Things that DON’T make unhappy employees happier

Things that DON’T make unhappy employees happier

More money
More celebrations
More time off
Less “boring” work

Ironically, and totally frustratingly they actually make things worse as each insensitive serves to confirm that the work is ‘bad’ and the rewards are there to compensate for the suffering.

Which creates greater levels of unhappiness and stress.

People work less hard, feel entitled to even more, become more stressed for lesser causal factors, avoid working more even when the circumstances require it, procrastinate and resist responsibility, start hating their jobs.

All totally unconsciously.

Then, when asked in happiness surveys they point to things like a lack of money or work pressure as the REASON they are unhappy thus re-enforcing the loop.

Not because they are blind but because this is how the brain works.

None of this is to say that money, celebration and time off are bad just that as a means to counter stress or unhappiness (same thing) they not only don’t work, they make matters worse.

So what does work?

1. An aligned personal and company mission that matters.

2. Connectedness - where each individual feels equally valued and heard.

3. Competence - where each individual knows their role and is seeking mastery in it.

4. Autonomy - where each individual is allowed to do it their way.

How do your staff happiness survey results look?

It’s not a perks problem, it’s a process problem.


Ps If you found this post thought provoking and you like that then give my hashtag a follow hashtag#Edcoach and find all my posts.

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