What happens when you lead with happiness?

'These days, it seems like people are looking for far more than just a 'job', don’t you think?…’

My conversation on the Moxham Mindset podcast, where I speak with 100x Legacy Business Coach Peter Low, led me to think more about this. So what is it that employees might be looking for? How can employers and leaders foster success at work, and in business, whilst instilling joy in the process??

As business owners, we spoke a lot about connecting to a greater purpose and mission - having a why. But what came to the forefront in our conversation was how sometimes busy leaders fail to listen and observe; thus not truly recognising the achievements or understanding the needs of staff from the bottom up.?

?The solution? Well, it relies on present and ongoing leadership.?

?Meaningful success across the board, which is indeed possible, usually means being an intentional leader that continually reevaluates internally as well as externally; checking in with yourself and others equally to find the right way forward.?

?Often the antidote to discontent, low motivation and conflict, is to really listen and figure out what's beneath moments of a dysfunctioning culture, and prioritise the teams collective happiness.?

So, what would your leadership journey look like if you really knew the benefits of prioritising, reflecting and improving on these aspects of happiness over bottom-line?

Here is the reality for business owners: The breakthrough starts with 'break you’.

It can mean making hard decisions, and in some cases it might mean changing the focus from KPIs and profits. It can mean rebalancing clients' needs with the wellbeing of the team. It can even go as far as to mean, reevaluating the direction of the business at certain points of its evolution.?

Peter so frequently encounters business-owners who come to him with a problem. Thinking that the fix to their problem is changing something externally - their staff, the situation, the cash flow.?

But here is the real golden nugget, “people reject change happening to them, but embrace change happening with them.” Meaning to say, involving your team in co-creation on what performance, workload and even success looks and feels like will in turn solve the issues your business culture is facing. Business and leadership is fundamentally about teamwork and aligning your goals for a great outcome, a big goal.?

‘I am far more alive working and coaching at 100x than just retiring early, and consuming. I realised that I needed to contribute to something greater than myself…’?

Peter challenges that the pull to live unencumbered, unattached and therefore ‘carefree’, as is widely idealised these days, is largely a fallacy. He has found that the passion and skill that involves serving, leading, and in his case, helping others live out their business visions and thrive, is worth the everyday challenge.?

Looking back, Peter can confirm that it was in the way he acted on concerns and even mapped out a ‘happiness system’ with his teams that he believes ultimately defined Cavalry (his first business)? and now 100x as successful business ventures.?

?I can attest to this in my own business; that having a happier team, ready to serve from an aligned and positive place, is ultimately one of the most rewarding parts of hitting business goals and seeing your creations come to life.

I’m arriving at the conclusion that as business owners, as leaders, you are not just including those working with you on a service or a product, let alone a mission. We are also seeking - in a mutual dynamic - in each present moment, to create positive experiences not just for our clients and financial exchange, but in fact with each other in the team. We spend most of our lifetime with those we work with, right??

Happiness is more than a paycheck. What people, certainly employees and even clients, are ultimately looking to have, are positive experiences. And perhaps our business goals as owners in any industry can and should be to remember to facilitate that as a way to get the work done. Prioritising happiness over profit as a leader. And seeing both as success.