How Leaders Can Make It A Happier New Year
Effective leaders care about treating others with dignity and are responsible for creating a work environment conducive to happiness and well-being. Several things tend to make most employees happier at work:
- Fair compensation and benefits.
- A sense of purpose and meaning in their work.
- Autonomy and control.
- A safe and healthy work environment.
- Recognition and appreciation.
- Opportunities for growth and development.
Ensuring these factors are present in your work environment can help improve employees’ general happiness and welfare. It won’t solve all your problems in 2023, but it will put you on better footing to meet those challenges.
Take this self-assessment based on leadership activities and practices proven to increase satisfaction.:
How often do you express gratitude and appreciation to your team members and colleagues?
a) Daily
b) Several times a week
c) Occasionally
d) Rarely
How strong are the social connections within your team or organization?
a) Very strong
b) Somewhat strong
c) Not very strong
d) Not at all strong
Do you encourage and support regular physical activity among your team members?
a) Yes, always
b) Mostly, but not always
c) Occasionally
d) No, I don’t encourage physical activity
Do you encourage healthy sleep habits among your team members?
a) Yes, always
b) Mostly, but not always
c) Occasionally
d) No, I don’t prioritize sleep
How often do you encourage mindfulness among your team members?
a) Daily
b) Several times a week
c) Occasionally
d) Rarely
Do you regularly recognize acts of kindness among your team members?
a) Yes, always
b) Mostly, but not always
c) Occasionally
d) No, I don’t encourage acts of kindness
Do you encourage your team members to set goals for themselves?
a) Yes, and we are making progress toward them
b) Yes, but we are not making much progress
c) No, we don’t set goals
How often do you take the time to fully appreciate and celebrate positive experiences and successes with your team?
a) Always
b) Mostly, but not always
c) Occasionally
d) Rarely
Do you focus on the positive aspects of your team’s work and encourage a positive mindset among team members?
a) Yes, always
b) Mostly, but not always
c) Occasionally
d) No, I tend to focus on negative aspects
How often do you incorporate laughter and humor into your team’s work environment?
a) Daily
b) Several times a week
c) Occasionally
d) Rarely
Scoring:
For each question, give yourself 1 point for every “a” response, 0.5 points for every “b” response, and 0 points for every “c” or “d” response.
Total possible score: 10 points
Interpretation:
8–10 points: You are incorporating many activities and practices that can increase happiness and well-being into your leadership style. Keep up the good work!
5–7 points: You are incorporating some activities and practices that can increase happiness and well-being into your leadership style, but there may be room for improvement. Consider integrating some of the other activities into your leadership style to increase satisfaction within your team.
0–4 points: You may need to incorporate more activities and practices to increase happiness and well-being into your leadership style. Consider weaving in more of these practices to make worthwhile improvements for your team.
According to the work of Dr. Laurie Santos, Director of Yale’s Comparative Cognition Laboratory, these activities and practices can increase your happiness and well-being. Review your results from above and consider adopting a few of these approaches:
- Practice expressing gratitude and appreciation to your team members and colleagues regularly through verbal praise, written thank-you notes, or other gestures of appreciation.
- Foster strong social connections within your team or organization by encouraging team-building activities, promoting open and honest communication, and supporting a positive work culture.
- Encourage regular physical activity among your team members by providing resources and support, such as gym memberships, on-site fitness classes, or opportunities for outdoor activities.
- Prioritize and encourage healthy sleep habits among your team members by promoting a healthy work-life balance, setting clear boundaries around work hours, and encouraging breaks and time off.
- Practice mindfulness and encourage it among your team members by setting aside time for reflection or other mindfulness practices and encouraging them to take breaks and focus on being present in the moment.
- Encourage and recognize acts of kindness among your team members by setting a positive example, recognizing and rewarding acts of kindness, and promoting a culture of compassion.
- Set goals for yourself and your team, and work towards them consistently to provide a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
- Take the time to fully appreciate and enjoy positive experiences and successes with your team.
- Foster a positive mindset among your team members by focusing on the positive aspects of your team’s work and encouraging team members to practice optimism.
- Incorporate laughter and humor into your team’s work environment by promoting a lighthearted and positive work culture and encouraging team members to have fun and enjoy their work.
Leaders must be proactive in fostering a positive and happy work environment for their team. By interspersing these activities and practices into your leadership behavior, you can help increase happiness and well-being among team members in your organization.
BE A CONFIDENT, COMPETENT LEADER WITHOUT BECOMING A JERK.
With candid advice and support, Karl Bimshas Consulting customizes and facilitates leadership development, provides accountability partnering, and focuses on programs that grow employees and build effective teams. Ready to learn how to strengthen your leadership without becoming a jerk? Start by going to LearnfromKarl.com
