As a Leader, You Set the Tone

Creating a culture of happiness is not just a goal to shoot for once your company is growing and the money is flowing. By simply being open, honest and caring from the beginning, you can create a team that loves working together every day—even in times like these.

When your team is happy, employee turnover is low and customer satisfaction runs high. Together, this adds up to a happy bottom line. So, how do you achieve such a culture?

Check your attitude each morning, and make sure it’s optimistic. How about a big smile, or some genuine laughter? They’re both instant mood enhancers for everyone around you.

Also, treat your team like family. In his book, Thou Shall Prosper, Rabbi Daniel Lapin points out that God is pleased when we are consumed with the needs of others. That’s easy to understand as far as your family is concerned, but do you apply this principle to your team members?

Another one of the keys to keeping your team engaged and happy is by doing work that matters. It creates employees who work with passion, and feel a profound connection to their company. When you and your team play for something bigger than yourselves, everyone plays harder and smarter. Let them know what they’re doing is important, and share this idea with them as much as possible.

Finally, create a culture of communication. A lack of openness creates distrust, fear and anger. The result is employees who always think the worst, and are uninformed, instead of a team that’s united and knows what’s going on around them.

Always let your team know what’s going on, whether the news is good or bad. When in doubt, overshare!