Do you wish you were happier at work? After working with and hearing hundreds of clients’ career stories, WhyDidYouGo.com was created with a vision to improve happiness at work, one workplace at a time. In order to fully understand what makes people happy, the site’s co-founders launched three national surveys. Canadians were extremely candid with their responses. Here is what WhyDidYouGo.com recommends as a four step process for improving your happiness level at work.

Step One: Analyze why you are unhappy

Respondents to the Why Do You Stay in a Job You Hate survey reported several reasons for job dissatisfaction. Some employees do not feel valued. Others are not happy with salary and benefits, while some are unhappy with their boss. The first step in dealing with a situation, whether you are leaving or staying, is to be very clear on what the problem is. Once you know the source of dissatisfaction, you will be clearer on what to do and also know what to avoid in your next job.

Tip: The best way to analyze your current situation is to gather some “cause and effect” data. Whenever you feel unhappy with your job, think back over the immediate past and try to identify the triggers and write them down. You may also want to identify and write down the factors that make you happy at work and compare it with your current situation. As you gather information, you can create your “happiness at work” checklist. Keep a journal over time if this helps you, or consult with a trusted friend, colleague, or career coach for an outside perspective.

Step Two: Determine if you are going to take action

Happy employees, those who love their jobs, have learned that they need to take control over their own career development. You may or may not be able to make a difference, but one thing is sure – nothing will change if you do nothing. That is why it is important to determine if and how you plan to take action on working through your situation.

Tip: The first thing you need to consider are the risks and opportunities for challenging the status quo of your current situation. The clearer you are on what you will gain and the obstacles you may face, the more confident you will be on your next steps. This is where your trusted friend, colleague or coach can help you think through the risks and opportunities. Often the simple act of starting to do something, anything, about an unhappy situation is the catalyst for making you feel better about the situation.

Step Three: Select and execute a strategy

Selecting and executing a strategy is easier said than done. Many times, we find individuals never do anything about their situation because they lack confidence and are afraid. Some of the main reasons employees report staying in a job they hate is that they do not have another job to go to, or they fear that by leaving they would be making a mistake.

Tip: If you are feeling stuck on selecting and executing a strategy, explore what is stopping you from moving forward. Seek support through a trusted advisor to help see you through to the end. For example, if you’re afraid of making a mistake, seek independent support and encouragement. If you think you’ll never find another job, do some research to dispel those beliefs. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Step Four: Evaluate your current plan and refine when necessary

Even after a strategy has been selected and you have begun implementing, we recommend setting up checkpoints to see what is working and not working with your current plan. Make sure you are clear on what will really make you happy and set up some criteria for measuring your progress.

Tip: Identify and select realistic criteria for success. How do you know you are successful if you have not defined what success looks like?

Louisa Jewell and Tracy Griffin are the co-founders of Why Did You Go, a consulting and coaching firm specializing in employee engagement and retention. Their vision is to improve happiness at work, one workplace at a time. For more information about their organizational retention programs, contact them at info@whydidyougo.com.