A happy workplace: Ten tips for managers

Post date: Mar 11, 2013 5:29:03 PM

If you want to work in a more productive environment where staff are more creative, happier and healthier, then you may be interested in some of the key messages from positive psychology and the science of happiness.

Ten tips for managers

1. Infuse positivity into your surroundings, lead by example and show that you value positive interactions in teams (Achor, 2011).
2. 'Manage By Walking Around' (Achor, 2011, p.194) – talk to staff face to face.
3. Encourage informal chatting . Positive interactions improve mood and are effective stress-busters (Achor, 2011).
4. Strive for positive relationships:

'It seems a bad relationship with your boss can be as bad for you as a steady diet of fried foods – and not nearly as much fun.' (Achor, 2011, p.188).

1. Listen, praise generously and focus on strengths not weaknesses (Fredrickson, 2009; Achor, 2011).
2. Recognise stress and see it as part of your job to alleviate it, even if stresses are outside work (Dewe & Kompier, 2008). It helps enormously if staff feel valued, appreciated and listened to.
3. Help staff 'recraft' their jobs to increase opportunities for them to 'engage'. Help them adapt their work so that they can experience satisfaction and 'flow' (ILM, 2013; Achor, 2011; Seligman, 2003).
4. Recognise the value of negativity in team members as well as positivity – it can be realism! As long as people listen, connect, and work though ideas in a positive and respectful way the team will function effectively (Fredrickson, 2009).
5. Be as flexible as you can and allow staff as much autonomy and control as possible – when you trust your staff to do their job, they will reward your trust (Dewe & Kompier, 2008; ILM, 2013).
6. 'Recraft' your own work so that you can use your strengths every day, 'engage' more fully, and experience complete absorption, known as 'flow' (Csikszentmihalyi in Seligman, 2003; Achor, 2011).

Read the full article here https://sites.google.com/site/howaboutwellbeing/about-me/abetterwayapplyingthescienceofhappinessinthefesector

References

Achor, S. (2011) The Happiness Advantage. (UK) Random House: Virgin Books.

Action for Happiness (2012) New year resolutions to make your workplace happier [Online accessed 8-2-13 at http://www.actionforhappiness.org/news/new-year-resolution-to-make-your-workplace-happier

Csikszentmihalyi M. (1990) in Seligman, M.E.P. (2003) Authentic Happiness. New York: Nelson Thornes.

Dewe, P. and Kompier, M (2008) Foresight Mental Capital and Wellbeing Project. Wellbeing and Work: Future Challenges. London: The Government Office for Science.

Fredrickson, B. (2009) Positivity. Oxford: Oneworld Publications.[2011]

ILM (2013) The Pursuit of Happiness: positivity and performance among UK managers. London: ILM.

Layard, R. (2005) Happiness: Lessons from a new science. London: Penguin.

Seligman, M. E. P. (2003) Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfilment. London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing