If you are thinking, “Happiness and business — that sounds crazy,” you should read this article.
Decades ago, happiness seemed quite irrelevant for leaders, entrepreneurs and CEOs. However, in the last 10 years, researchers in positive psychology have determined why industry should care.
Happiness leads to success in nearly every life domain, including work performance, health, longevity, relationships, sociability, creativity and energy.
Happiness also leads to low staff turnover and low absenteeism. But how about numbers? According to Shawn Anchor, author of The Happiness Advantage, research over the past decade proves that happiness raises nearly every business and educational outcome: increasing sales by 37 per cent, productivity by 31 per cent, and accuracy on tasks by 19 per cent.
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Now we’re talking.
But what are the factors that contribute to happiness? How can you increase workplace happiness?
Here are the five main factors that influence happiness at work.
1. Meaning. Does your work have purpose? Does it align with your values? Does your enterprise lead to benefits for others? You wouldn’t think we would need to talk about this on the farm. You feed the world. But sometimes as an industry, we forget it. Your employees need to relate their jobs to the enterprise’s mission. Help them to make the link between their everyday tasks and the mission and values of your operation, i.e. environmental sustainability, quality products, and good service. That will help them find meaning in their work.
2. Engagement and “flow.” Have you ever been so immersed in your work that you lose track of time? Have you ever felt that time was irrelevant and the work seemed natural? If so, you were probably in the “flow.” When you’re in a state of flow, you:
- are completely focused on the task at hand;
- forget about yourself, others, and the world around you;
- lose track of time;
- feel happy and in control; and
- become creative and productive.
When you love what you do, you feel you can meet challenges, and you are at your best. As a leader, try more often to do what you love, what challenges you, and what you are best at.
And what about your employees? You should provide a similar space for them, but how? Engagement is easier to achieve if you use the best of employees’ talents and skills — put the right person in the right place. The more often we are in the flow, the more creative, productive and energetic we are.
3. Accomplishment. Do you feel that you achieve goals in your enterprise or industry? Do you feel that you do something valuable? Do you do it for more than just the money? Be sure to set realistic, achievable goals for your employees. Recognize them for their contributions. Be sure that they feel they are making progress, and that they are proud of and happy about their achievements.
4. Relationships. Do you have high-quality relationships in your work environment (employees, associates, suppliers)? Do you have a radar for the climate of your business? Do you know if each employee works well with their co-workers and supervisor? Many studies demonstrate that dissatisfaction and stress are linked to the poor quality of our relationships at work, especially with our supervisors. Don’t let conflict erode the climate. Having good relationships is critical. You can love your job, but if the relationships are bad, you lose the advantage.
5. Positive emotions. Are you optimistic at work? How do you influence others? As a leader, you can have a huge impact on positive emotions by sharing your optimism about the future, especially in periods marked by uncertainty and challenges. Be careful of what you say and how you say it. Employees’ brains are wired to look for uncertainty, fears and discouragement from their boss. So, every morning before your first contact with someone at work, ask yourself: “What impact do I want to have on my team?” Smile and be the one who shows the way.
Now the link seems clear. Happiness often precedes measures of success. Moreover, happy people earn more money and demonstrate higher long-term performance. Positivity leads to improved workplace outcomes by motivating the investment of time and effort to overcome everyday obstacles.
So, learn to view all of your decisions through the lens of happiness, and your changed actions should impact your business in a positive way.
Pierrette Desrosiers, MPS, CRHA is a work psychologist, professional speaker, coach and author who specializes in the agricultural industry. She comes from a family of farmers and she and her husband have farmed for more than 25 years (www.pierrettedesrosiers.com). Contact her at [email protected].
