to be Happy at Work: #13 - Don’t worry