Why Organizations Need the Science of Happiness
Why is bringing happiness into our workspaces essential? Well, because a large portion of our lives is spent at work, and it significantly affects our overall well-being. The harmony between our professional and personal happiness is undeniable. With this understanding, many leaders are exploring ways to foster a happier workplace culture.
We dedicate 40-hours or more each week to working - whether it be in education, non-profit organizations, or corporate settings. Our happiness is a two-way street: it's our responsibility, but the organizational environment profoundly influences it, too.
When I was working for a global hospitality organization, I had a leader who was not inspiring or motivational, creating a toxic workplace that didn't make me or the team members feel happy while we were working. I was two weeks in, and I seriously thought about quitting. I was confused about how and why this person could be in such a high-level position yet create so much unhappiness and low well-being at work. It affected my psychological and emotional well-being, making it challenging to be a leader underneath this person. After several people went to HR, there was an investigation, and eventually, the person was moved to a position where they weren't leading people, but it was too long.
Research by Gallup and Deloitte further confirms this by linking poor leadership to employee discontent. Leaders have their plates full of daily tasks, juggling company objectives, customer satisfaction, personnel adjustments, and other concerns. Amid this whirlpool, the emotional wellness of employees might take a backseat despite its paramount importance.
The 'Arrive at Happy' Growth Process is a three-tier approach to interject happiness into our workplaces. Initially, it focuses on aiding leaders in prioritizing their personal happiness by tapping into the science of happiness and neuroscience. A happy leader is more likely to create happy, high-performing teams.
In the second step of the Arrive at Happy Growth process, I teach leaders how to increase and sustain happiness in their teams. This includes having more positive emotions than painful ones, having collaborations, belonging, and inclusion. When people have fun and are among people they consider friends, they work better together; they are more productive, creative, and all together, a stronger team.
The final step continually sculpts organizations to monitor the well-being of their members and invest in their growth—professionally and personally. It's a critical step in ensuring your organization thrives. When a company extends positivity to the broader community, it earns a respectable place in society and amplifies a sense of purpose among its members.
This happiness blueprint generates a domino effect. Content leaders and satisfied teams pave the way for a prosperous organization, resulting in happy customers—a win-win scenario for any organization. This notion isn't a coincidence; universities like Oxford, Harvard, and Stanford have research backing the idea that workplace happiness correlates to favorable business outcomes like higher earnings, broader market share, and escalated profits.
Several organizations globally are already demonstrating how a positive work environment benefits individuals and businesses. This trend indicates that ingraining happiness in work culture is gaining traction.
Leaders are at the forefront of this organizational paradigm shift. By developing a cheerful work culture, organizations can remarkably enhance their organization's culture, satisfaction levels, and success. This endeavor goes beyond just fostering a positive work culture—it's a crucial call for leaders to pioneer the movement toward establishing meaningful and joyful workspaces. Contact me today, to learn more.
Tia Graham is an international speaker, best-selling author, and consultant on positive psychology and engagement. She has worked with dozens of global companies, such as Marriott Hotels, Hewlett Packard, and Kashi Foods, to elevate employee engagement and drive bottom-line results. Prior to founding her company, Arrive at Happy, she led teams at luxury hotels in the United States and Europe for brands such as W Hotels, Westin, and The London.
With multiple certifications in neuroscience, positive psychology, and employee retention, and over 14 years of leadership experience, Tia is widely regarded by business leaders in her field. Her insights have been featured in major media, such as CNN, Forbes, and Fast Company, to name a few. Her new book, Be a Happy Leader, teaches her proprietary 8-step methodology on driving productivity and business growth through a culture of happiness.