Work happiness is more than enjoying the work you do. Work happiness is work that satisfies, excites, excites and motivates you. Some of this happiness lies with yourself, but much of it lies in the hands of the organization, manager and team you work in. Below we have 8 facts you didn't already know about job happiness. Want to get started with these facts? Then read on below the infographic, we'll give you a hand!
1. Engagement = job happiness
Dutch are the least engaged workers in Western Europe
We, the Dutch, love to complain. And this is reflected in the number of engaged employees within the Netherlands. We are, together with France, at the very bottom of the list. Gallup research shows that engaged employees perform better. The same research shows that managers are 70% responsible for this engagement. Engaged employees stand out because of the extra effort they are constantly willing to make. Running just a little bit harder or further and working with passion. Despite this, engaged employees are rare. Only 13% of the world's working population is engaged. So most people go to work reluctantly.
Ultimately, what you want is for your employees to be inspired and engaged. Employees who love the work they do, but certainly with heart for the organization. Are they not involved? Then they will quickly leave your organization through the back door once they have found an organization that suits them better or has better conditions. With inspired and involved employees you can even save €282,459. Wondering how? We explain that in this article.
2. We are happy though!
76% of Dutch workers are satisfied with his/her work.
Despite the fact that the Dutch are the least engaged workers in Western Europe, we are the most satisfied with our work. Work happiness can come from many different aspects. However, research by Deloitte shows that the following five elements have the most influence on employee happiness at work:
- Meaningful work
- Support management
- Fantastic work environment
- The opportunity to grow
- Confidence in leadership
As an organization, you can facilitate this. Do you want employees who perform well? Then make sure the above elements are in order.
3. The key elements of job happiness
Meaningful work, supportive management, a great work environment, the opportunity to grow and confidence in leadership are the 5 key elements that influence employee job happiness .
Meaningful work
Functions have to make sense, and it's really important that the right people are in the right places. And that's really not easy. Especially with the entry of technology, this is becoming an increasing task. Despite this, it turns out that employees and organizations grow when employees are given more autonomy and decision-making power. Let them work in small teams, for example, which makes them feel more responsibility. They make decisions faster and can help each other better.
Support management
For leadership development, management is important. With our clients , we see that in organizations where clear goals are set, good coaching is provided and regular feedback is given, employees grow harder and are happier. A modern appraisal system can certainly contribute to this positivity. Old-fashioned appraisals often create anxiety, reduce performance and generate stress. It is management's job to develop, coach and help people.
Fantastic work environment
Since we spend an average of 90,000 hours of our lives working, it's important to have a great workplace. As an organization, do you want employees to feel more engaged in their work? Then provide a flexible, supportive and open work environment. Eating, exercising and playing are no longer just perks, they are essential elements to connect work to our lives.
Another element involved is the need for continuous recognition. Organizations with an employee reward system are more likely to be successful than those without one. There are even studies that prove that when you thank someone, for example, you release oxytocin. This is a hormone that makes people more relaxed and happier.
The opportunity to grow
The opportunity to grow is something that will become increasingly important in the coming years (especially for Millennials). Does an employee not feel like he/she can grow optimally? Then he/she will quickly look for something else. Learning opportunities, professional development and career advancement are one of the most important factors for employee satisfaction. Providing and facilitating growth opportunities and awareness of employee growth is crucial.
Confidence in leadership
It is important for an organization that all employees have a clear understanding of its vision, mission and goals, stand behind them and act accordingly. Great and inspiring goals that go beyond finances get people passionate and involved. In addition, transparency is extremely important. With the advent of technology, we are used to fast, open and transparency. So too in business.
4. Feedback = key to job happiness
Constructive feedback contributes to job happiness
Critical, constructive, ongoing feedback can contribute immensely to job happiness. Employees who receive regular feedback are three times more engaged than those who receive no feedback. And as we said earlier, more engagement is more job happiness.
To really work on personal growth and development, it is important for people to get feedback from different perspectives. Using a feedback app like Treams, you can ask for feedback from your colleagues with a few clicks of a button. In addition, an app makes it very easy to ask for 360-degree feedback . Think of feedback from customers or suppliers. A feedback tool helps you ask the right question. In addition, you can think carefully about what you want to ask.
5. Achieve goals!
The most (work) happy people are 30% more likely to achieve their goals.
Research shows that happiness leads to 12% more productivity. And when employees are more productive, they are more likely to achieve their goals. In contrast, it says that employees who are not happy are 10% less productive.
But to achieve goals, goals must first be set. After all, as human beings, we strive for success. We want to make a difference and be happy. But in order to want success, we need to know where we want to go. Set good goals. Setting great goals. Ambitious goals make you want to achieve them. Do set your own goal. Because pursuing a goal that you have not chosen and/or do not support does not contribute to job happiness. Have you set clear goals? Or do you have a BHAG , for example ?
6. Men versus women
Men are more likely to prefer practical factors of a job (such as salary, challenge in the work and sufficient days off). For women, social aspects (such as atmosphere, fun and good cooperation) are more important.
7. Learn and develop!
62% of the younger generation (up to age 40) consider training opportunities very important.
We are all too eager to feel that we are moving forward in our development. Ideally, we would like to be even better tomorrow than we are today. Therefore, it gives us a sense of happiness when we are given the opportunity to do so. When we feel that we work in an organization where we have no room to grow, we will lose interest and become bored. Growth certainly does not always have to be in the form of promotion. It can also be growth in breadth, that is, specializing in a particular field, for example. Being consciously engaged in personal development gives energy!
8. We ♥ coffee
Dutch employees would rather have good coffee (24%) than a company car (19%).
Do we need to say anything more about this? Seems obvious to us: coffee is super important!