HAPPY PEOPLE ARE MORE PRODUCTIVE WORKERS

A leader needs to be generous in their giving of time and expertise in order to develop an attitude of abundance in their team. I started my week with an early morning meeting with a colleague who is abundant in mentality. I realised that I left the meeting energised after our conversation around the value of developing good energy and working with people who give of their time, expertise and contacts, as it is in collaboration that you will both benefit tenfold.

Attitude, like optimism, can be learnt. Set a good example and always focus on the positive, even when addressing the negative. Turn situations around when you can – it will become a good habit for you and your team. Happiness at work is not a treat, but a right. It has been proven that happy people are productive people … so why would a leader not do everything in their power to make their people happy at work? Encourage your team to counteract every negative story by telling a positive one. Teach them to look for the opportunity.

 Leaders who prioritise happiness are leaders who see a difference in their workforce, and ultimately in overall results. High performance and happiness are linked if research by neuroscientists, industrial psychologists and economists is accurate. It can be measured in sick leave and absenteeism. Happy people claim to spend more hours of their working day being productive as a result of being more energised. Unhappy people can bring down the morale of happy people. Happy people are more engaged, motivated and have a higher sense of self-belief. Happiness is a mindset. When an individual feels a connection with an organisation he is more likely to be happy. People need to be in the right environment in order to experience happiness.

Harmony is enjoyed when there is cohesion in a team, when everyone makes an effort to get along with their team-mates. Whilst there will be dissention and disagreements, if they are tackled in a professional manner, harmony is constant. Enjoying the people you work with makes work feel like fun. Allow a sense of fun, without familiarity, to pervade your corporate culture. Include fun tasks, outings, challenges and employ fun people! A team that has fun together exhibits better cohesion in the workplace, they make memories and history, and when the going gets tough they are able to look back positively on these times and cemented relationships.