Want to be Happier at Work? Try these 6 Things
I recently started listening to Arthur C. Brooks’ new podcast, Office Hours. As a long-time follower of his work, I’m a big fan! As a social scientist and Harvard professor, he studies and writes extensively on the topic of happiness.
In one of his latest podcast episodes (Ep. 2, “Six Science-Backed Ways to Raise Happiness (and Success) at Work”), he shares the top 6 things that managers can do for their employees to make them happier at work.
Whether you’re an employee, a manager, or leading an organization, happiness at work is not just a nice-to-have; it is a proven driver of productivity, loyalty, and company performance. In fact, companies that rank highest in employee happiness even tend to have higher stock prices! Now that’s a bottom-line reason to invest in your workforce’s happiness!
Here are the six things managers can do to create better work experiences:
Innovation: When managers are open to input and ideas — when employees feel like they’re truly being listened to — work satisfaction and happiness increase.
Take Action: Actively seek and show appreciation for feedback.
Direct Management: Clarity and truthfulness of information are essential. People dislike uncertainty, and when they don’t feel they’re getting the whole story, fear creeps in. Brooks emphasizes the importance of “the straight scoop,” even when the news isn’t good.
Take Action: Share both good news and bad news, and always be clear and honest.
Organizational Effectiveness Avoid bureaucracy and inefficiency. Employees who feel their time is wasted will quickly lose motivation.
Take Action: Cut unnecessary meetings. You likely need fewer meetings than you think. Focus on action over endless discussion.
Engagement: Leadership that invests in learning and growth shows employees they matter. People naturally want to progress and create more value for their organization.
Take Action: Over-invest in learning, mentoring, and training. Foster a culture of continuous development.Emotional Connection: Fostering relationships and a friendly workplace culture matters. Emotional connection — having friendships at work — greatly impacts employee retention. Brooks cites that 55% of people who have a best friend at work wouldn’t take a higher-paying job elsewhere.
Take Action: Encourage more face-to-face time together. Teams and Zoom don’t replace real connection.
Organizational Alignment: Ensure alignment between your external mission and internal culture. This means your actions match your stated values and mission.
Take Action: Conduct a 360 Accountability Review to evaluate how you’re living up to your leadership standards.
Enhancing happiness at work isn't about superficial perks; it's about creating an environment where employees find meaning, feel valued, and have opportunities to grow. By implementing these six strategies, leaders can cultivate a workplace culture that drives both happiness and success.
What are some steps you can take today, to raise the happiness levels of your employees? Send me an email (sally@mageeleadership.com) — I’d love to hear your thoughts!
