I’m a CEO in Finland, the happiest country in the world: 3 phrases we use at work every day

Finland is the happiest country in the world for the seventh year running, according to the latest World Happiness Report.

Two major factors help Finns find happiness at work: a high level of trust in institutions and colleagues, as well as a strong focus on work-life balance, says Miika Makitalo, CEO of HappyOrNot.

The Finland-based company makes the smiley-faced feedback buttons used in airports and other retail spaces around the world. It employs 56 people in Finland, who are of 15 different nationalities, as well as some 15 people in the U.S. and around 5 workers in the U.K.

As a business leader, Makitalo says there are three phrases in particular that capture the Finnish mentality around finding happiness and contentment at work.

Essentially, this phrase underscores that "no one is born as a professional," and "there's always things to learn," Makitalo says.

The phrase is meant to empower people to aspire to do great work, even if they're still learning on the job.

"If you dream of something, go for it," he says. "Apply for the positions you aspire to. And when you land something, learn how to do it."

Experts agree that having a growth mindset at work, or believing that you can improve your skills with practice, is an attractive quality in a star worker.

The Finnish phrase also emphasizes that it's OK to make mistakes in the learning process, as long as you use those experiences and any constructive feedback to improve.

It's a comforting idea, Makitalo says, that "it's not required or expected to master [something] on day one. Have mercy on oneself."

This phrase comes from the classic Finnish novel, The Unknown Soldier, and is used to say that a team of soldiers will take care of matters expected of them, Makitalo says. After