A positive work environment can help your company grow and succeed in many ways. Happiness can lead to creativity, productivity, motivation, and optimism. And happiness in the workplace can lead to fewer sick days, stronger team comradery, and less stress. All things we not only want for ourselves but want for our entire team.
Happiness in the workplace doesn’t just happen though, even if you have the right team in place. There are a few things you can do to encourage this happiness throughout your culture.
Here are 3 things you need in order to achieve happiness in the workplace:
1. Create a culture of happiness and gratitude. Happiness should be engrained in your culture, and your space should reflect that culture. Work should be a fun place that your employees actually want to show up at every morning. This doesn’t always mean bag bags and free stuff. There are many ways you can make your culture a happy one, and gratitude is one of those ways. Show your employees you appreciate them, and encourage them to appreciate each other.
By designing an environment that incorporates wellness, promotes company culture and gives workers the freedom to untether, companies can create happy spaces for happy employees. – Inc.com
2. Promote health and wellness. Health and wellness are directly linked to happiness. Healthy employees that take care of themselves and their bodies are proven to be happier and more productive. Consider things like comfortable ergonomic chairs and adjustable monitors. Providing healthy snacks for employees, encouraging walks outside for some fresh air, and incorporating plenty of natural light in your space all promote health and wellness.
72% of companies stated that their wellness resources made an impact. Focusing on employees’ health and well-being not only makes them healthier but more passionate and productive, too. It’s a win-win strategy. – Source: Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)
3. Empower your employees. By this we mean, give them the freedom to find out what they need to be productive. If they want to go outside for a few hours while the weather is nice, we encourage you to let them. If they need to take a 10-minute walk for clarity, let them. Equip your employees to be as productive as possible, and take care of themselves while at work.
It all starts with you — the leader. Employees are going to take direction from leadership and they’ll be watching closely. If health, wellness, and overall happiness are important to you, they’ll start to make sure it’s important to them as well.
What have you found as the best way to bring happiness to the workplace? We’d love to hear from you!