Your Guide to Heart-Centered Leadership
Do you have a vision for your organization to foster productivity, joy, well-being, and personal growth? Is the idea of a thriving, flourishing workspace something you are determined to achieve? Below, I continue to share the key takeaways I learned from the 2023 World Happiness Summit to help you effectively transform your organization's work culture into the best place for your teams, executives, and clients.
Learning from DHL Europe: Alberto Nobis' Transformation Story
Alberto Nobis, CEO of DHL Europe, is a testament to what can be achieved when a leader prioritizes happiness in the workplace. From an environment steeped in toxicity and anxiety, he led DHL Europe to become the best place to work on the continent.
His secret? Nobis emphasized relationships over transactions, fostered an environment where mistakes became growth opportunities, and built genuine connections with the people around him.
Nobis shares a profound belief, "Your negative thoughts are not you." As I have discussed, humans are prone to negativity bias, but that doesn't have to dictate our actions. We are capable of change, and we are capable of growth.
The Rise of Chief Well-being Officers: A New Era of Leadership
Jen Fisher, the Chief Well-being Officer at Deloitte, emphasized the necessity of well-being at the heart of organizations. Consider these roles seriously if your organization doesn't have a Chief Happiness Officer or Well-being Officer.
Work is a determinant of our well-being. Therefore, maintaining high levels of well-being is a shared responsibility between the organization and its employees. Organizations must embed well-being in their core strategy, not just during periods of success but also in challenging times.
By making this change, you can ensure peak performance across the organization over the long run.
Healing Organizations: Reimagining the Purpose of Businesses
In his book, "The Healing Organization," Dr. Raj Sisodia introduced us to organizations that are making a substantial impact on their employees' lives beyond profits.
Consider the case of AppleTree, a call center with hourly employees. They asked their teammates, "How can we improve your life?" The answers resulted in policies that actively supported struggling employees, drastically reducing turnover and significantly increasing engagement and productivity.
Elsewhere, Jaipur Rugs in India transformed the lives of over 40,000 girls from the untouchable caste system, offering them education and a chance at a brighter future.
These stories inspire a question: What if your organization was more than a profit-making entity? What if it also actively improved people's lives? The future of work demands heart-centered leadership, promoting growth, ensuring psychological safety, and creating an environment that nurtures happiness and well-being.
Happy leaders are successful leaders. Let's discuss how I can help you transform your organization's landscape. After all, the journey towards a happier and more profitable future is closer than you think.
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.