Organizational Psychology is responsible for studying the ways in which companies can adopt policies to not only obtain short-term benefits with the resources available, but also make staff members feel satisfied with their jobs and make it possible for the project to be sustainable in the medium and long term, without depending on the constant entry and exit of workers.
And the times when the pay at the end of the month was seen as the only incentive that companies had to give their workers are now a thing of the past; Today we know that it is a serious mistake to see employees as robots who work in exchange for money. Although work is not life, it is a very important part of it, and that is why it is necessary for organizations to adapt to the needs, interests and concerns of their members… Which It involves helping them be happy and ensuring their mental health
10 keys that every company should consider to keep its workers happy
No company should aim to make all its workers happy at all times, partly because that is impossible, and partly because doing so would involve inappropriately intruding into the private lives of staff members. However, it is reasonable to design forms of organization and creation of work spaces that make it easy for workers to achieve happiness on their own.
In this sense, there are currently some general guidelines and advice that companies can follow to help create a better work environment and promote work dynamics that do not leave aside the emotional side of workers, promoting their self-realization and satisfaction of vital goals.
1. Promote family conciliation
One of the main areas that intervene most decisively in the happiness of an employee is family conciliation, that is, the set of strategies and measures that enable a balance between their professional life and their private life, especially if you have family members to take care of or with whom to share tasks and responsibilities
This conciliation can be achieved in multiple ways with the aim of improving the well-being of the employee, and all of them involve creating work plans that allow flexible hours or modification of the sections of the work calendar, as well as shift changes. and teleworking.
Professionals in work psychology and organizations agree that workers who enjoy a greater degree of family conciliation in their jobs They present a higher level of happiness and also greater productivity in the medium and long term because they see the company as a means that provides them stability and does not clash with their most fundamental priorities.
2. Offer more flexible communication channels
Efficient communication between company members and between superiors and subordinates is essential both for the proper functioning of the organization and for the work self-fulfillment of its employees.
That is why one of the essential tasks of the company or organization of any type is to facilitate flexible communication channels at all times (not only from top to bottom). so that each worker can freely communicate everything they need, both in the work and personal spheres
3. Organize group revitalization events
The work context does not have to provide only situations in which effort and time must be applied to achieve goals in terms of productivity. It can also be a place to recognize that it is a social environment where fun and friendship take place. Companies that focus more decisively on organizing all types of fun and festive events for their employees tend to have higher levels of happiness and satisfaction in their workforce.
This type of activities focused on employees’ leisure and not necessarily on work production contributes significantly to strengthening group cohesion and greatly helps to disconnect from work and have a good time with coworkers, which It means that the concept of “the company where I work” is not linked solely to ideas such as “stress”, “effort”, etc
Some of these leisure activities or events may be sports tournaments for employees, theme parties, relaxation activities, escape rooms, outdoor retreats or leisure activities. Team Building in general.
4. Appreciate a job well done
Appreciating work well done on a frequent basis contributes decisively to increasing well-being in the company and is as important as pointing out specific mistakes or errors that an employee may make.
Give thanks when a good job has been done, congratulate when the performance is adequate and exceeds the minimum required and even celebrate collective achievements It is one of the best and most efficient ways to increase self-esteem and the ability to give meaning to work, and therefore levels of happiness.
5. Train in emotional management strategies
The training of the worker in various key areas is very useful for their future professional activity, since we are providing them with strategies and tools that they can use whenever they encounter any type of difficulty.
One of these essential areas is emotional management and stress management learning that can be done in a simple and effective way through all types of courses taught by psychologists and professionals specialized in the effective management of emotions.
In short, it can be said that a worker who knows how to correctly manage his negative emotions and stress levels will be a more satisfied worker with himself and with higher levels of happiness in his job.
6. Train in time management
Time management is also an essential skill in any job that many employees have.
In those cases where you do not have time management skills, you can also go to a wide variety of workshops, courses or talks to train time management in the person, as well as to improve performance.
And good performance in time management and productivity benefits both the company and the worker, and contributes to increasing the happiness of the employee in question.
7. Listen to your employees at all times
Active listening by the managers and managers of an organization aimed at their subordinates and employees is essential to achieve an optimal level of satisfaction on both sides.
Listening to employees means taking their opinions into account, acceding to their demands as far as possible and take into account each of their difficulties or needs whenever they exist.
8. Delegate and set clear objectives
By delegating important tasks to other employees we help increase their responsibility, a fact that often positively influences their self-esteem and their levels of happiness in the company.
Both the habit of delegating and setting clear objectives serve to ensure that the employee is motivated in a sustained manner over time and always has important work objectives to meet in his or her professional horizon. without suffering the uncertainty of whether you are really providing the type of work that the company needs
9. Don’t focus everything on monetary incentives
Although work incentives should be the main ones in any company, there are also other non-monetary objectives that we can put into practice in our organization, to keep our employees motivated and satisfied
Some of the most common non-monetary work incentives are training courses, Team Buildingobtaining medals and other symbolic recognitions, leisure spaces in the office or service incentives (such as daycare services or food service in the company), etc.
10. Take care of the ergonomic aspects of the workspace
Take care that the facilities and work materials are comfortable and adapt to the worker physically It is another of the tasks that we can carry out to improve employee happiness.
Having facilities in good condition is essential for the correct functioning of a company, and some of the work materials and facilities that we must take into account in a special way are chairs and tables, lighting, office temperature, hygiene , air circulation, etc.
- You may be interested: “Ergonomics: what it is and what are its 4 types and functions”
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