Tag Archive for: happiness

From Stress to Success: Educating Companies for Happiness

In the hustle and bustle of modern corporate life, stress has become an ever-present companion for many employees. The demands of deadlines, targets, and the constant pressure to perform can create a toxic environment that not only affects individual well-being but also hampers organizational success. However, amidst this chaos, a paradigm shift is underway – one that emphasizes the importance of prioritizing happiness in the workplace. Educating companies on fostering happiness among their employees isn’t just a feel-good initiative; it’s a strategic imperative for sustained success.

Understanding the Problem

Stress in the workplace is a significant concern, with implications that ripple through every aspect of a business. From decreased productivity and increased absenteeism to high turnover rates and diminished employee engagement, the repercussions of unchecked stress are profound. Moreover, in today’s hyper-connected world, where burnout culture is prevalent, the issue has reached alarming levels: The American Institute of Stress (AIS) in their 2022 survey reported that 83% of workers suffer from work-related stress. Enough said as I believe we all know the consequences.

The Business Case for Happiness

Contrary to the traditional belief that success leads to happiness, research suggests the opposite: happiness fuels success. Happy employees are more productive, creative and resilient. They collaborate better, exhibit higher levels of loyalty and contribute positively to the overall work environment. Consequently, organizations that prioritize employee well-being tend to outperform their counterparts in terms of profitability and innovation.

Cultivating a Happy Workplace Culture

Most people view corporate happiness as the sole responsibility of a company, but in reality,it is a shared responsibility that involves everyone.

Creating a culture of happiness requires a concerted effort from leadership, HR departments, and employees alike. It begins with fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered and this can also be done from bottom-up. Flexible work arrangements, opportunities for personal and professional development, and initiatives promoting work-life balance are instrumental in nurturing employee happiness. Moreover, promoting open communication channels, providing constructive feedback, and recognizing achievements are vital components of a positive workplace culture. 

It is not what a company gives, it is how it makes people feel: When employees feel heard, appreciated and connected to the organization’s mission, they are more likely to experience job happiness and derive meaning from their work.

Educating Companies for Happiness

I firmly believe that Positive Education holds the transformative power to change the world. While companies may offer numerous perks, without addressing the fundamental shift in mindset, these benefits lose their impact.

To embark on the journey from stress to success, companies must prioritize education and training initiatives aimed at promoting happiness in the workplace. On one hand, it is crucial to understand the modern causes of individual unhappiness and learn how to address them effectively. This is because collective well-being reflects each person’s individual state. If one employee is struggling, it can negatively impact the entire team. Therefore, teaching Positive Psychology to employees is paramount so that change starts within. Additionally, workshops on mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and work-life balance can empower employees to take ownership of their well-being, enabling them to thrive in both their personal and professional lives.

On the other hand, raising awareness about the detrimental effects of stress, debunking myths about productivity and overwork, providing resources for stress management and resilience, alongside leadership training are essential steps. Speaking of Leadership, a not-so-fun fact is that 58% of managers said they never received any management training – this is reported by Harvard Business Review and I suspect that this number is much higher. Another study, conducted by Grovo, reveals that 98% of managers believe managers at their company need more training.

Leadership training programs are essential to equip managers with the skills to lead with empathy, foster psychological safety, and create a culture of trust and collaboration. As the world evolves, so do the needs and values of employees. As leaders, it’s imperative that we adapt and follow through accordingly if we aim to attract top talent.

Measuring Success

While the intangible nature of happiness may pose challenges in terms of measurement, it is essential for companies to adopt metrics that gauge employee satisfaction, engagement, and overall well-being. Regular, even weekly, employee surveys, comprehensive feedback mechanisms, and thorough exit interviews can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of happiness initiatives and pinpoint areas for improvement.

A common mistake I observe in companies is focusing solely on external metrics, overlooking the importance of measuring internal factors such as happiness, emotions, thoughts, and beliefs among employees. Furthermore, monitoring key performance indicators such as productivity, absenteeism rates, and turnover can help establish a correlation between employee happiness and organizational outcomes. 

However, effective tracking requires a strategic plan. The adage “fail to plan, plan to fail” holds true. Many businesses have comprehensive plans for marketing, finance, operations, and executive functions, yet they often lack a dedicated business plan for people. Without an organizational happiness strategy, tracking progress and achieving meaningful improvements becomes nearly impossible. By doing one, diagnosing the pain points, acting on them, and setting clear benchmarks and goals, companies can track progress, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to continuously enhance the workplace experience.

In an era where the well-being of employees is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of organizational success, educating companies about happiness has never been more critical. Through proactive education, cultivation of a positive workplace culture, and strategic measurement of outcomes, companies can transform stress into an opportunity for growth, resilience, and sustained prosperity.

By prioritizing employee happiness, organizations can create a virtuous cycle where success breeds happiness, and happiness, in turn, fuels success.

By Madalena Carey,
Founder & CEO of Happiness Business School

Traditionally, ergonomics has been linked to studying posture, handling materials, and preventing musculoskeletal injuries. However, its scope is now known to be wider and holistic, including cognitive and organizational aspects as well.


Cognitive ergonomics looks into how mental effort, reasoning, and concentration affect employee performance, while organizational ergonomics explores broader factors like human resources management and company culture, with all of them directly impacting employee’s engagement.

Actually, employee engagement is crucial for organizational success. Research shows a strong link between engagement, productivity, and employee well-being. Investing in ergonomics doesn’t just improve physical comfort but also boosts engagement levels. This creates a positive cycle of productivity and satisfaction. Building a culture that values well-being, ergonomic design, work-life balance, and employee recognition can boost engagement and propel organizational success.

Taking Blip, a leading technology company in Porto, as an example, actions to promote cognitive and organizational dimensions hold structural importance throughout its operation. Besides rejecting a one-size-fits-all approach, the company encourages the development of internal communities, such as football, pilates, yoga, surfing, padel, enology, climbing or motorcycling, among many others. Through these diverse communities, not only does Blip facilitate more effective and differentiated onboarding for new employees, but it also enables them to integrate with groups sharing common interests and forging stronger bonds with their peers. While some of these communities focus more on the physical dimension, others are pretty focused on social gathering, but all of them are at the cornerstone of the cognitive dimension.

A good example of promoting a better workspace environment is to offer working areas designed to accommodate both collaborative and individual tasks. While some may prefer working amidst the chaos, others with a more introverted profile may prefer a more secluded space, so offering both appears to be a positive thing at Blip. Therefore, and because we’re all different, providing options is important because people look for different things and environments when at work. Initiatives like massage rooms, nap rooms, relaxation areas, gaming spaces, pet-friendly policies, or providing a team budget for teambuildings reflect Blip’s commitment to addressing the physical, cognitive, and organizational dimensions of ergonomics. These practices contribute to increased engagement and foster a happier and more balanced work environment.

In an era where remote work is increasingly prevalent, applying these principles becomes even more relevant as work environments extend beyond physical office spaces.

Wouldn’t everyone want to work for a company like that? Talent is the most valuable asset of modern companies, so we must create sustainable environments where everyone feel valued and happy.

In a nutshell, ergonomics embodies a comprehensive approach to workplace design that prioritises employee well-being and productivity. By addressing physical, cognitive, and organizational aspects, organizations can create environments that promote employee health, engagement, and overall job satisfaction and well-being. As we navigate the complexities of the modern workplace, a holistic approach to ergonomics emerges as a cornerstone of organizational success in fostering resilient and high-performing teams.


By Diogo Cruz, Workspace Cluster Lead of Flutter & Leadership Team member of Blip

Welcome to the ultimate guide to boosting your confidence and cultivating unshakable self-esteem! In this delightful journey through the realms of science and humor, we’ll uncover the secrets to standing tall, striding confidently, and embracing your inner superstar. So buckle up, grab your favorite cup of optimism, and let’s embark on this enlightening journey together.

Now, picture this: You stand on the gate of a new opportunity, your heart filled with excitement and anticipation. But as you take that first step forward, a wave of doubt washes over you, threatening to pull you under. Sounds familiar? Fear not, for you are not alone. We’ve all felt the icy grip of self-doubt at some point in our journey.

But here’s the kicker – confidence isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you build, brick by brick, like a metaphorical LEGO castle of awesomeness. And the best part? You already possess all the tools you need to construct it from within.

So, how do we go about this grand construction project, you ask? No worries, I have thought up a series of delightfully entertaining, scientifically proven activities to amplify your self-esteem and leave you feeling more fabulous than a unicorn in a tutu.

Activity #1: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Ah, the humble mirror – not just a tool for perfecting your selfie game, but also a powerful weapon in the battle against self-doubt. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to stand in front of a mirror and shower yourself with compliments. Go on, don’t be shy! Tell yourself how fabulous you look today, or how you absolutely nailed that presentation last week.

Activity #2: The Power of Positive Affirmations

Repeat after me: “I am a confident, capable individual who can tackle any challenge that comes my way.” Now say it like you mean it! Positive affirmations may sound cheesy, but trust me, they’re like little love notes to your subconscious mind. Stick them on your bathroom mirror, plaster them all over your workspace, heck, you can even shout them from the rooftops if you’re feeling particularly adventurous today.

Activity #3: Embrace Your Inner Child

Remember when you were a carefree kid, dancing in the rain and chasing after butterflies with reckless abandon? Well, it’s time to channel that fearless spirit once again! Take some time out of your busy schedule to indulge in activities that bring you joy – whether it’s finger painting, building sandcastles, or belting out your favorite ’90s power ballads in the shower. Embracing your inner child is a surefire way to reconnect with your true essence and boost your self-esteem in the process.

Activity #4: Celebrate Your Wins, Big and Small

In the fast-paced whirlwind of life, it’s easy to overlook our achievements and milestones, no matter how small they may seem. But here’s the thing – every win, no matter how insignificant it may appear, deserves to be celebrated like Christmas. So grab a pen and a piece of paper, and start writing down your victories – from getting up early today to landing that dream job you’ve been eyeing for years. By acknowledging and celebrating your wins, you’ll not only boost your self-esteem but also cultivate a sense of gratitude for the incredible journey called life.

Activity #5: The Roller Coaster of Life

Think about your life as a roller coaster ride. There are ups and downs, twists and turns, moments of exhilaration and moments of fear. But here’s the thing – even when you’re hurtling downhill at breakneck speed, you have the power to embrace the thrill, throw your hands in the air, and scream with joy. Life is all about embracing the ride, embracing the uncertainty, and knowing that with each loop-the-loop, you’re becoming stronger, wiser, and more resilient.

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.'” – Mary Anne Radmacher

And there you have it, folks – the beginner’s guide to building unshakable self-esteem from within. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is self-esteem. So be patient with yourself, embrace the journey, and above all, never underestimate the power of a good belly laugh. After all, as the saying goes, “laughter is the best medicine” – and what better cure for self-doubt than a hearty dose of humor?

Until next time, stay confident, stay fabulous, and above all, stay true to yourself. After all, you’re awesome, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!

Yours,
Julia Halilovic
Founder and Coach @ The Happiness Coaching Lab

As CEO of Grupo Bernardo da Costa I am proud to have established Portugal’s first Happiness Department within our company. To me happiness transcends mere smiles; it is a profound concept that each individual strives to achieve in their lifetime, including in the workplace.

It’s commonly acknowledged that joy stems from various sources like family, friends, and financial stability. Yet happiness in the workplace isn’t often included in this list. Considering that we spend a third of our lives working, why shouldn’t our jobs also be a source of pleasure and contentment? In our company, happiness means having the openness to be heard. It’s not about everything being perfect all the time, but having the space to communicate when things aren’t going well. Happiness is about communication, authenticity, and being true to oneself.

Sofia Manso, who leads our Happiness Department, plays a crucial role in listening to and being there for our people.

The concept of organisational happiness at Grupo Bernardo da Costa revolves around creating an environment where employees feel valued and heard.

We believe that when employees are genuinely satisfied, they not only excel in their roles but also contribute to a positive, nurturing workplace culture.

This approach has led to numerous benefits, including increased productivity, lower turnover rates, and a stronger sense of community within the company. By prioritising employee well-being, we are fostering a culture where both personal and professional growth are encouraged.

Our commitment to happiness is built on the understanding that people are at the core of any business. At Grupo Bernardo da Costa we strive to ensure that every team member can find meaning and joy in their work. This is not just about providing perks or superficial benefits; it’s about deeply integrating happiness into the fabric of our organisational structure. Our focus on authentic happiness helps us attract top talent who are not just looking for a job but a place where they can truly belong and thrive.

In conclusion, the soul of a company lies in how it treats its people and the values it upholds. At Grupo Bernardo da Costa we view the happiness of our employees as a vital component of our success. By establishing the Happiness Department we have taken a significant step towards redefining what it means to be happy at work.

This initiative is not only enhancing our company’s productivity but also setting a standard for others in the industry to follow, proving that happiness in the workplace is not just a possibility but a vital part of a successful business model.

by Ricardo Costa, CEO of Grupo Bernardo da Costa

My experience at Heartcount has given me a deep appreciation for the profound significance of workplace happiness. Heartcount’s impact extended beyond our organization, catching the attention of Lionesa Hub and securing us an invitation to last year’s amazing Happiness camp. Imagine this: I stood at the forefront in Porto, engaging with like-minded individuals and exchanging insights on measuring workplace joy. It was a blast! But here’s the pivotal question: Can we truly measure it?

Believe it or not, we can!

Workplace happiness encompasses a spectrum of facets, including job satisfaction, work-life balance, employee engagement, a sense of purpose, relationships with management and colleagues, and more. However, the subjective nature of happiness presents a challenge. What brings joy to one employee might cause stress to another. Furthermore, employees may only sometimes express their genuine feelings due to concerns about consequences or a desire to present themselves positively. Thus, we must exercise caution when interpreting their feedback.

The key to obtaining authentic responses lies in collecting real-time data. This approach enables HR teams and company leadership to gain a comprehensive overview of individual and collective sentiment on a monthly or quarterly basis. Why does an organization’s focus on employee contentment matter? It ensures a lower turnover rate, higher retention, reduced burnout, and overall happier individuals!

A precise method of measurement involves gathering employee feedback through an automated tool. Its algorithm provides instant updates across several crucial areas, predicting and reflecting emotional exhaustion, motivation, engagement, and happiness. Moreover, it highlights individuals warranting attention, identifies areas of challenge, and pinpoints strengths and weaknesses within the organization. Real-time reports empower HR teams and management to optimize their efforts efficiently, resulting in timely decisions and elevated company success.
If you’re interested in delving into success stories from companies centered around their people, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I would love to share these stories with you.

/ by Milica Jovic, Heartcount

The most important success factor for a modern workplace is strategy or planning or business processes – it’s happiness!

Happy employees are not simply in a better mood, they also do a much better job. Studies from psychology and neurology have shown that people who experience positive emotions experience a number of benefits at work, including these:

  • They are more productive and work faster and more efficiently
  • They get sick less often and have  much lower absenteeism rates
  • They are more creative and have more and better ideas
  • They stay at the company longer saving huge efforts in recruiting new people
  • They sell more when in sales roles
  • They make the customers happy and more loyal to the company

All of this means that happy companies are more profitable and have higher growth rates and stock prices than the market average.

Why should this be? There are three main reasons why happy companies are more successful.

1: Happy organizations are more innovative

Harvard Professor Teresa M. Amabile’s research into how the work environment influences the motivation, creativity, and performance of individuals and teams shows that happy people are more creative:

If people are in a good mood on a given day, they’re more likely to have creative ideas that day, as well as the next day, even if we take into account their mood that next day.

There seems to be a cognitive process that gets set up when people are feeling good that leads to more flexible, fluent, and original thinking, and there’s actually a carryover, an incubation effect, to the next day.

The Gallup Management Journal agrees, and finds that,

59% of happy employees strongly agreed with the statement that their current job “brings out their most creative ideas,” compared with only 3% of unhappy employees.

So if innovation and creativity matter to your business, you need happy employees.

2: Happy people are more motivated

Every leader wants motivated employees. Every employee wants to be motivated. And yet we often see managers complaining that their employees are impossible to get going, and workers complaining that their managers don’t motivate them and don’t know what makes them tick.

It’s not the job of the manager to motivate employees. That is impossible. It’s a manager’s job to create a happy work environment in which employees are naturally motivated.

Think about it: How difficult must it be to motivate people who are dissatisfied, disappointed, distrustful, disengaged and unhappy at work. It’s an uphill battle all the way.

An article from Harvard Business School put it like this:

Most companies have it all wrong. They don’t have to motivate their employees. They have to stop demotivating them.

Happy employees need no external motivation—they motivate themselves and each other, and this internal motivation is both more efficient and more sustainable than the external motivation (such as rewards) that managers of unhappy employees must resort to.

If you want true motivation in the workplace, you must create a happy workplace. It’s that simple!

3: Happy employees deliver better customer service

A recent Harvard Business Review article entitled “Putting the Service-Profit Chain to Work” concluded that:

When companies put employees… first, their employees are satisfied, their customers are loyal, their profits increase, and their continued success is sustained.[1]

Good, genuine customer service comes only from happy employees. Unhappy employees can try to fake it, but it’ll be just that: Fake service.

The math is a little strange on this one: One happy employee can give ten customers a good experience. Ten unhappy employees can’t give one customer a good experience—what they can do is give 100 customers a bad experience.

So research clearly shows that companies should embrace happiness because it’s good for business. But there is one other, even more fundamental reason: Making people happy is good, making them unhappy is just plain wrong!

There are workplaces out there that run their people down, make them stressed and ill, destroy their sense of worth, are havens for bullies, and allow all kinds of harassment. Though it is rarely intentional, these workplaces still make their people unhappy, and mentally and physically ill.

I have no idea how leaders and managers of these businesses can live with themselves. They may hide behind the old argument that companies should only care about money—or, as Milton Friedman said it, “The business of business is business.” However, I hope I’ve convinced you that this is a false argument because happy businesses make more money.

There is no longer any excuse for tolerating an unhappy work environment, when it’s more profitable to create one that is inspiring, uplifting, healthy and happy—one that is good for people and good for business.


[1]   Source: http://hbr.org/2008/07/putting-the-service-profit-chain-to-work

No company can function at maximum efficiency when only half of its employees are motivated. A company is essentially comprised of its people.

But what compels them? What inspires them? What brings them joy? What discourages them from leaving?

Companies consistently require new hires who can enhance performance, which often entails a lengthy process and associated expenses.

What if we could evaluate an employee’s profile right from the beginning, during the selection and recruitment phase?

What if we could forecast and gauge the satisfaction levels of those who are already part of the organization?

What if we could anticipate the likelihood of an employee choosing to leave the organization voluntarily?

Yes, it is possible!

With our insights, you’ll have the ability to attract and retain top-notch professionals, all while reducing costs for the company.

When we emphasize the importance of placing people at the centre of our business, humanizing human resources, and forging a robust connection between the company and its workforce, we’re referring to HXM Analytics – Human Experience Management Analytics.

HOW?

An expert analytics team has created models equipped with algorithms that analyse and correlate this wealth of data, allowing them to forecast multiple metrics, including happiness, engagement, and the probability of employee turnover, among various others. Employees are categorized into Personas, which are linked to their journey within the company, starting from the moment they onboard.

Through the integration of analytical models within the HXM database, one can compute the level of engagement and the likelihood of attrition based on different Personas. If this issue is prevalent among companies, HXM Analytics forms a component of the solution.

With the passage of time, motivations and behaviours may evolve. HXM Analytics is capable of analysing and forecasting these impending changes.

What if you could foresee your employees’ future?

Tomorrow might just become today.

About Milestone

Milestone presents a wide range of consulting services and technological solutions to support our clients’ digital transformation closely and effectively. We Build Relationships. We deliver Results.

Our mission is to create a positive impact for our customers and a better future for our employees through agility, innovation, and technology.  

Our vision is to be recognized as best-in-class by our customers and partners, allowing us to attract the best talent.  

We are experts in technology and knowledgeable about our customers’ businesses.  

It is a pleasure to be part of this great event at Happiness Camp in 2023!

PULSO EUROPE PORTUGAL, a specialized consultancy company in the field of well-being, is delighted to be present at this initiative of sharing, interaction, and exchange among positive, motivated, and energetic individuals.

Over the past years, we have been sharing this positive energy with our clients, who have appreciated our dynamism, joy, and engagement in promoting the well-being of their employees and family members.

We assist organizations in developing and implementing their strategies through quality growth, fostering healthy and dynamic organizations, and providing tools for mental health and well-being services.

We are a passionate team dedicated to serving organizations, with a mission to infuse the spirit of “passionate people” into our clients, thus making them “healthy organizations.” This is our motto:

PASSIONATE PEOPLE, HEALTHY ORGANIZATIONS

We take pride in making a difference in companies, helping them grow in a healthier way, and supporting them in reaching new levels of collective success!

By: Pulso

We believe people are part of nature and that they must therefore be part of the solution to tackle climate change and reverse the loss of biodiversity. At ANP|WWF, our mission is to build a future in which people and nature live in harmony.

That’s why, when Lionesa Business Hub challenged us to take part in the Happiness Camp, we didn’t think twice! We celebrate and respect diversity in nature and among the people and communities we work with every day for a healthier and fairer planet.

Happiness can be a difficult concept to explain, as it represents different things in each person’s life. But let’s face it: there is always unanimity when we talk about protected species and ecosystems. If we make our planet a happy place, people will be happy too!

At ANP|WWF we advocate a culture of well-being, respect, and integrity among all people. We are constantly looking for innovative ways to change mentalities, involving our team and all those who support us in our mission, and encouraging everyone to bring their whole selves to work on a daily basis.

Why do we do this? Because everything is interlinked with our nature conservation work: we want to live happily on a healthy planet!

Happy Jobs, Happy Sustainable Food, Happy Planet – is it possible to combine all these concepts into one? We believe so! Our motto for Happiness Camp 2023 will be sustainable food and the benefits it brings to people and the planet.

Will you accept the challenge?

By: ANP | WWF

Make it Happy is the tagline of the Happy Awards®️.
Moreover, make it happy is part of ConsumerChoice’s DNA, the promoter of this happiness evaluation system. With a unique methodology, scrutinises the satisfaction of organisations’ employees, customers and suppliers and provides them with a set of data to be used strategically across leadership.

We want to invite you to enter the amazing world of the Happy Awards®️
Are you ready? 
Important note: this is aimed for the brave ones only and for those who genuinely want to bring happiness to their employees, their customers and their suppliers, since no one can be left behind when evaluating the happiness of an organization. An organization or a company does not live independently from its stakeholders. We see an organization as a whole. How can an entity be considered happy, when its suppliers are not happy for example due to continuous delays in payment deadlines? This is just an example of what can come up in the preparation process for the Happy Awards®️.
Trust us, entering the world of the Happy Awards is an amazing trip and a unique experience into the dungeons of your organisation. An opportunity of a seamless self-analysis and a chance to really become aware of what you are doing well and what you can still improve. 

We ask you again: are you ready?
In case your company joins the amazing world of the Happy Awards®️, you will go through a reliable and breakthrough evaluation process. 
That’s what happened to the winners of the first edition: RE/MAX, Alberto Oculista, A Casa das Casas, Pinto Lopes Viagens, Associação Salvador and Zome, whose stakeholders are extremely happy (average of 5 on a scale from 1 to 5). 

The outputs of this study are outstanding and of great value for different departments within the organization. We evaluate not only the happiness and satisfaction of your employees, customers and suppliers. 
We go further: we scrutinise the importance of each evaluation parameter and you can realize, for instance, that people are not satisfied with their salary package, but also that this fact is not of great importance. Intriguing, right? Maybe they prefer the company to  invest in emotional salary rather than in increasing the wages… 😉 
We go even further when evaluating the happiness of the employees, we focus on the 3 dimensions of happiness: individual, the team and in the organisation.

So, are you making it happy? 
If yes, contact us: www.happy-awards.com

Teresa Preta
Managing Director, ConsumerChoice

Teresa Preta
Managing Director, ConsumerChoice