What's Your Business's Competitive Advantage?

On a scale of one to 10, how happy are you right now? How well are you? How happy and well are your peers, your boss, and your team? Happiness and well-being are typically a subject we often confine to our personal lives. But it is time we include discussions on happiness and well-being in boardrooms and executive suites because it directly improves professional success and organizational success. 

Before you skeptically skip over the topic, I urge you to lean into the narrative. Why? Because when you prioritize well-being in the workplace, there is a direct correlation to business growth, improved morale and therefore, reduced turnover. 

Decoding Happiness & Well-being 

Happiness and well-being, you see, are holistic notions. They are about nourishing your spiritual, physical, intellectual, relational, and emotional wellness. It is a complete package, an all-encompassing synergy of your mind and body, relationships, and outlook on life. 

Think about it in the context of your organization. Your executives, leaders, managers, and associates – their happiness and well-being drive performance. A happy team is more productive, healthier, and more innovative. A positive disposition fosters creativity, spurring your brain to concoct fresh, unique ideas. 

Happiness improves relationships at work and in your personal life because these two lives are closely intertwined. Embrace happiness, and you will attract and retain top talent, shaping a successful and productive organization. 

Beyond Wellness Initiatives 

When we talk about happiness and well-being within organizations, we are not talking about mere wellness initiatives. It is not just about yoga sessions, meditation apps, half-day Fridays, or even providing healthy food options. 

The proposition here is about an organization-wide culture of well-being. It is about using positive psychology and neuroscience to understand, measure, and enhance human well-being at work. It is not about checking boxes or assigning tasks to the HR department. It is about everyone, including your executives, caring about well-being, and measuring it, just as you do for revenue projections or guest satisfaction scores. 

The Business Case for Happiness 

Why is happiness at work more than just a trending business fad? This information is confirmed with comprehensive studies, like the one by Oxford University and Indeed, involving over 1600 companies and millions of surveyed employees. Happiness and well-being yield tangible business benefits. When people are well, sales and revenue increase. Happy companies outperform their less joyous counterparts on the stock market. Satisfied customers predict a company's future performance. 

Moreover, high well-being in an organization fuels innovation. It prompts innovative ideas, helps capture a more significant market share, and beats competition. Happy employees translate into satisfied customers and improve talent recruitment and retention effectiveness. Happiness and well-being at work are linked to performance success. 

Consider what Deloitte is doing with Jen Fisher as their Human Sustainability Leader. Or consider Scandinavian CEOs prioritizing well-being and witnessing higher productivity. It is high time organizations, and individuals alike shoulder the responsibility of fostering well-being and happiness. 

The Time Is Now 

The United States is grappling with a loneliness epidemic, the impact of nonstop technology, and rising work stress levels. Fostering well-being and happiness is no longer a luxury but an essential business strategy. The time to act is now. The time to lead a happier organization is now. 

We must join the movement of cultivating happiness, be happy leaders, and create healthy work cultures. It is more than a business strategy; it is a positive revolution our world urgently needs. 

As a leader, I encourage you to engage with this notion of holistic well-being. Extend your interest to improve well-being in the workplace and consider investing in happiness-led initiatives. Advocate for a happier, healthier workplace.

The future of work is here, and it is time we prioritize our team's well-being for business growth and success Contact Tia today to learn more ways you can implement well-being in the workplace. 

Tia Graham is an international speaker, best-selling author, and consultant on positive psychology and engagement. She has worked with dozens of global companies, such as Marriott Hotels, Hewlett Packard, and Kashi Foods, to elevate employee engagement and drive bottom-line results. Prior to founding her company, Arrive at Happy, she led teams at luxury hotels in the United States and Europe for brands such as W Hotels, Westin, and The London.   

With multiple certifications in neuroscience, positive psychology, and employee retention, and over 14 years of leadership experience, Tia is widely regarded by business leaders in her field. Her insights have been featured in major media, such as CNN, Forbes, and Fast Company, to name a few. Her new book, Be a Happy Leader, teaches her proprietary 8-step methodology on driving productivity and business growth through a culture of happiness.