For many years, it was believed that a job was a function performed solely for the purpose of making a living, and personal happiness was entirely dependent on social life.
However, findings from a study conducted by the University Of Warwick show that when happiness is encouraged in the workplace, productivity levels can increase by 12%. When employees enjoy their jobs, numerous positive benefits can be realised by the business: people work more efficiently, are more open to new opportunities to learn and develop and build up a strong support networks.
Here are just some of the ways in which happiness can help in the workplace:
Happiness makes you healthier
The average person spends approximately 92,000 hours of their life working. Pursuing a job you enjoy can provide you with positive energy as well as confidence and motivation, helping you to succeed and grow.
Being happy can also lower your blood pressure and strengthen your immune system, resulting in fewer sick days.
Happiness inspires creativity
Creativity is no longer something reserved for traditional artistic industries. When you’re happy at work, you feel focused and comfortable, and ideas flow more freely. Idea generation is essential to innovation.
Promoting happiness in the workplace by facilitating opportunities to generate creative ideas – and rewarding them – provides great business advantages. Positive minds strive to complete tasks effectively and efficiently, which can lead to feeling valued and fulfilled through positive reinforcement.
Happiness is contagious
Happiness spreads throughout a company. The impact of this has beneficial effects, as a positive enthusiastic workplace environment encourages confidence, the opportunity for leadership, and happy employees to perform better.
Employees who take pride in their work make positive role models for their colleagues, and happiness can inspire ambition and drive.
Being happy provides a sense of purpose
We’re all working towards our personal career goals. It is important you do not feel unmotivated and under-appreciated in the workplace, as this can have a negative impact.
At Carbon60, our mission is to ensure we change the lives of our candidates for the better, by providing fulfilment and a sense of purpose to each individual within every job we place.
Happy employees stay with same business for longer
If you’re happy and satisfied with your job, you’re more likely to stay at the company for a long time, which can bring plenty of opportunities including promotion, long-lasting relationships between you and your key stakeholders and an increase in salary.
Happy employees communicate and collaborate more effectively
Good communication is an essential skill to practise with your employees in the workplace. Not only does this help to build friendships with your colleagues, it is also a great way to express and share ideas to increase creativity, and receive helpful feedback to ensure you’re fulfilled and gaining deserved recognition for your successes.
There are numerous ways that businesses and individuals can improve working conditions to promote happiness across a company. By highlighting these benefits to HR teams, office managers or line managers, you can be a champion for the importance of happiness in your workplace.
Even the smallest improvements can have enormous positive effects in the workplace, enough to make a difference to your happiness, your colleagues’ happiness and your businesses commercial performance.
For more tips and advice, visit Carbon60.