6 Ways To Boost Employee Happiness (And Why It Matters)

In today’s economic climate, when many businesses are short-staffed and many workers are reconsidering their current jobs, discerning managers are wise to consider how to increase employee happiness and motivation. Determining what makes employees thrive is paramount for several reasons. First, employees who enjoy their workplace are more likely to stay on the job, avoiding the costly and time-consuming process of hiring replacements. Second, happy employees do a better job. Numerous studies show that they’re more productive, provide better service to customers and get along better with coworkers. When employees like their jobs, they are more motivated to do well.

Contentment benefits the employer as well, as feeling good about your job helps improve the bottom line. Think about your own experiences as a customer; chances are you have more positive feelings about—and enjoy patronizing—businesses where the employees seem happy and engaged rather than uninterested, apathetic or downright rude.

I recently visited a retailer where the employee went into great detail about how unhappy she was in her position. She was actively looking for a job and asked if I was hiring. She was a lovely person, but the “red flag” was her lack of self-control when discussing her workplace. However, I also “got it.” The atmosphere was unkempt and the employee morale seemed depressing. No one was supporting (caring for the morale of) their employees!

Employee morale, whether good or bad, is contagious. When you have a group of happy, engaged employees, it spreads positivity throughout the workplace. Here are 6 ways to create a work environment that employees will love.

How to Boost Employee Happiness

Adopt a Servant Leadership Outlook

This approach to management starts by focusing on serving your staff instead of demanding service from them. That means setting the stage for employees to do their best work, leveraging their strengths and talents, encouraging them and empowering them to make decisions. Establish a relationship of mutual trust with employees, where you show you believe in their abilities and they know that you have their best interest in mind. In this model, your job as a leader is to create future leaders.

Provide Opportunities for Growth and Development

Training is essential when an employee is new to your company and on an ongoing basis to sharpen their skills. By investing resources in developing the talents and interests of your employees, you’re making your company stronger. If your budget allows, provide opportunities for additional training or professional development. If not, look for other ways to help employees develop, such as opportunities for promotion, taking on new responsibilities or learning new skills. Continually provide new challenges and a clear path to moving up in the business, whenever possible.

Prioritize Communication

Another boost to employee happiness is maintaining open, two-way lines of communication. Proactively ask employees for their opinions and observations. Create an environment where employees feel comfortable coming to you with ideas and questions. Provide constructive and positive feedback regularly, not only once a year at review time. Notice and express appreciation for a job well done. Begin by pointing out their successes, strengths and what they do well, in addition to helpful critiques on how they can improve their performance.

Develop Positive Relationships with Employees

A good manager understands the people they supervise, including their personal lives, professional goals, strengths, weaknesses and areas of interest. For example, if an employee is caring for young children or aging parents outside of work, be aware of their situation so you do not require them to travel when it could pose a hardship; ask them their preference to be sure. Get to know each employee on a professional level; ask them about their career goals and interests, and do everything you can to support them.

Pay Your Employees Well

Make sure your company’s pay structure is in line with current rates in your industry and geographic location. Money is important, but it’s not everything. If you don’t have a lot of flexibility on salary, look at other rewards, such as flexible scheduling, opportunities to work from home or additional time off.

Lead by Example

A final key to employee happiness is modeling the behavior you want to see. Show a genuine interest in your job, your company’s mission and your employees. Make cultivating a warm, welcoming corporate culture a priority. Establish a reputation as an approachable leader who listens, is in touch with what’s going on in the business and is willing to address issues in the workplace. Solve problems by looking for solutions that benefit everyone. Great attitudes and engagement start at the top levels of management.

For more information check out The Protocol School of Texas. You may also like Leadership Skills That Will Propel Your Career. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips read her posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on The Huffington Post, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter.