International Week of Happiness at Work

Happiness at work should be a top priority for all organisations. When employees are happy at work, they are better parents, friends, neighbours – they are more likely to give to charity and do volunteering work. It’s also been shown that happy employees are more productive, flexible, resilient, and creative at work.

 

Happiness at work is a shared responsibility. Australians spend a whopping third of their life at work. Struggling with workplace relationships, or looking for small changes to keep improving as a colleague? We’ve compiled a list of proven ways to build positive relationships – and increase happiness – at work.

 

#1. Communicate, communicate, communicate. 

Like any relationship, communication is key.

Bringing an open and transparent attitude to work shows people you’re trustworthy and a valuable member of the team. As technology is part of the majority of workplaces, clear communication should exist across:

– Texts
– Emails
– Face-to-face chats
-Instant messaging software (e.g. Slack)
– Project management software (e.g. Asana, Trello)

Clear communication comes from clear expectations. Once you know what you need from someone, be clear and direct with your language to avoid miscommunication. The better you communicate, the stronger your workplace relationships will be.

Are you struggling with workplace-related mental health challenges? Find out how to talk to your boss about your mental health.

 

#2 Schedule a time to build relationships

There’s no rule that says you can’t speed up the process of building relationships. While relationships take time and grow organically, you can do your part by creating time specifically for team building.

This time could be scheduled during lunch, in the first 10 minutes of a meeting, or before you all head home at the end of the day. Time together is a crucial ingredient for positive relationships, with after work events and activities a common way to bond people and create quality time outside of normal duties.

 

#3 Stay Positive

Positivity is contagious.

Think about your own relationships in life, do the people you enjoy spending time with make you feel happy and uplifted? You can evoke these same feelings in your colleagues by coming to work happy and optimistic.

Whether it’s starting the day with a smile, encouraging a colleague with a mood-boosting compliment about their latest project, or motivating the team throughout the day – positivity adds energy to the workplace that’s impossible to ignore.

 

Click here to read the complete list of recommendations.

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