Happiness affects the bottom line. According to Gallup, each unhappy worker costs a company about $13,000 per year, totaling $300 billion per year in lower productivity. Happiness can improve overall health and is linked to job productivity, job satisfaction, increased engagement, creativity, energy and resilience. When we’re positive and happy, our brains are more engaged, creative, motivated, energetic, resilient and productive. A poll by Partners in Leadership confirms that when employees are happy at work:
- 85% say they take more initiative.
- 73% say they’re better collaborators.
- 48% say they care more about their work.
Happiness is a choice your employees make, but leaders and companies can make that choice easier for their employees. Here’s how leaders can help employees make the choice of happiness easier: Walk the talk.The best leaders win respect and admiration from their team by consistently leading by example. Engage your employees. Get to know them, praise their progress and spend time with them. Prioritize people.Show genuine care for your employees. Send a note to your employees for their birthday or to congratulate them for a milestone. Incorporate things like an information walk and talk meeting during your one-on-one. Find out how your employees are motivated and use that action. Improve relationships.Take coaching or leadership training, read books or ask a mentor how to best connect with your employees. Be open to critique on how you can be a better, more supportive leader. Give your employees honest, constructive feedback and reduce their fear of failure by showing them it’s an opportunity to learn. Address frustrations.Are there so many meetings that people have to work in the evenings to get their projects done? Is there a lack of boundaries where employees feel they must answer calls and emails on the weekends? Find the pain points that keep your employees frustrated and eliminate as many as possible. Watch this Blue Cross® Virtual Well-Being webinar for more ideas on supporting the happiness of your employees. You can also sign up for future employer-focused and general interest webinars here, where you’ll also be able to check out past sessions and resources. Related:
- Supporting Employees Working to Enhance Their Skills
- The Value of Vaccines for Your Employees
- The Importance of Preventive Care for Your Employees
Photo credit: alvarez
