Boosting employee happiness – and productivity
Happy employees are more productive. That’s a fact, according to Forbes and Oxford studies that concluded that happy employees outperform their gloomier counterparts by up to 20%.
This is why I constantly work with executives on improving their emotional intelligence, which enables them to cultivate a workplace environment that is happier, joyful, and playful.
And guess what? Developing a more uplifting workplace culture that benefits both employees and the organization doesn’t cost anything.
Here’s how you can get started prioritizing employee happiness.
Pay attention
Emotionally intelligent leaders pay close attention to their employees by checking in with them regularly.
If employees feel seen and heard, they feel valued. And that’s something we all crave, no matter what our title in the organization.
When I say “checking in with them,” I don’t mean discussing deadlines, tasks or deliverables.
I mean finding out if they are feeling good at work and home. Meet often, be curious and ask questions. What are their biggest struggles in the office? It doesn’t cost anything and goes a long way toward fostering a healthy and happy workplace.
Provide flexibility
Always look for opportunities to provide flexibility for your staff. COVID taught us that not everyone works the same way or is productive in the same structure or hours.
So, during your next one-on-ones, ask each team member: If you could design your most productive work environment, what would it look like? Then, ask: What can we do to make things easier for you?
Maybe your top salesperson just returned from mat leave, is rushing on Wednesdays because of daycare drop-off, and feels guilty about arriving late to work. Give them the autonomy to manage and change their schedule and workload.
Everyone has something they’re trying to manage, but they’re often reluctant to share it with their manager or employer.
A good leader listens closely and looks for other, more subtle signs to discover their employees’ pain points and offers flexible work options.
If employees are able to balance work with their personal lives, they are more likely to stay with their current employers, avoid burnout and be more productive and innovative.
The little things
Little things matter, like buying flowers for someone on their first day or a milestone. Or write a card acknowledging someone for making a valuable contribution to a project or closing a big deal.
These gestures resonate with staff.
Occasionally, give the team Friday afternoon off for no reason as a reward for their hard work or commitment to customer satisfaction.
It may seem like lost productivity, but it will ultimately increase productivity and overall employee satisfaction and retention, which is good for business.
Create trust
If you don’t know your staff, it’s hard to tell if they are happy at work and satisfied with their roles. It’s also impossible to build trust.
So, take the time to get to know them. A relationship built on trust and honesty gives employees the ability to be more courageous and resilient, share ideas, think outside the box and
take risks without the fear of negative consequences.
A culture of trust will benefit employee well-being and mental health, create a more innovative and productive workplace and lower staff turnover rates.
Have fun!
We know that when teams enjoy working together, there’s usually a sense of play, laughter, and fun, which boosts morale and productivity.
The Office’s Michael Scott always doubled down on creating fun in the workplace. Sure, he took it too far, but that spirit of “let’s have fun working together” will always boost your team’s morale and improve their results.
I work with an executive client who really takes this to heart. When building her team, she always considers the personality fit as much as the skill-set match.
She’s extremely results-oriented. Her perspective is that when people enjoy working together, they actually get more work done, which contributes to sustainable, long-term success.