A happy workplace is a productive workplace.
We all want the best from our employees, and sometimes it may seem like squeezing every last minute out of them is the best thing for our company to grow. However, statistics have shown that regular breaks, encouragement and goals are a great way to get the most from your employees whilst making sure they are happy in their jobs.
We spend most of our waking lives at work so it makes sense to do something you love. This just isn’t possible for everyone and whilst your employees might only like their job, you can at least make them love their workplace by changing your approach.
Give equal time to everyone on your team
So you have a team of people working for you, they all want to talk to you about their projects and issues and you have your own work to do right? This is true and managing your own time is critical for your business to grow, but it is so important to make sure you listen to everyone on your team. Taking the time to open a dialogue about workload and recent achievements in the workplace can go a long way.
It’s easy to overlook the people you trust the most and this can lead to them feeling undervalued or ignored.
Including your team in important decision making, strategy and simply listening will improve performance, trust and overall happiness. Remember that two of the most basic human desires are appreciation and validation.
Allow proper breaks
Recent studies have shown that most people slump at some point in the day, but regular breaks can massively improve productivity. When you are working to a deadline it seems like staying glued to your screen is the best way to tackle your workload, but skipping breaks increases stress and it eats away at your energy reserves. This, in turn, makes you less productive and less creative.
Encouraging employees to get outside and do some mental or physical activity like walking may be the best way to boost productivity. Taking your team for lunch can be a great way to get people out of the office, but it’s important to remember that forced interaction can increase stress levels. Sometimes people just need to take a break.
Always try an be aware of an employees individual needs. Some people may be working on a project that needs a lot of team collaboration, for others it may be more beneficial for them to have the option of working from home.
Mindfulness Activities like Yoga and Meditation
Yoga and Meditation have been making their way into the workplace for some time now. It is widely recognised that these mindful activities boost cognitive function as well as bringing your team closer together. Both meditation and yoga are good for depression, mental health issues and stress.
Big Tech companies like Google, Apple & Twitter are backing the benefits of mindfulness in the workplace. Employers are increasingly aware that their employees spend most of their life at work and they want them to enjoy that time. Creating the space that people need within the workplace is a great way to offer support in an increasingly busy and overwhelming world.
Summary
To get the most from your employees it is important that you listen. Listen to their frustrations, listen to how they are feeling, be aware of any changes in their life. Long gone is the mantra “Keep your personal problems out of the workplace”. People aren’t robots and their personal life will affect their work from time to time, it’s knowing how to deal with this that will set you apart from the rest.
Allow them to take breaks, reward them with your time, make sure you know your team.
And if you are still struggling to keep everyone happy, maybe just take them for a pint!
