Your dog can help you develop career enhancing skills.
As you approach the end of the year, it’s a natural time to take stock of your work and your life—and determine how happy and satisfied you are today and how you can improve your joy and achievement over time.
In the process of improving your career and accomplishing better results, you actually have an unexpected source of development, growth and coaching (if you’re a dog owner): your pooch! Interesting new research by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust (KCCT) suggests multiple ways dogs help you nurture career-enhancing characteristics.
Develop Success at Work
The study, which included 2,000 dog owners, found 87% of people said having a dog makes them a better version of themselves—and that’s what it takes to succeed in your career as well—to be your best and constantly improving. Here are the ways dogs can help you do just that.
#1 - Be Optimistic
Perhaps one of the more surprising ways to achieve success is by being positive and optimistic. People prefer to work with those who are upbeat, deliver results and seek improvement all the time. When employees are more optimistic, they perform better and feel more satisfied at work, according to a study published in the Journal of Management. And optimism also tends to reduce stress, according to reserach featured in the Journal of Business Research.
So where does your dog come in? According to the KCCT study, dog owners say their dog makes them smile or laugh 37 times a week. Besides being good for your career, positivity is also good for your wellbeing.
#2 - Be Empathetic and Compassionate
Empathy is tremendously important for your success at work. In many studies, empathy has been proven to improve innovation, happiness, wellbeing, productivity, engagement and more. It makes sense: When you’re more empathetic, you can solve customer problems more effectively because you understand them more fully, you can build stronger relationships and networks by tuning into others and you can more effectively deliver results when you have an appreciation of how your work affects coworkers.
When people have a dog, they experience a canine version of empathy—with 43% saying their dog can sense when they’re upset. In addition, 33% of respondents say having a dog makes them more empathetic, with 53% reporting their dog helps them be more caring.
Express empathy toward others at work by tuning in, asking questions, listening and being present. Tap into cognitive empathy by considering what they must be thinking and emotional empathy by reflecting on what they must be feeling. Offer to help or to connect them with resources who can.
To grow your career, stay connected and be empathetic.
#3 - Be Connected
Another key aspect of success in your career is connection with colleagues and a strong network. Dogs are great coaches here too: In the KCCT study, 49% said they loved the companionship their dog provided.
Significant research has demonstrated repeatedly that the single greatest predictor of physical health, mental health and happiness is having one or two good friends—and when you have greater wellbeing, you can bring your best to work. In addition, a strong network will help you grow in your career, according to a study by MIT, your linkages with your network are critical to finding your next role.
So learn from your four-legged best friend by prioritizing your relationships with colleagues and supporting people in your network. Invest time in having coffee or lunch with colleagues and seek mentors from whom you can learn.
#4 - Be Playful
Dogs love to play, and 52% of people in the KCCT study said playing with their dog helped them relieve stress. Play is also helpful to your career and one study showed that by taking a playful approach, teams boosted productivity by 20%.
In addition, play at work tended to help teams bond, be more innovative (think: haha turning into ah-ha) and reduce stress. For some teams, play included gaming together, but for others it was based on having an openness to humor and an attitude of lightheartedness—taking problems seriously, but not themselves—ensuring less stress and better thinking.
So, play with your pooch and foster your openness—and bring a playful attitude into the workplace.
#5 - Be Patient
We all hear that patience is a virtue, but it’s admittedly tough to practice. Fully 52% of respondents report they expanded their patience by being dog owners, and patience can be tremendously helpful at work as well.
Being patient with a difficult co-worker can help you build the relationship and manage your own emotional response. Being patient with a problem can help you experiment, explore and get to the bottom of its causes. And being patient about your career can help you invest in your organization and your learning so you can leverage your network and your skills for your next role.
When you’re frustrated, slow down, reflect on the extenuating circumstances, assume good intentions and take time before reacting emotionally or without thinking.
Your dog can help you develop healthy habits.
#6 - Be Healthy
Another unexpected way to succeed in your career is by paying attention to your physical health. When you’re more physically healthy, you have more energy, and your body can recover more quickly from stress which can be a natural part of work. Dogs are part of a healthy life—with 81% of dog owners saying they move more since getting a dog.
Being outside and experiencing nature are also associated with greater wellbeing, productivity and happiness—so taking your dog for a walk and having a four-legged reason to get outside are great for your performance and satisfaction at work.
#7 - Focus on Your Family
It’s well known that when you’re happy with your work, you’re more likely to experience satisfaction outside of work—based on the spillover effect. But few people know this works in the reverse as well: When you’re happier in your life outside of work, you’ll perceive greater satisfaction within your work as well.
So do what you love on vacation, volunteer in your community, nurture friendships and focus on your family. A family dog can be helpful in connecting with others (think: meeting friends at the dog park or going out for coffee together at a dog-friendly café), and 69% of survey respondents found having a family dog has helped their children cope with challenges.
Embrace your pooch for the happiness s/he can bring you outside of work.
Love Your Dog
Fascinating new research on dogs and their relationships to wolves found dogs have a gene which predisposes them to be friendly, especially toward humans. Wolves don’t have this same gene, so the unique gene in our canine pets likely contributes to the experience that dogs are people’s best friends.
Enjoy your pup because s/he adds to your great experience of life, and also appreciate all the ways you can be the best version of yourself—thanks to the characteristics your dog helps you nurture.
