Happiness at work is pretty important to most of us. After all, we generally spend more time at work than we do at home with our families. Employees’ happiness should be important to business owners too. A study by the University of Warwick shows that happy employees are 20 percent more productive at work. How do employers create a joyful workplace? It starts with understanding what makes employees tick. How can we attract the right kind of employees? Create an employee-centric culture that not only attracts good employees, but it also helps to keep them.
Employees motivation and happiness are closely connected. If employers can find what makes employees happy, they’ll likely know what motivates too. Happiness can mean something different for each of us but it begins with the same basic needs – food, water, shelter – a human needs to simply survive. This motivational concept, a Hierarchy of Needs, was proposed by Abraham Maslow and shows us that we are all motivated by the same basic needs. And as we fulfill these needs, we move on to a higher level of need. If employers can determine where their employees are in this hierarchy, they can work to fulfill these needs in order to motivate. Employers' can aid in motivating employees to go the extra mile by helping staff to feel:
• Safe – this can mean safe from harm or safe and secure in their job.
• Acceptance and belonging – when your employers feel they are part of the team, they will work harder and take ownership of their responsibilities.
• Esteem – people want to feel good about themselves and if an employee is at this level in the hierarchy, they’re likely motivated by a sense of accomplishment and require recognition.
• Self-actualization – this can mean providing employees the opportunity to better themselves. This might mean more time to pursue a life goal or be a better parent.
Trust is a very important piece of the puzzle, and trust is earned.
How can you earn the trust of your employees? You can start with simple things like taking the time to connect with the people who work for you. A few ways you can do this is by scheduling lunch with employees, a small group or team. You can earn a lot of respect by working alongside them occasionally to better understand their struggles. Be transparent, sharing as much information as you can about the business. It can help your employees feel included and trusted which makes them more likely to trust you. Stay humble enough to admit when you don’t know something, and willing to learn.
Showing that you genuinely care about your employees by having a meal or treat brought in occasionally is a nice way to not only show you care but to also encourage a community feeling. We can see when we look at studies like Maslow's Hierarchy, that people are motivated by their achievements and the prestige that comes with them. Providing avenues for continued education, certifications, financial aid etc. can be a great way to keep employees engaged and growing. Allowing the time for your people to explore their curiosities can invigorate and motivate teams. You can help through mentoring and assist so many in realizing their own personal potential.
Providing company sponsored volunteering possibilities makes everyone feel good and helps to keep our lives in perspective. If you are a small company, you may have a little more flexibility to implement some bigger benefits for your people such as providing flexible hours or work from home capabilities for new moms and dads or when an employee is experiencing a personal difficulty.
Take time to access your happiness and that of your employees. Just a few small changes can make a long-lasting difference in many people’s lives, and it can improve your business.
