Bring on the Joy!
It’s been widely promoted that happy workers are more productive, so it behooves managers and supervisors to create a team culture that supports a happy and joyful workforce. So…How do you do that? Here are some simple and practical things that you can do RIGHT NOW to create a more positive and engaging workplace.
1. Start by helping every team member grasp the importance of their work—how it impacts the success of the organization and serves clients and customers well. People need to know that their work matters… that it has value and significance. That’s at the heart of real job satisfaction.
2. Be consistently available to your team. Give each person on your team what they need to succeed and make progress in their work! Read the blogpost on 2/21/21 to see how this has a positive effect on employee mood and motivation.
3. As much as possible, assign work to each team member that fits their gifts, strengths, talents—they will be as much as 200% more productive, and a whole lot happier! You can read more about this in the blogpost on 1/17/21.
4. Be lavish with praise, affirmation, and appreciation. People LOVE working in a place where the Boss notices their good work and says so! Don’t underestimate the power of praise—studies show that when the Boss praises a worker ONE MORE TIME PER DAY than they normally do, that employee’s productivity can increase by as much as 31%. Praise is your way of sending the important message to your people that you NOTICE and you CARE—you NOTICE that they are doing their job well; and you CARE about good performance.
5. Get to know your people as individuals. Take time for simple conversations that allow you to learn about their family, their hobbies, and their special interests. Those simple details will give you important opportunities to join them in the little celebrations of life they savor, and also allow you to offer appropriate expressions of support during the tough challenges they face along the way. This is how you build an emotional connection with your team, and make the workplace more personal.
Up Close and Personal
One of my favorite leaders, David Payne, used MBWA to interact with his factory employees and learn what was happening with them personally. He did twice-daily factory walkthroughs—connecting with workers via simple smiles, handshakes, and informal conversations. He would often discover important milestones in his people’s lives (e.g. a new baby; a community action award; educational achievements). It gave him the opportunity to affirm and encourage his people—which sent the message to them: You are unique! You are a special part of this team! You are important! You matter to me! I CARE!
— Image by © Royalty-Free/Corbis
6. Set aside time for your team to socialize. Don’t let financial downturns dampen your resolve—it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money! Set aside an afternoon break each month and celebrate that month’s team member birthdays. Make sure there’s plenty of cake and ice cream. Another suggestion: Schedule a regular brown bag lunch with time for interaction and conversation. (My suggestion: let people bring their own lunch but you provide the dessert!) One interesting fact: Studies show that having a best friend at work is the strongest predictor for being a happy and productive employee.
7. Be authentic in your leadership. TIME magazine (1/17/05) put it this way—“What works for celebrity CEO’s doesn’t always work for everybody else. An honest, low-key chat can be just as effective as a high-voltage pep rally.” In other words, don’t try to be Tony Robbins if it’s not your style. Keep in mind—the most important qualities of authentic leaders are openness and honesty. Just keep it real, and you’ll be fine!
8. Keep your people in the loop. Tell them what’s going on! Share information with them—about their work, about what’s happening, and about the organization as a whole. The routine information you just received in a boring department meeting may be the very thing they want to know, in order to feel like “insiders.”
More than one organization has adopted the philosophy that if you take good care of your employees, they will take good care of your customers. The reality may be even more profound—since work consumes so much of our lives, leaders have an obligation as stewards to imbue the work of their people with meaning, value, and… yes, JOY.
If you are looking for help to transform your team or your organization into a place where employees are engaged and motivated, then give us a call… we can help! We provide high-quality training and coaching that can energize your people and fit your budget.
And if you are looking for some more great ideas to “bring on the joy” then pull up this additional list of 12 WAYS TO BOOST MORALE. You can view or download it here.
In the meantime, stay tuned to this blog for continued help, direction, ideas, and practical tools.
Until next time… Yours for better leaders and better organizations,
Dr. Jim Dyke – “The Boss Doctor” ™ helping you to BE a better boss and to HAVE a better boss!
