Twelve Tips to Create a Happier (and More Productive) Workplace.

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.
This Wednesday: 12 tips to create a happier (and more productive) workplace.

I just finished First, Break All the Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman. I’d heard about it for years, but I didn’t actually pick up a copy until a smart friend told me to read it.

The authors did a study with the Gallup Organization to find a way, among other things, to measure strong workplaces, ones that would attract and retain the most productive employees.

They came up with a list of twelve questions, where, if employees answered “yes” and were happier in their workplaces, they tended to work in business units with higher levels of productivity, profit, retention, and customer satisfaction – which shows that there is a link between how employees feel and how they perform.

This is a good list to use if you’re a manager who wants to create a happier and more productive work environment, or if you’re a job seeker/holder who wants criteria by which to judge a workplace.

Also, if you’re not happy at work, and you’re trying to Identify the problem, take a look at this list. It suggests strategies for improving your situation. Not everything is within your control, of course, but perhaps you could identify for your boss what you need to change #2 from “no” to “yes” or to shift responsibilities so you get #3. Or can you make an effort to gain #10?

1. Do I know what is expected of me at work?
2. Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right?
3. At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day?
4. In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for doing good work?
5. Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person?
6. Is there someone at work who encourages my development?
7. At work, do my opinions seem to count?
8. Does the mission/purpose of my company make me feel like my work is important?
9. Are my co-workers committed to doing quality work?
10. Do I have a best friend at work? [But don’t have an office affair!]
11. In the last six months, have I talked with someone about my progress?
12. This last year, have I had opportunities at work to learn and grow?

The first six questions have the strongest links to business outcomes (productivity, profitability, retention, and customer satisfaction).

I was also interested to see that the study suggested that people’s opinions of their workplaces are more determined by their immediate manager than by the overall company. It was their direct manager – not money, benefits, perks, or a charismatic leader at the top – that was the critical element for people.

* I always find something interesting to read at The Art of Non-Conformity.

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Comments

[Positively Present]

Great list for thinking about happiness at work. I'm looking forward to answering these questions in detail for myself and seeing what I can do to improve my workplace happiness.

[Liz]

My employers ask us these very questions every year. They have all sorts of "well done" rewards ranging from a postcard to a trip to Disney.

[Stacey]

Too many employers forget its about being valued. Money is fine, but if you don't feel respected or appreciated....

[Stephan F-]

Looking back, I can say the worst jobs I've every had answered no to almost all of them. I always do #12 whether they like it or not..

The worst job I ever had even had negative praise. Not criticism, but actual praise that make me feel worse afterwards. I only lasted 100 days there. And I had one lady ask me how I did it without crying. I told her that I didn't feel anything any more.

It is better now mostly but still a long way to go.

[David Turnbull]

I guess this is why it can be so difficult being self employed. It can be difficult to work out what you have to do, recognition and praise can be sparse, you don't have any co-workers, and hence no best friend at work.

[Annabel Candy]

Re: people’s opinions of their workplaces are more determined by their immediate manager than by the overall company

So true, it's all about relationships. I've had horrid jobs which turned out to be fun becasue I was working with a great bunch of fun people, and jobs that looked good on paper but turned out to be stressful because of a negative or competitive team attitude.

[Kathryn Lang]

I liked these questions - and they do help even if you are self employed. Answering honestly can help me identify my problem areas and make my at home work more productive.

Also, internet friends DO count as work friends. I have several other at home writers that I can IM in a jam.

[Linda Kaplan Thaler @The Power of Small]

Great post, Gretchen! I would add a 13th question to the list as well: "Do I laugh everyday at work?" At The Kaplan Thaler Group, one of the secrets to our success has been our office culture of laughing, trading jokes, and palling around. Not only does it ease stress, it makes us all more productive and creative.

[Lynn]

About 7 years ago, the company where I work did an all-employee survey asking these questions (at the urging of a progressive manager interested in organizational development). The results were overwhelmingly bad -- majority answered "no" to most questions. But the survey results were never shared with employees and NOTHING was done by management... except to stop doing surveys! That progressive manager soon left the company (I don't blame her!) and things have gone from bad to worse. Few are happy; all do the minimum to keep their jobs; the CEO and upper management are oblivious (or more likely, intentionally "blind" to the poor morale. I guess they've never stuck their head out of their corner offices long enough to see how the rest of the business world has evolved. Unbelievable.

[Marc Lesser]

Great questions!

Another question that is a test of an excellent/happy workplace -- can you openly express your doubts and speak the truth?

And, is decision making clear -- do you know what you can decide, and do you know who decides what?

[Tricia Ransom]

I've often said that its not necessarily the money, but recoginition. A coffee mug and/or a sweatshirt can go a long way in making me feel like a valued employee...or even a mention in the newsletter!

RE: people’s opinions of their workplaces are more determined by their immediate manager. This point really rings true for me. I've actually quit a job doing what I love because I didn't like my immediate manager. But the reverse is also true -- I've stayed at jobs that I don't love because I really liked my manager and co-workers.

[Bret Simmons]

This list does NOT measure happiness. It was supposed to measure engagement, but it does NOT even do that. There are serious problems with the validity to this approach. Buyer beware. http://www.bretlsimmons.com/2009-08/engagement-soup/

[Elizabeth Lombardo]

What great info. Everyone can benefit from there tips. Thanks, Gretchen!

-Elizabeth

[Jonny]

Love the Art of Non Conformity Site. Thanks for the link.

[Anonymous]

Excellent outlook and thorough analysis of psychology of gamete employee instinctively ready to fuse in to multiply efforts. A joyous employee tries to find gaps to inspire others to be happy as his happiness most certainly comes from others. Going back an era, Hitler was restrained by invisible cuffing to project himself as a fun lover, as his advisers of that era thought having fun while at work will weaken their mission. Coming back to this era where human soul is inspired to have evolved his environment and other circumstances is surely expected to redeem himself to show his evolution through proclaiming himself to be satisfied and aspirational to achieve higher degree of efficacy to satisfy others as well... along the way to salvation. And for this what other way than to proclaim and spread happiness!

[dm]

Can you send this to our administration?

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=559058516]

Hmmm, not much critical thinking going on here. The authors didn't so much 'do a study the Gallup organization' than they used Gallup's Q12 measure (which has been around for years), then they simply repeated the 12 measures as all being linked to 'happiness'. Happiness itself wasn't measured, so it's impossible to say that all 12 questions asked therefore drive happiness. As Bret notes in his comment above, the Q12 is intended to measure employee engagement, not 'happiness' (the terms are not synonymous), and instead uses 12 measures of workplace climate, with no engagement measures. Basically, the Q12 is a limited measure of workplace climate, with the results of 'what's important' being completely determined ahead of time. The Q12 is a triumph of marketing and brand recognition over methodologically sound measurement of engagement.

[kare Anderson]

As a longtime fan of Buckingham, Coffman + Clifton's work I thought Buckingham's new book for women to live a strong life is the most practical one yet
http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?dept_id=111010&sku=1400202361

[Catus Lee]

I read the book a few years ago. The list is so valuable and intuitive that it can serve as a reminder to all business owners and managers.
The sad thing, however, is that through my work with different organizations, people believe that they should use a long and detail questionnaire to gauge the organizational climate. The result is a very lengthy survey (4-20+ pages) and pretty charts and numbers, but no real useful actions devised.
That's how people tend to complicate things and "neutralize" possible changes "unintentionally".
I believe it is vital for every manager to really use and trust their eyes and ears, rather than just numbers, charts and report. Observe the workplace and ask "do people like to work here?", "if I am looking for a job, will I like to join this organization?" If you yourself have doubt, it is time to do something about it.

[Karl Staib - Work Happy Now]

I'm so glad you covered this book. More people need to know about these concepts. I saw Buckingham on Oprah and he was fantastic. It was more of a workshop than a show (I think it was just for the web). He showed people what they really need to focus on to bring more work happiness into their lives.

I like what Linda added. Do you laugh at work every day? Whenever I work with people that can let loose and have fun, the creativity is higher and I'm more productive.

[Redlabel]

Hya, Gretchen, great post!
If I may suggest, here's a very interesting view on the subject (and book):

http://www.slideshare.net/alexgrech/first-break-all-the-rules-1481256

[Chula Vista Business Directory]

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[PicsieChick]

Wow. The lack of anonymity of the web means I can't honestly tell you how few of these I answered yes to, as it would be against my workplace confidentiality agreement. Great tools, though, that I will read and re-read many times, I'm sure.

With the addition of Linda's question "do I laugh at work every day?"

and Marc's questions "can you openly express your doubts and speak the truth?

And, is decision making clear -- do you know what you can decide, and do you know who decides what?"

Fabulous questions. Thank you so much for sharing them.

[kerry]

Yesterday while blog-hopping I saw the most amazingly creative work spaces featured on desiretoinspire.net. How fun would it be to have a sunny yellow swing to take a break on!
Love your project...it's a regular stop.
www.snickerdoodles.typepad.com

[Jacqueline]

Great list of things to watch out for. As someone who recently hired her first assistant, I'm eager to learn how to manage people well. I need to revisit the book which is sitting on my shelf. Many thanks for sharing it.

I also congratulate you on your project. I blogged about it today at http://www.thefearlessfactor.com

[All Women Stalker]

I have this book. It's really brilliant.

-meream

[Bradley J. Moore]

We recently conducted an employee engagement survey and found that one of the things on your list was too high on ours - the relationships between employees and their first-line managers were causing most of the "unhappiness" of our employees. Wow. Gave us some very specific areas to focus in on in training, performance evals, etc.

That is an old book that I haven't read in ages. Thanks for dusting it off!

[Bank Owned Properties]

I came across this Article and it was extremely helpful! I was searching for this info!

Thanks