12 top tips for creating a happy workplace and increasing staff engagement.
It’s a fascinating fact that a company’s success increases with employee happiness. Employees who are satisfied with their jobs are more innovative, imaginative, and committed than those who are not. They’re also more likely to stick with you in the long run. Saying thank you makes such a huge difference in people’s lives. The offer seems too good to be true, doesn’t it? Numerous studies and workplace reports have found a link between employee happiness and the bottom line.
In this article, we’ll examine the specific ways in which employee satisfaction can benefit your workplace and organisation. Study after study has shown links between customer satisfaction, productivity, and employee retention rates, so we’ll talk about that.
Consider the advantages of having a pleasant workplace and the overall improvement in your employees’ life when making purposeful changes to your culture. This article outlines the best practices for making your workplace a more pleasant place to be.
With these 12 ideas, a little love, and some hard work, we know you can make your team happier. Let’s look at how happy employees can help your business succeed!
You have to think much wider than making sure their paychecks arrive on time to preserve employee satisfaction as high as possible. You must concentrate on fostering a positive work atmosphere and a strong corporate culture. Most employees like to be a part of a cohesive team that allows them to advance their technical abilities, integrate into the organisation, and work more efficiently.
Keeping your staff happy and motivated will not only create a pleasant working environment but will also have a positive impact on your business. Your organisation will quickly enjoy the rewards if you allow your personnel to conduct their duties as stress-free as possible.
Because of the pandemic, now is an excellent time to enhance employee pleasure. Why? According to a GetVoIP survey, 90 percent of remote workers want to work this way for the remainder of their careers, and having the choice to work remotely makes people 24 percent more pleased with their jobs.
Appreciation in the Workplace should be fostered
Teams are more cohesive, employee morale is higher, and overall productivity is higher when employees express thanks daily.
For example, according to a Walden University study, doubling the number of employees who receive regular and proper acknowledgment has a snowball effect, resulting in a 24 percent increase in (output) quality, a 27 percent decrease in absenteeism, and a 10% decrease in shrinkage.
Organise fun team-building activities
Happiness comes from having fun. This isn’t quite a golden rule, but it’s close.
Happy and fulfilled workers benefit greatly from team-building activities where employees may laugh and discuss problems with one another.
In fact, according to a poll conducted by Outback Team Building, the majority of employees believe that team building activities are important, inspire people to stay at their employment, and even foster creativity.
Show That You Care
Sending staff presents that go beyond cool and genuinely show your team how much you care is easier and more entertaining than ever before with an employee care platform. Delivering presents to employees is essentially sending happiness.
When recipients open their gifts, see their new goodies and gifts, and understand how much you care, they are almost likely to grin. Their joy from receiving the present will re-energize and inspire them to accomplish their best work.
Greet Your Colleagues
In the workplace, a simple greeting goes a long way. Your coworkers want to feel and be happy, so nudge them in the morning with a big ole smile that says, “You are welcome here, and I hope you enjoy your work.
Be sure to check in with the office regularly to see how everyone is faring there” Regularly visit the office to see how everyone is doing. Inquire about your team’s weekend plans and whether anyone needs assistance with ongoing work.
We cannot emphasise enough how important it is to create a workplace that helps everyone feel at ease to have happy staff. It all starts with you setting a cheery tone. In terms of workplace happiness as well as your team’s productivity and energy levels, creating a positive office climate is essential.
An employee’s awful day can be turned around with as little as a smile, a symbol of your appreciation, or a simple I wish you a happy start to the day! Positivity and honesty boost your team’s self-esteem, motivate them, and serve as a constant reminder that working with you is an amazing experience.
As you make your cheerful office debut a habit, you’ll notice that your coworkers start imitating your welcoming gesture, putting everyone in a better mood and snowballing into a long-term mood boost.
Praise and Recognition Should Be Given Frequently
Were you aware that feeling underappreciated at work is the leading cause of job turnover? First and foremost! Low pay, fewer vacation days, and insufficient flexibility for life outside of work are all obstacles to overcome.
Managers and leaders must keep a figure like that in mind at all times.
Your team will be engaged and eager to contribute to company-wide efforts if you consistently praise and recognize them.
Ask about how team members would like to be recognized for a job well done. To find out how they prefer to be thanked or appreciated, send a quick email or hold a team meeting. It could be a simple “You did it!” shout-out during a meeting for some. It can be a one-on-one positive feedback session for others.
The idea is to maintain a level of consistency. Tell a team member straight away if they deserve to be rewarded for great performance. Don’t wait for their “review.” Annual reviews are now a thing of the past.
Make Work-Life More Enjoyable
Everyone wants to believe that what they do at work is important. Team members must completely get the company’s mission and purpose to feel good about the work they produce. So it’s up to you to make sure they understand what it entails.
Give an overview of each department’s responsibilities and why they exist. Employees feel more connected to the business and hence more dedicated to making it a success when they can view the inner workings of the organisation from all angles and perspectives.
Thank your colleague for arriving early to meet a deadline, and let them know that their dedication to a demanding client is appreciated.
Is there any way to make work more enjoyable? Collaborate with a local charity to get your team members involved. Giving back to the community helps team members understand that working for the larger good is what it’s all about.
Prioritise work-life balance
Many workplaces have made the concept of work/life balance a priority. Team members must understand that you regard them as a dedicated employee as well as a person with a life outside of work.
Offer work-from-home Fridays, unlimited vacation days, discounts on nearby health and fitness programs, or childcare choices to demonstrate that work/life balance is a priority. Incentives that increase a team member’s overall quality of life demonstrate that you are concerned about their well-being.
If you’re stumped for ideas on how to instil the value of work/life balance, consider what makes you happy outside of work and what advantages you desire. Your teammates are most likely looking for the same things.
Encourage Wellness in the Workplace
Working professionals are not just seeking, but expecting, their employers to provide wellness practices in the workplace as “living a healthy life” has become incorporated into people’s everyday lives.
Incentivizing wellbeing, whether through diet, physical activity, or mindfulness techniques, is a fantastic notion. Many innovative programs have been designed expressly to improve the workplace environment so that employees can more easily adopt and maintain healthy habits.
Implementing the following steps can help you develop a wellness culture:
- Prepare and disseminate a list of healthy dining options within a 2-mile radius of your office so that your employees don’t waste time searching for a “healthy lunch near me.”
- Arrange for bike racks and promotional materials for “cycle to work.”
- Negotiate corporate health club membership discounts.
- To lower team members’ stress, hire a yoga instructor or mindfulness specialist to come into the workplace once a week or once a month.
Another method to demonstrate how important your employees are to your organisation is to show them that you want them to have happy, healthy lives.
Hire people with positive attitudes
A positive work atmosphere attracts good individuals, which encourages a culture of productivity and accountability; on the other hand, a stressful work environment will inevitably ruin your corporate culture.
As a result, it’s critical to establish a joyful workplace to hire someone who can bring laughter to the office, which will boost productivity and motivation for the entire office because a positive attitude is contagious.
When interviewing potential employees, it’s important to pay attention to facial expressions, reactions, and honesty because happy individuals create a pleasant workplace culture.
These are the individuals who will make your workplace a more pleasant place to work.
If you’ve already succeeded in attracting happy teammates, congratulate yourself on a job well done.
It’s no simple task, and keeping your employees empowered and engaged is much more difficult. Continue reading for four more tips on how to keep your work mojo.
Micromanaging isn’t a good idea
Employees who are trusted and assisted but not micromanaged are statistically more calm and confident in their work. I believe it is reasonable to state that no one enjoys being micromanaged at work. Employees who feel that they are continually on their boss’s radar will not perform as well as they should and will begin to dislike their work.
It doesn’t assist anyone if half of the day is spent tracking and reporting which tasks were completed and which were not, so set clear expectations and fair boundaries to offer your team the trust and creative freedom they deserve.
Your irreplaceable team members were hired by you. Remember why you hired them and have faith in their ability to make sound judgments without your intervention. As a result, their confidence will remain strong, adding to your company’s success.
Allow a team member to lead the next marketing meeting, and empower team members to make executive decisions when you aren’t available.
Create a Personal Development Plan
An Individual Development Plan, or IDP, is a tool that helps employees enhance their careers and personal lives. Its main goal is to assist employees in achieving short and long-term goals as well as improving present job performance.
An IDP can help you gain a better knowledge of your team’s professional and personal objectives, as well as their strengths and opportunities for improvement.
This demonstrates to your staff that you are committed to investing in them as individuals and puts everyone on an equal footing in terms of achieving personal goals.
Use feedback as a form of mini-mentoring
Effective leaders recognize the importance of receiving feedback. It can be used to provide constructive criticism and positive acknowledgment, which helps to clear the air and clarify how an employee’s behaviour relates to company performance.
Brad Starr, a senior partner at Partners In Leadership, shares five methods for giving effective feedback that results in more engaged and empowered employees.
According to Starr, a leader may “move an individual away from undesired conduct and cement the thinking and behaviour that leads to personal and professional excellence” by providing feedback from a place of respect.
Using Starr’s advice, you’ll conduct your feedback sessions as two-way interactions in which team members are encouraged to ask questions. It’s a major issue if team members are scared to raise questions. To get the most out of your “mini-mentoring” session, make sure you are transparent and open in your approach.
What is the secret to giving effective feedback? Instead of communicating it all at once, do so at regular intervals (weekly or monthly) (semi-yearly or yearly).
Get Out of Your Work Routine as a Bonus Tip (Occasionally)
Sitting at a desk all day or interacting with clients for long periods might become mind-numbing after a while. Hold your next meeting outside or at their favourite lunch restaurant to surprise your colleagues.
Tell them that on Monday, instead of going to work, they must do something that offers them joy, such as writing, getting a head start on a side hustle, or playing with their children.
This will increase team members’ productivity throughout the following workdays because they will be well-rested, refreshed, and ready to take on initiatives.
Bonus Tip #2: Have In-Depth Conversations with Your Team
This should be obvious, yet many managers fail to see its importance because they are frightened of “stepping the line” into an unprofessional territory. That simply isn’t the case. One of the finest ways to establish a joyful culture and workplace is to get to know your coworkers.
Every week, make it an effort to learn something new about your teammates. In addition to her professional abilities, learning that Lucy is a wedding singer may give you a new respect and appreciation for her. To guarantee that these changes stick, practice them daily and remind your employees that they are an important aspect of the firm. Implement these suggestions in your workplace and keep track of the results.