Joy at the Workplace

Feeling Joy at work is about?being connected with what you do and why you do it. ?It's the feeling of success and fulfilment that comes from doing work that matters.

It connects us with our colleagues and gives us all a sense of shared purpose and goal. Mutual respect, support, trust and communication among colleagues assist in making the workplace more productive and efficient. It will lead to higher job satisfaction and happiness at the workplace.

The happier the employees, the more successful the organization is and the more it has an edge over its competitors.? Happy employees are more innovative and dedicated than their nonchalant colleagues.? Many studies show that happiness has a direct connection to the financial performance of an organization; not to mention the cost associated with the employee disengagement at the workplace.

According to research conducted by The Harvard Business Review; disengaged workers had:

·??????? 37% higher absenteeism

·??????? 49% more accidents

·??????? 60% more errors and defects.

That is why leadership has a critical role in creating a joyful work environment where they appreciate and elevate happiness at work. Various ways to do so include:

1.???? Say Thank you: A simple thank you to the Employees makes them feel recognized for their individual contributions to work. A simple thank you will nurture a culture of appreciation at the workplace.

2.???? Engaging Team buildings:? Having team building events where employees play together, laugh together, and solve problems together go a long way to cultivate happiness and fulfilment. We should have fun at work. Workplace enjoyment usually establishes itself in?a friendly, supportive and compassionate atmosphere. Many organizations regularly conduct formal and informal events to boost morale at work and most importantly to have fun. These events show employees that the leadership of the organization appreciates their efforts and enjoys spending time with them.

3.???? Create a Cheerful Workplace with Shared Laughter: Shared laughter nurtures a culture where people feel safe in sharing ideas and taking risks.? It bonds people together. The Washington Post quotes Mayo Clinic Oncology Professor Edward Creagan saying:

“When people are funny, they attract other people, and community connectedness is the social currency for longevity.”

4. Refrain from Micromanaging: Encourage empowerment at the workplace and let employees take decisions on their own. It is safe to say that not one single employee likes to be micromanaged. They are not going to perform the way they normally do and will begin to dislike their job in case any mistakes happen. On the contrary, employees who feel trusted and supported not micromanaged, perform better and are more confident and productive at the workplace.

5. Individual Development plan: This important discussion about development assist employees in planning their careers and personal development within the organization. They will look forward coming to work every day and be productive. This conversation allows the leader to better understand the employees to assist them to reach their full potential. Your time invested in this conversation shows how serious you are as a leader about investing in your employees.

6. Outing with your team (occasionally): Honestly, I think this activity if it is done quarterly will let the team bond and become like a family. It will make team members more productive, and they will be willing to tackle new projects or missions with more passion and excitement.

7. Have a meaningful conversation with team members: This one has to come naturally from the leader. This action will assist the leader to know the team better and create a happy culture at the workplace. Engaging in meaningful conversation builds strong relationships. A Leader will be able to better connect with his employees as every conversation is an opportunity to cultivate real, human connections, whether to nurture existing relationships or create new ones. Having meaningful conversations can help us process and learn from our individual experiences, altogether.

The above are a few ideas on how to create a joyful work environment at work. Incorporate these ideas into your workplace and no doubt, you will see a huge positive improvement.

Remember, happier employees are more engaged. And engaged employees show increased productivity levels as well as far lower rates of absenteeism from work. A healthy work environment matter. A positive work culture; encourages employee friendships, improves personal well-being, and ultimately benefits your bottom line.