Conventional dictates that the happier employees are, the more successful business will be. According to a research done by Harvard Business Review, the cost of disengagement in an organization is much higher than the cost of having engagement programs. Based on the study, disengaged employees reported 37% more absenteeism, 49% more accidents, 6% lower profitability and 60% more errors and defects. We can clearly see from these figures that having a happy and engaged working environment can help boost employee morale towards a company’s success.
Engaged employees exhibit an overall positive outlook. This improves their ability to be creative, coping with work challenges, and being able to collaborate with others. With all these benefits in mind, how do managers build a positive and happy workplace? Below are three steps you can take to start cultivating a happy organization.
Be a Positive Leader
Have you noticed that when a team has a happy leader, his or her happiness seems to be contagious, resulting in the team’s overall better performance? This is why, as a manager, one should prioritize his or her own well-being. It goes with the saying, “For you to be able to take good care of others, you should know how to take care of yourself first”.
The PERMA model, which was introduced by renowned psychologist Martin Seligman, highlights the five basic qualities that we all require to be happy.
PERMA that stands for:
Positive emotion.
Engagement.
Positive Relationships.
Meaning.
Accomplishment/achievement
Such attributes can develop meaningful relationships and strengthen your emotional intelligence, which you can subsequently pass on to your team.
Be a Positive Manager
There are many ways for you to positively impact and manage your employees. Mission and Vision statements help to provide a shared purpose for the team. This can motivate them towards achieving the shared objectives for the team. Moreover, make sure that your team members’ goals are attainable and that they are adequately rewarded when achieved. This may not always imply a bonus or other monetary incentive but saying “thank you” for a job well done is a simple yet meaningful way to remind people that their efforts are valued.
Nurture Positivity
Positivity is a habit that we should instill in our team by reinforcing it on a daily basis. This requires a huge amount of effort and self-discipline, but the rewards are significant for the team’s success.
Of course, we can’t stay positive all the time, especially during these uncertain days. However, learning how to manage such “down times” appropriately can benefit the team. As a result of an employee’s prolonged negative thinking, a group’s mentality can be affected. As a response, one must be creative in comprehending one’s employees’ unfavorable thoughts and doubts while maintaining respect and sensitivity.
In summary, a happy workplace culture will become more successful over time as it promotes positive feelings and overall well-being. Organizational success — including good financial standing, customer satisfaction, productivity, and employee engagement — is significantly improved when a positive & productive working environment is created.
