Employee Happiness: The Secret Productivity Hack

It's no secret that when people are happy, they will give as much of their effort as they possibly can, and there isn't any other place that this applies to more than the business world. As someone in a managerial role of any company, it's important to keep everyone happy. This can be avoided by having effective communication, a positive environment, and fun team-building activities that your employees will enjoy, among other things.

With all of that said, I've seen first-hand how productivity can decrease by a great margin if people are unhappy for any reason. If people aren't in the best of spirits, they won't be as motivated to do their absolute best, which not only hurts their individual productivity but will negatively affect your company as a whole. Here are some ideas that I would like to share with you in regard to what I like to call "the Secret Productivity Hack," and that's keeping your employees happy and in great spirits.

1. Team-Building Activities: Not only can they be fun, but team-building activities are great because they bring everyone closer together. For example, whether it's a catered lunch in-house or you all go out to a local establishment, small events like this can go a very long way in boosting employee morale, which will increase productivity for your business. Most team-building activities can be relatively inexpensive and can pay huge dividends for your business.
2. Offer A Flexible Work Schedule: According to a study by the Allen P. Sloan Foundation and Georgetown Law School, 80% of employees would love to have the option to have a flexible work schedule. Most employees would feel more at ease and motivated if they could still get their 40 hours in and meet all of their project deadlines without having to work a standard 9-to-5 shift each day. A little bit of flexibility can boost morale by quite a bit, and your company will see the overall productivity rise as a result of that.
3. Ask People For Their Feedback: This is perhaps the most important method of raising morale and overall productivity, one that I have personally seen take effect many times over the years. Ask your employees what they think. In some companies, employees can feel as if they're just a number, but asking your employees what they think about certain situations can make them feel more involved and thus make them feel more motivated to help the success of the overall company. People want to feel valued, and that's in your hands.
4. Allow Your Employees To Grow: This is another one that is a very glaring issue, and it's a reason why people aren't very happy working for most companies. Again, people don't want to feel like they're just a number. Your employees want to do better, and they want to succeed, so give them that opportunity. Reward those who work hard for you and your company by giving them new opportunities down the road. They'll thank you for it, and you will be glad that you did.

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Productivity and good morale are synonymous with one another. In what ways have you kept your employees happy in the past?