Most people feel unfilled in their jobs. In fact, according to Gallup, 85 percent of people are downright unhappy at work. To try to combat this, many employers turn to perks and activities such as team bowling events, office holiday parties and fancy coffee machines in the break room.

When COVID-19 hit, these traditional methods of boosting employee happiness went out the window. Without these options available, how can leaders infuse more happiness into the workplace? According to Alexander Kjerulf, one of the world’s leading experts on happiness at work, leaders can start by going back to the basics and focusing on what makes people truly happy at work: results and relationships.

In this issue of Promotional Consultant Today, we discuss Kjerulf’s advice for creating a happier workplace.

Results. Kjerulf notes that your sales reps are just like you: They want to show up every day and know that their work makes a difference. They want to know that their work is important. It’s also nice to receive appreciation from time to time.

As humans, we have a deep psychological need to control our environment, notes Kjerulf. If you work in a situation where you feel like you have no control or that your work does not matter, you end up feeling terrible. One important happiness booster is to give your team members a chance to accomplish something and make a difference. Forgo the foosball table in the breakroom in favor of more autonomy. Give your sales reps a chance to go after their goals on their own terms and get those confidence-boosting results along the way.

Relationships. Regardless of where your team works, you spend a significant amount of time together. Between team meetings, one-on-one calls, and emails, you invest a good portion of your workweek with your colleagues, sales reps, customers and suppliers.

To boost happiness at work, Kjerulf says leaders must allow their team members an opportunity to do great work with great people. Here are a few ways to accomplish this:

Online stand-up meetings. Does your team work remotely? Kick off the workday with a short stand-up meeting that allows employees to check in, coordinate work and share what they are working on. It’s a simple way to boost happiness because it helps employees feel connected and part of a bigger team.

Online lunches. Even though you can’t have an impromptu lunch date when everyone gets hungry for tacos, you can still schedule an online lunch break for you and your team to relax and enjoy a meal together virtually.

Regular check-ins. If you do not regularly see your sales reps, Kjerulf recommends scheduling regular brief meetings so you can get a sense of how they are doing.

Online kudos. When someone on your team exceeds their goal, closes a big account they had been pursuing or hits an important milestone, take time to offer your congratulations. You don’t have to be face-to-face to ensure your sales reps feel seen and appreciated.

Employee happiness comes down to so much more than free treats at the office and an occasional team-building event. To bring more joy to your team, focus on results and relationships.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: Alexander Kjerulf is the founder and Chief Happiness Officer of Woohoo, Inc. and one of the world’s leading experts on happiness at work. He is an author and speaker, presenting and conducting workshops on happiness at work at businesses and conferences in almost 50 countries.