How to create a positive work environment for employees
The corporate world is focused on productivity and making money. Creating a positive work environment isn’t always a priority. The focus of the corporate world means that staff well-being often gets overlooked in the pursuit of profit. Research has shown that happy employees are more loyal, more resilient, and work far more effectively than unhappy, resentful employees. The driving force seems to be that happier workers use the time they have more effectively, increasing the pace at which they can work without sacrificing quality.
Companies like Google have invested more in employee support and employee satisfaction has risen as a result. For Google, it rose by 37%, they know what they are talking about. Under scientifically controlled conditions, making workers happier really pays off.
Studies on employee satisfaction
One study found that happy employees are up to 20% more productive than unhappy employees. When it comes to salespeople, happiness has an even greater impact, raising sales by 37%. But the benefits don’t end there.
Happy employees are also good news for organizations: The stock prices of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work for” rose 14% per year from 1998 to 2005, while companies not on the list only reported a 6% increase.
Feeling valued is vital for employee happiness
It makes sense that wanting to feel like who you are matters (you want people to know your name), that what you do has an impact (that you’re engaged in relevant work) and you’re making progress (that your work is having an impact and leading you and your organization forward).
This should be easy, but all too often, employees don’t feel valued at all. Why not?
Too many companies are overly focused on what they do but they overlook and minimize who is doing the work, as well as how and why they are doing the work. While job security and financial stability are important to job satisfaction, so are opportunities to use one’s skills and abilities. The bottom line is that people need to continue to grow in order to remain engaged and productive.
Promoting Workplace Happiness
My personal mantra for over a decade has been that I want to do work that I love, from places I love, and with people I enjoy. I would argue that most people want this. The challenge is knowing what this means and how to pursue these opportunities. While I have been ruthless in my pursuit of this type of work, I have fallen flat on my face many times.
We all get stuck at times — in habits, routines, and relationships that don’t serve us well and even limit our happiness. All too often, we are unaware that this is happening because we don’t have the bandwidth to focus on what is and isn’t making us happy. Even when we are clear about what makes us happy, many of us don’t know how to find the bandwidth to bring about change.
A positive work environment
A Psychologist or Executive Coach in the workplace can make all the difference. This is where HeadScience comes in. HeadScience smooths over any conflict, assist with policies to improve employee well-being, and also offers therapy session/executive coaching sessions where necessary.
Never underestimate the investment in employee happiness – it will always produce positive results in the workplace Employees spend so much time working that it’s common sense to ensure they are as happy as possible.
HeadScience also conducts surveys to provide further feedback to management on changes needed. It’s a two-pronged approach: feedback from employees and an objective mental health expert to provide a comprehensive plan for the future.
Even if dedicating resources to happiness at work isn’t your thing, it’s still worth asking yourself whether happiness in the workplace is something your organisation should be paying more attention to.
Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash
Sources:
https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/new_study_shows/