All things being equal, a business with happier staff will be more successful than a company with a dissatisfied team. It’s a simple fact. Numerous studies have been conducted over the years that show the direct correlation between a happy team and the productivity of your business. But creating a happy and productive environment is easier said than done. You can’t force your employees to smile and work hard, but there are a number of simple things you can do…

1.      Give them the tools to succeed
Nothing can hinder the productivity and happiness of your team quite like having a physical working environment that isn’t up to the job. A broadband connection that drops off for hours at a time, desktop computers that are painfully slow and software that doesn’t deliver the functionality required can all be causes of immense frustration for workers.

It’s not necessarily essential to have the latest high-end tech, as that can be beyond the budget of many smaller businesses, but it is important you have hardware and software that’s fit for purpose and allows your staff to work efficiently. If you lack the working capital to invest in tech, renting office equipment could be a cost-effective solution. With free repairs and upgrades sometimes included, it could help to reduce your costs, certainly over the shorter-term.

2.      Create individual development plans
Individual development plans are something many smaller businesses overlook that can have a marked impact on the productivity and happiness of your team. An individual development plan creates a formal pathway to enhance the personal and career development of employees and identifies areas for improvement that can help them reach their short-term and long-term goals. Ultimately, it shows employees that the business is invested in their future and that progression is within their reach, both of which are drivers for a happier, more engaged team.
   
3.      Make work/life balance a priority
The importance of a healthy work/life balance is acknowledged by many modern employers, but not all practice what they preach. Promoting a healthier work/life balance against the backdrop of a culture where working well beyond the contracted hours is the norm is not enough. Team members need to have a clear understanding of what they can do to improve their situation without the fear of being penalised.

Embracing flexitime, encouraging employees to work from home if they have a long commute and promoting health initiatives can all shift the work/life balance in the right direction and boost happiness and productivity.

4.      Recognise good work and give praise when it’s due
Feeling underappreciated and undervalued at work is the number one reason why people leave their jobs. No amount of benefits or vacation days will ever fill the hole that comes from a lack of recognition. Businesses spend huge amounts every year trying to keep their employees happy but consistently ignore one crucial thing – the leadership skills of their managers.

If you’re concerned about low morale or poor productivity, take a closer look at how your employees are being managed. Managers that take the credit for the work of their team and shameless self-promoters are all too common. If your managers do not recognise or praise the efforts of their team when it’s warranted then it’s time to develop their leadership skills or take them out of leadership roles altogether.  

With the cost of disengagement so high, creating a productive workplace environment will not only be beneficial to your employees but to your business as well. This is certainly not an exhaustive list of the potential techniques, but it is an excellent starting point for the new year ahead.