Building a Happier, More Resilient Workplace: Actions for Individuals and Companies

In a recent Wellbeing and Resilience webinar (watch on demand here), we hosted Malcolm Perryman of The Property Institute alongside our own Magnus Wood , Tetra Consulting’s Marketing & Communications Director, to discuss the current state of happiness, mental health, and resilience in the property management sector. Malcolm shared compelling findings from TPI’s 2024 Wellbeing Survey, which offered an in-depth look at both the challenges and opportunities for fostering happiness in the workplace.

As Malcolm highlighted:

“This is the fourth year of the survey, and what’s clear is that people in the sector care deeply about wellbeing. The survey’s 100% completion rate reflects the significance of this topic for everyone involved.”

The survey gathered insights from 506 respondents, showing concerning trends in life satisfaction, a sense of worth, and happiness, with sector averages now significantly below national levels. Over two-thirds of respondents believe their mental health is at risk due to work, with rising workload pressure and anxiety levels. Staff vacancies have also increased by 13%, intensifying strain on employees, and 90% of respondents reported experiencing some form of abuse in their roles.

However, there were some bright spots. “High Happiness” respondents, those who scored their happiness at 7 or above, were more resilient and significantly less likely to consider leaving the sector. These individuals felt well-supported, experienced manageable workloads, and benefited from flexible work arrangements, clearly demonstrating the link between happiness, resilience, and retention. As Malcolm observed:

“As workload pressure increases, happiness and wellbeing decline. However, when people feel supported and workloads are manageable, they thrive. The difference this makes is profound.”

Magnus Wood followed Malcolm’s insights by sharing a deeper look into what it takes to be happy at work. Happiness, Magnus explained, is more than fleeting joy; as Magnus put it:

“Happiness at work isn’t just about fleeting moments of joy. It’s about leading a balanced life, filled with purpose, positive emotions, and meaningful connections.”

Using Martin Seligman’s PERMA Model of positive psychology as a guide, Magnus outlined actionable steps for individuals and organisations to foster happiness through Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. Seligman, a pioneer in the field, reminds us:

“Happiness is not just the absence of misery, but the presence of positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment.”

Here’s how the PERMA model provides a roadmap for sustainable wellbeing and how you can apply it individually and at the organisational level.

1. Cultivating Positive Emotions

Positive emotions, such as gratitude, optimism, and hope, are essential for building resilience. They can help us reframe setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles.

For Individuals: Practice gratitude daily. Reflect on positive aspects of your job, whether it’s the support of colleagues, the variety of your work, or small wins throughout the day.

For Companies: Establish recognition programmes to celebrate small wins and foster a culture of appreciation where teams regularly acknowledge each other’s contributions.

As Magnus shared:

“Happiness is a choice. It’s about practising gratitude, celebrating successes, and creating a culture of support. The more we do this, the more we create environments where happiness and resilience flourish.”

2. Fostering Engagement

Engagement, or “flow,” is the state of being fully absorbed in activities that challenge and captivate us. It’s the feeling of being ‘in the zone’—a rewarding experience many of us seek in our work.

For Individuals: Identify tasks that inspire and challenge you. Break larger projects into achievable steps, creating a sense of progress and accomplishment along the way.

For Companies: Support employees by offering meaningful projects and ensure they have the resources to focus deeply. Promote flexible work arrangements that minimise distractions and allow for sustained engagement.

3. Building Strong Relationships

The survey highlighted the importance of relationships in driving happiness. Strong connections with colleagues boost morale, build resilience, and provide support during challenging times.

For Individuals: Invest in building trust with your team members. Show kindness, recognise others’ achievements, and offer support when needed. Positive relationships create a supportive network, particularly valuable in high-stress roles.

For Companies: Facilitate team-building activities and collaborative opportunities. Create a culture of psychological safety where employees feel comfortable sharing challenges and can rely on each other for support.

Magnus emphasised the power of sociability:

“The more we connect as teams, the more resilient we become. Resilience isn’t just an individual pursuit—it’s a team activity.”

Malcolm echoed this, noting:

“If you’re sitting next to a colleague who overheard your tough call and tells you not to worry, it makes a world of difference. That kind of camaraderie builds trust and collective resilience.”

4. Finding Meaning in Work

A sense of purpose helps employees feel part of something larger than themselves. Those who find meaning in their work are more likely to stay and contribute positively to their organisations.

For Individuals: Reflect on how your role connects to a greater purpose. If your work feels misaligned with personal values, seek out projects that resonate more closely with what matters to you.

For Companies: Reinforce the organisation’s mission regularly and align employee contributions with this purpose. At Tetra, we remind our teams that “We make buildings safer for people,” a shared mission that resonates across all roles and departments.

5. Celebrating Accomplishment

Accomplishment brings a sense of pride and fulfilment, both of which are essential for sustained motivation and happiness at work. Celebrating even small successes can have a significant impact.

For Individuals: Recognise your achievements, no matter the size, and celebrate milestones as they come. These moments of accomplishment serve as motivation to keep pushing forward.

For Companies: Encourage employees to celebrate their own and each other’s successes. Simple acknowledgements, such as congratulatory messages or end-of-week recognitions, can reinforce a positive work culture.

Practical Actions for Individuals and Organisations

• Set Boundaries: Magnus shared a practical example:

“At Tetra, we actively discourage after-hours emails and promote scheduled sends. This small change helps employees focus on rest and recovery, supporting their overall wellbeing.”

• Encourage Mindfulness: Promote activities like meditation or yoga that reduce stress and improve mental clarity.
• Implement Supportive Policies: Malcolm noted:

“Even small actions, like delivering fresh fruit to offices, can make a big difference. They show employees that their wellbeing is valued and create a positive ripple effect across the organisation.”

• Support Work-Life Balance: Flexible working arrangements are key to supporting autonomy, engagement, and loyalty.

Final Thoughts

Happiness and resilience are deeply interconnected and require both individual commitment and organisational support. As the survey results and our webinar demonstrated, employees who feel valued, engaged, and well-supported are more likely to thrive. As Magnus noted:

“The more we create environments where happiness and resilience flourish, the more we enable individuals and teams to thrive.”

Let’s make our workplaces environments where everyone can flourish! How do you or your organisation support happiness and resilience at work?

About Tetra

At Tetra, we make buildings safer for people. Uniquely in our industry, we directly employ all our consultants, ensuring consistent training, quality, and service. This in-house expertise positions us as leaders in health and safety, fire safety, asbestos control, and legionella management. Our innovative approach includes PRISM, our cutting-edge property risk management software. We also offer a monthly programme of events and webinars, sharing our extensive industry insights. Recently, our commitment to quality and excellence was recognised with The Property Institute’s Ace Award for Health and Safety Partner of the Year.