How to Maintain Happiness for Productivity in the Workplace Despite the Pandemic
The demands of the pandemic have shown that maintaining happiness in the workplace has become a necessity to keep your team productive.
More than ever before, experts have found out that employees’ emotional and mental wellbeing is critical to workplace productivity. A happy team is a productive team. This article shares insights on how to create a happy work environment that ensures employees’ productivity in the post-pandemic world.
Appreciate your team members
Cultivate the habit of appreciating your team members and employees. Be intentional about recognizing their efforts and accomplishments always. Go out of your way to acknowledge them, don’t wait for appraisal sessions to praise your workers.
You can never say “thank you” enough. A major factor behind workplace depression is when employees do not feel appreciated for their work. This is because most employees derive their self-worth from their work.
The psychology behind appreciation is that when people feel appreciated, they want to do more to live up to that expectation.
Create a fun and social environment
The more social your workplace is, the happier your employees will be, and the easier it is for them to interact with other teammates and share ideas. Eventually, employees become more productive in an environment where they interact freely.
You can come up with some ideas that will facilitate a social and fun workplace. We have maintained a happy and productive workplace at Detail and Avedia by engaging in fun ideas like TGIF Activities, Africa Cultural Day, Movie Nights, Pyjamas Day, Karaoke, Women’s Day Activities, and a variety of games.
Allow employees to go for short breaks at work, leave and vacation
Due to the urgency to meet deadlines, most employees do not go on break during break times at the office. This leads to burnout. Have a policy that insists team members must unwind during their break time, like stretching and pausing their computers so that they can refresh. People are more energized and productive when they rest.
Also, encourage vacations and leave. Your team members will return happier, refreshed, and motivated to work after a worthwhile leave.
Be involved in their personal life
Employers or team leads should go beyond following up on their team members’ tasks. Get involved in their personal life to the extent that they allow. Be friendly and know them intimately, genuinely ask them about their weekends, families, etc., and render support whenever you can.
Avoid micromanaging your employees
Avoid micromanaging your staff. Delegate and get out of the way. Micromanaging can lower their motivation and zest for their job. Look out for their result, make the necessary corrections, and give accolades when need be.
Micromanaging limits creativity and personal initiative that comes with a sense of fulfilment and happiness.
Mutual respect
An organisation with a culture of mutual respect will always attract and retain top talents. Mutual respect also attracts diversity in the workplace; a major factor that adds to the richness and colour of an organisation.
People look forward to meeting teammates and building great ideas together when they know they are valued and respected.
Have a good welfare program
Have a good welfare program for your team. Employees are happier when their basic needs are met. Therefore, encourage and support wellness initiatives, ensure their pension and healthcare program is working.
Also, cultivate an environment that rewards and gives incentive to excellence and healthy competition.
In conclusion, a happy workplace is a productive workplace. According to psychotherapist and author, Diane Lang, “Happiness increases our levels of dopamine, which produces our learning abilities. It helps us learn better and more efficiently.” Therefore, making workers happy pays off in ways that add value to an organisation’s bottom line.
