Sometimes the word “Happy” can take on a few different meanings depending on the environment. This word can describe everything from your Disney vacation to your wedding day… from your kid hitting his first little league ball to the feeling you get when Starbucks still has cold brew… “Ah, Happy.”
Oftentimes the idea of “happiness in the workplace” can be confusing because it seems so subjective. One team member may find happiness in a project completed while another may find happiness in a meeting not lasting 3 hours. Even with this in mind, I think there are some clear qualifiers to what causes a team member and more importantly, a team, to be happy:
1. Ownership:
The ability to have control over your own destiny. Does your team have adequate decision making power? Do they understand the parameters of the project (their role) enough to RUN! There’s not much more frustrating than having to stop your momentum because you need mid-level approval on every task. General Stan McChrystal refers to this as “Empowered Execution”.
Leaders should set clear objectives and expectations from the beginning. Let your team run from there while having appropriate levels of pre-determined check-ins.
2. Development:
Some people are wired to complete the same tasks repeatedly with no change in site. Most are not. High level leaders (worth keeping) are definitely not. High level people want to know that they’re improving and getting better at something. Resource your team to help that growth take place, it will benefit everybody. Books, Online courses, conferences, coaching calls, sitting in a higher level meeting, etc…
3. Purpose:
“Am I serving something bigger than myself?” is a common internal question for leaders. Yes, some people are just concerned about their paycheck and their personal agendas. Leaders you want to work with for the long term, are not. They want to serve a greater cause, especially Millennials and iGen. As Leaders we envision and paint the picture of what is in the distance.
Should a sense of happiness be common place with a healthy team? Yes. Does happiness effect the culture and productivity of your team? You better believe it…
David Goochee
David is the co-founder and managing partner of Redwoods Leadership Group - a boutique training and development company specializing in growing healthy leaders and teams.