high well-being are 59 percent less likely to look for a job with a different organization in the next 12 months. Those employees are also more likely to report“ excellent” performance in their own work as well as their organizations. Today’ s employees would rather have a job that nourishes their personal well-being instead of just contributing to the improvement of the bottom line. So ask yourself how are you nourishing your employees?
People are just like cars: they can’ t run on empty forever! People need to be refueled. Your employees cannot give what they don’ t have, so if you want them to be spreading joy, you need to make sure their joy tanks are overflowing. Here are some ways you can nourish and refuel your employees:
l Development Opportunities: When you invest in your employees through development opportunities you are ensuring that they never feel like they’ ve reached a dead end. These opportunities will also let them know that you have an interest in helping them fulfill their potential and continue to grow. Growth doesn’ t always need to mean being promoted, but rather that they are expanding their contribution to the team, the organization, their customers and to their own lives.
l Mental Health Breaks: Ensuring that people take time away from work, whether it’ s a two-week vacation or a mid-day yoga break, is important. Even if people love their jobs, it is important to their well-being to enjoy regular breaks. Too much work often leads to stress and compromised health. Also, encourage employees to take minibreaks throughout the day. Studies have shown that we need breaks strategically between our work sessions in order to be as productive as possible. That means stepping away from the computer or taking a well-needed break off our feet. The length of the break isn’ t as important as just unplugging and allowing our minds to relax.
l Relationship Building: Two of Gallup’ s questions to determine the level of engagement an employee has are focused on relationships. It is important that leaders help create opportunities for social interactions and connections. It doesn’ t mean everyone has to be best friends and hang out every weekend together, but showing kindness, empathy and respect to each other can go a long way. Do people feel like someone cares about them as a person at work?
l Appreciation: This goes beyond just rewards and recognition. Do your employees feel validated and that their efforts are truly seen? Are you appreciating them in a way that resonates with them and is meaningful to them? Do not take it for granted that your employees know they are doing a good job. Go into work each day with an attitude of gratitude and seek to find the things that are going right, then point those things out. n
DAWN’ S 5 QUICK TIPS To Immediately Boost Your Personal Joy Level
1. Spend one minute meditating. Give your mind room to breathe and be.
2. Write down three new things you are grateful for.
3. Write down a joyful experience you have had in the last 24 hours.
4. Perform an intentional act of kindness to someone.
5. Read an inspiring and positive story or quote.
daWN KaisEr, Inspirational Speaker and Joy Refuler, encourages individuals to unleash the joy in their journeys. delivering more than 100 live events annually, dawn has become known for her inspirational ideas on leadership, joy, positive psychology, faith and much more. She delivers keynote speeches, seminars and virtual learning events using a heart-centered approach, engaging learning techniques and actionable content that energizes, encourages and equips individuals and organizations to flourish. dawn is a student of life and a teacher of living while also holding a Bachelor of Business and Master of Education. She is also a certified Human Resource Professional( PHR) and SHRM – cP.
March / April 2018 ■ PULSE 45