The Happy Manifesto: Recent Episodes
Henry Stewart, Maureen Egbe
How do you create a happy workplace, where people are truly fulfilled?
This podcast talks both to experts and to leaders who have done it and can share their nickable ideas.
It is based on the concepts of trust and freedom, outlined in the Happy Manifesto: https://www.happy.co.uk/the-happy-manifesto/
Kathryn Wright, CEO of Culham Saint Gabriel's, a charitable foundation focused on religion and worldviews education.
Kathryn shares, with your hosts Henry and Marueen, her leadership journey, including how the Happy Leadership Program helped her transition from a hands-on role to strategic leadership.
She discusses key leadership principles such as psychological safety, autonomy, and empowering teams through "pre-approval."
Kathryn also highlights initiatives like co-creating strategic plans and coaching-oriented performance reviews. The episode concludes with her three tips for a happy workplace: fostering positive relationships, providing clarity, and celebrating joy.
Kathryn's tips for a happy workplace:
- Foster postive and thriving relationships in the workplace
- Provide clarity: set expectations
- Celebrate joy
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Kathryn on LinkedIn
- Culham St. Gabriel's
- Happy Workplace
Mark Williamson, co-founder of Action for Happiness and author of Make Life Happier talks to your hosts, Henry and Maureen, in today's episode, sharing his personal journey from chronic back pain to well-being through mindfulness, and explores happiness as a direction rather than a destination.
Marks covers meaningful goals, the power of kindness, active listening, and practical workplace strategies.
Mark offers accessible tools, including simple breathing techniques and gratitude practices, to help individuals and organisations build more connected, purposeful, and fulfilling lives.
Mark's tips for a happy workplace:
- Check-in at the start of meetings
- Trust people and give them agency
- Focus on the micro moments of interaction
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Happy Workplace
Dr. Anja Milde, a former senior leader at Bayer, talks with us today about the company's radical organisational transformation.
Hear how Bayer shifted from a rigid 12-layer hierarchy to a 'Dynamic Shared Ownership' model, empowering teams to make 95% of decisions, operating in 90-day learning cycles, and reducing management from 15,000 to 5,000 which delivered over 500 million euros in savings within the first year.
Anja suggests that lasting transformation begins with individual mindset shifts
Hear how her new company, Forward Evolution, helps other organisations achieve similar results.
Anja's tips for a happy workplace:
- Transformation starts with yourself
- Don't tell people what to do - let them make decisions
- Do what you love
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Dr Anja Milde on LinkedIn
- 4ward evolution
- Happy Workplace
Dr. Apurv Gupta, a former Chief Medical Officer and performance improvement expert, today discussed the redefinition of the relationship between love and work; in the workplace.
Dr. Gupta argues that burnout isn't a failure of individuals, but a failure of systems designed around fear and industrial-age hierarchies.
Hear why traditional performance improvement often ignores the human component and how COVID-19 acted as a catalyst for change.
Dr. Gupta also shares with your hosts, Henry and Maureen, a deep dive into the 9 systems (4 people-based, 5 process-based) that constitute every organisation and how to move them from a place of fear to love.
You'll also hear whether AI will dehumanise the workplace or act as a tool to supercharge connection and empathy; and 3 practical tips on his three pillars for a happy workplace.
Dr. Gupta's tips for a happy workplace:
- Incorporate humour into your life
- Start your morning with gratitude
- Bring love into the workplace intentionally
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Dr. Apurv Gupta on LinkedIn
- Happy Workplace
Kim McCabe, is the founder of Rights for Girls and author of From Daughter to Woman.
In this episode, Kim shares her journey as a leader, with your hosts, Maureen and Henry, discussing how embracing vulnerability and psychological safety transformed her organisation's culture.
Kim also reveals how the alarming rise of anxiety and depression among young girls, advocates for restricting children's smartphone use, and offers practical parenting tips focused on unconditional love and confidence-building.
Kim also provides some actionable workplace guidance, including the benefits of flexible hours and celebrating mistakes as learning opportunities.
Kim's tips for a happy workplace:
- Pause before anything important
- Let everyone choose their own hours
- Hope to make everyone feel like they belong
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Kim's book From Daughter to Woman : Parenting girls safely through their teens
- Rites for Girls
- Happy Workplace
Patricia Elias is international lawyer and founder of the “No Peace Without Women” campaign.
In today's episode, Patricia shares some of her own journey; advocating for women’s leadership in peace building, highlighting how including women in negotiations can lead to more sustainable peace.
Patricia shares with your hosts, Henry and Maureen, her humanitarian work, the upcoming UN event promoting women’s inclusion, and the importance of empowering women globally.
Hear how you can support women’s leadership in peace processes and to sign the campaign’s petition for lasting, equitable change.
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- UN Security Resolution 1325
- Patricia on LinkedIn
- Global Petition No Peace Without Women
- Happy Workplace
Well-being and leadership expert and author Jeanette Browning challenges burnout culture and reframes self-care as a leadership responsibility.
In our chat today, with your hosts Henry and Maureen, Jeanette shares personal stories of burnout and caregiving, and introduces the concept of “power pausing” towards creating clarity and connection, with others and for others.
Hear about the importance of listening with empathy and also how trust, agency, and caring conversations can transform workplace culture, towards making both high performance and humanity compatible.
Jeanette also offers practical tips for happier workplaces, through pausing, building trust, and genuinely caring about people.
Jeanette's tips for a happy workplace:
- Design "pausing" into your work and conversations
- Build trust (within people themselves) by creating space to listen
- Care about people (have a conversation)
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Jeanette's book The Self-care Mindset
- Happy Workplace
Finnish philosopher and psychologist Frank Martela, author of Stop Chasing Happiness joins hosts Henry and Maureen in today's episode, sharing insights on what makes life meaningful, why chasing happiness can backfire, and how the importance of autonomy, trust, and equality can foster meaning at work
Drawing on Finnish culture and education, Frank reveals practical ways leaders can create and cultivate meaning at work, through the value of connecting with others, and how a “militarist” mindset—seeking constant improvement—can boost well-being.
We also explore Finnish attitudes toward happiness, modesty, and resilience, offering you a fresh perspective on creating joyful, purposeful lives and workplaces.
Frank's 3 tips for a happy workplace:
- Connect with yourself: reflect on who you are and what you enjoy
- Connect and spend time with people you love
- Do good for other people: find your way to make a meaningful contribution
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Frank's book, Stop Chasing Happiness
- Happy Workplace
Dr. Vernon Bainton, Chief Medical Officer at Havas Lynx and co-founder of the Health and Happiness Lab, shares his journey from medicine to healthcare innovation, focusing on patient-centred care and the importance of measuring happiness and well-being in both patients and staff.
Vernon shares insights on the limitations of traditional clinical metrics, the impact of the pandemic on workplace well-being, and practical strategies for fostering trust, purpose, and joy at work.
Today's conversation highlights the essential role of well-being in healthcare and organisational success.
Vernon's tips for a happy workplace:
- Move beyond traditional job satisfaction (consider people's lives as a whole)
- Change how you capture information and set goals
- Foster trust and accountability (build a culture of trust)
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Havas Lynx
- Happy Workplace
Talent is everywhere; opportunity is not.
In this episode, Joe Seddon, founder and CEO of Zero Gravity, shares his journey from a single-parent household in West Yorkshire to launching an award-winning tech platform that supports over 15,000 talented students from low-income backgrounds, providing mentoring, coaching, and career pathways to help them gain entry into top UK universities and secure successful careers.
Joe is widely recognised as a leader in tech for social mobility, and has been named in the Forbes 30 under 30 list, and received a British Empire Medal for services to social mobility.
The conversation reveals the importance of having an authentic company culture, taking risks, and cultivating mission-driven leadership. Joe highlights, to your hosts, Henry and Maureen, Zero Gravity’s impact on social mobility, the power of mentoring, with Joe offering practical advice for building a happy and high-performing workplace.
[Guest's] tips for a happy workplace:
- Measure what matters
- Distil your culture into a culture deck and make this part of your onboarding process
- Human beings are self-interested creatures: Incentivise and reward
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Zero Gravity
- Happy Workplace
In this episode, Alisa Sydow, Associate Professor at ESCP Business School, and Thinkers 50 Radar for 2025. Alisa shares her journey researching entrepreneurship in Africa, focusing on empowering female founders and local artisans in Kenya. She discusses the challenges of building authentic, culturally-rooted businesses and the importance of storytelling and branding for “Made in Kenya” products. Alisa also introduces her mentorship initiative, Numpy, supporting women entrepreneurs in the Global South. The conversation highlights the power of cultural pride, community, and authentic leadership in driving social impact through entrepreneurship.
Alisa's tips for a happy workplace:
- Be authentic; embrace conflict
- Diversity can bring surprise
- Be open
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- ESCP Business School
- Happy Workplace
DJ, from Happy, shares his wisdom with us today about the evolving role of AI in work and life in 2025.
Sharing insights on using AI as a “co-thinker” to boost creativity and critical thinking, you'll hear practical examples, from DJ, Maureen, and Henry, of AI effectiveness in the workplace, with examples, as we address data security, ethical use, and the importance of verifying the output of AI.
DJ highlights the balance between human skills and AI, the value of clear workplace AI policies, and how to explore AI with curiosity, creativity, and caution.
DJ's tips for a happy workplace:
- Have good AI policies (people are going to be using it)
- Encourage everyone in the organisation to use AI as a co-thinker (to upskill everyone)
- Have fun with AI
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Happy Workplace
What are you prepared to do, to get the thing you want?
Heather R. Younger, a TEDx speaker, author, and leadership expert, chats with our hosts, Henry and Maureen, discussing self-leadership and its vital role in effective leadership.
Heather shares her personal journey, including a pivotal realisation about prioritising her own well-being, and offers practical self-leadership habits. You'll hear how caring leadership can boost productivity and recounts a story of compassionate leadership during her layoff experience.
Our conversation covers overcoming imposter syndrome, building workplace trust, and fostering team bonds. Heather’s insights reveal that leading oneself with empathy and clarity is foundational to creating resilient, joyful workplaces.
Heather's tips for a happy workplace:
- Make sure that you have leaders taking care of themselves
- Make sure that you're listening in all the right ways
- Make sure that you promote 'team': accomplishments and productivity of teams
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Heather's book The Art of Caring Leadership
- Happy Workplace
Debby Penton is the CEO of Wildfire, a B2B PR consultancy recognised for its outstanding workplace culture and employee ownership.
In today's chat with Henry and Maureen, Debby shares insights on building a happy, inclusive, and high-performing team through autonomy, flexible work, and clear values.
Our discussion covers Wildfire’s creative campaigns, B-corp certification, apprenticeship programs, and commitment to employee well-being.
You'll hear personal stories and practical advice revealing how investing in people and a sense of purpose can drive business success.
Debby's tips for a happy workplace:
- Make sure people have some sense of control over their destiny
- Invest in people: training and development
- Help people feel they are a part of something (and leave for home on time!)
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Public Relations and Communications Association
- Happy Workplace
Today, Elaine Lin Hering, bestselling author and expert on speak-up cultures, joins Henry and Maureen for an insightful conversation on creating a happier workplace.
Elaine reveals insights from her global work on “unlearning silence” in workplaces, explaining how silence is often learned from childhood and reinforced by leadership and cultural norms.
Elaine also shares practical strategies for fostering genuine speak-up cultures and the importance of recognising systemic silencing, with actionable steps leaders can take to create more inclusive, human-centered, and joyful work environments.
In this conversation, you'll hear new ways, ideas, and opportunities to develop your leadership skills and approach.
Elaine's tips for a happy workplace:
- Acknowledge that people are human and let them be human
- Make the full range of emotions acceptable in the workplace
- Work is not everything - we all have lives outside of work
- Honour the gifts and skills in the workplace - there needs to be trust
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Happy Workplace
NK Chaudhary (NKC) shares his journey from humble beginnings to building a global social enterprise that empowers over 40,000 artisans, many from marginalised communities.
Chatting with Henry and Maureen, NKC shares his commitment to dignity, inclusion, and love in business. He talks about his efforts to break caste barriers and his focus on self-management, mindfulness, and introspection.
We reflect on NKC’s inspiring leadership and the transformative impact of Jaipur Rugs, celebrating the creativity and empowerment of women artisans, as well as the deeper meaning woven into every rug.
NKC's tips for a happy workplace:
- We must love what we do
- Find harmony with self, those we work with, and our surroundings
- Be more mindful and present
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Happy Workplace
Dr. Srikumar Rao, TEDx speaker and creator of the pioneering course, Creativity and Personal Mastery, joins our hosts, Henry and Maureen, and shares how our internal mental chatter shapes our reality and can cause unnecessary suffering.
Drawing on the Buddha’s "parable of the second arrow" and other stories, Dr. Rao offers practical advice on observing thoughts, reframing challenges, and cultivating happiness in life and at the workplace.
You'll hear personal anecdotes, Srikumar's reflections on joy, and tips for feeding positivity in ourselves and others.
Srikumar's tips for a happy workplace:
- Observe your mental chatter
- Stop experiencing the tragedies that have never happened
- What can I do to help this person have a better experience of life
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- The Rao Institute
- Happy Workplace
In this episode, Pim de Morree from Corporate Rebels, shares his journey, from corporate frustration to pioneering self-managed workplaces worldwide.
Pim discusses with your hosts, Henry and Maureen, how he and his co-founder left traditional jobs to research and promote organisations with employee-focused, hierarchy-free cultures.
Pim explains Corporate Rebels’ evolution from blogging to investing in companies, radically transforming them through transparency, autonomy, and profit-sharing.
Today's conversation highlights the challenges and successes of these transformations, offering practical tips for happier workplaces while revealing the growing global movement toward more meaningful, people-centered work.
Pim's tips for a happy workplace:
- Kill middle management positions (distribute their roles)
- Sit down with the team and ask, "How can we free you up?"
- Ask individuals about their dreams, hopes, and fears
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Corporate Rebels
- Drive, book by Daniel Pink
- Happy Workplace
Samantha Green is the leader of a UK charity working on animal welfare in Sri Lanka.
In today's conversation, Samantha shares how the Level Seven Senior Leaders programme helped her shift from top-down leadership to empowering self-managed teams.
Samantha discusses her experience with cross-training staff, adopting 'Toyota-inspired' continuous improvement, and fostering a workplace of trust and transparency.
Samantha also emphasises the importance of local leadership and provides practical advice for fostering a happy and inclusive workplace.
You'll hear about the transformative impact of innovative leadership and investing in team development.
Samantha Green's tips for a happy workplace:
- Visualise everything - whiteboards and on the walls
- Trust people - give them control; not instructions
- Involve people in decisions that affect them
Sophie Bryan works at the deepest level of workplace culture: where energy, trust, & curiosity shape everything.
In today's episode, Maureen and Henry are joined by Sophie to explore how Montessori principles such as freedom, curiosity, and play can transform workplace culture.
Sophie shares stories from her HR career, advocating for employee autonomy, transparency, and coaching over traditional management.
Sophie also discusses the positive role of sexual energy in creativity, the importance of belonging and authenticity in the workplace, and how recognising individual contributions can boost engagement.
Her journey with dance underscores her value of joy outside work, rounding out a conversation on building happier and more innovative organisations.
Sophie's tips for a happy workplace:
- Transparency across the board. "Tell the goddamn truth!"
- Be respectful of belonging and authenticity
- Be aware of the impact and contribution you make as an organisation
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- TED Talk by Sophie Bryan
- Thinking, Fast and Slow, book by Daniel Kahneman
- Happy Workplace Conference
In this episode of the Happy Manifesto podcast, hosts Maureen and Henry converse with Vanessa King from Action for Happiness.
Vanessa is an expert in positive psychology and the author of The Ten Keys to Happier Living.
In this episode, Vanessa discusses the active pursuit of happiness, distinguishing between short-term pleasure and long-term fulfilment. Vanessa shares the importance of making connections, gratitude, and psychological safety in the workplace. We also discuss practical strategies for enhancing well-being, such as fostering positive mental habits and creating supportive work environments.
Vanessa's insights offer actionable steps toward cultivating happiness in both personal and professional spheres.
Vanessa's tips for a happy workplace:
- Realise there is a business case for happiness
- Invest in connecting with people in person and building relationships offline
- Find individual focus time
- Invest in training, processes, and culture
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
Vanessa's Book The Ten Keys to Happier Living
Can organisations gain a strategic advantage by investing in their employees?
Stephan Meier, a Columbia Business School professor, and author of The Employee Advantage, shares, in this episode, the relationship between employee motivation, organisational culture, and profitability.
Stephan reveals that organisations prioritising employee well-being, ones that align with their core values, foster ethical behaviour and a positive work environment that benefits all with profitability and increased job satisfaction.
Hear Stephan share examples from companies like ING and Zappos, highlighting the benefits of an employee-centric approach. You'll also hear outlines for four key motivators: purpose, autonomy, competence, and relatedness, that drive employee engagement and satisfaction.
Stephan's tips for a happy workplace:
- Listen to employees and engage with them
- Trust what comes your way
- Be very intentional
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
Stephan's Lego brick-by-brick videos
And here is Stephan's story of why he does them on YouTube
Kelly McGovern is the Chief Nurse at the West Hertfordshire Foundation Trust
In this episode, Kelly shares how she has fostered a transformative culture of trust and empowerment in a healthcare environment.
Kelly shares her leadership journey, highlighting the importance of empowering staff to drive change and celebrate small wins.
She recounts how her hands-on approach and role modeling have led to significant improvements in patient care, such as reduced waiting times and better discharge rates.
The conversation reveals the positive impact of a supportive work environment and the importance of breaking outdated rules toward fostering innovation and collaboration in healthcare.
Ann Hartland, Deputy CEO and Growth Director of Cedar, discusses the importance of joy at work, personal growth, and leadership as well as her experiences in the Level 7 Senior Leadership Programme.
Ann shares insights into her role highlighting a people-first approach and the significance of listening to employees.
Today's conversation reveals some of the challenges and successes of implementing a positive workplace culture and the practical application of theoretical learnings.
Ann also touches on her personal interests, including dog massage therapy and triathlons, underscoring the value of maintaining joy both in and out of work.
Ann's tips for a happy workplace:
- Do you know what is expected of you at work?
- Do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day?
- Regular, direct and honest communication
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
Daniel Pink's book Drive
Bruce Daisley's podcast Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat
Gallup's 12 Engagement Questions
Jenny Fernandez is an executive coach and professor at Columbia and NYU.
In this episode, we explore some of Gen Z's unique characteristics, such as being digital natives and the impact of "helicopter parenting."
Jenny highlights the challenges Gen Z faces, including communication skills, job security and concerns exacerbated by the pandemic.
We also explore the need for supportive work environments, effective onboarding, clear training paths, and why mentorship is important.
Jenny's tips for a happy workplace:
- Set your employees up for success
- Have a very clear training path so people know how to progress
- Provide mentors and sponsors for employees
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
TEDx Talk by Jenny Fernandez
Jenny Fernandez on LinkedIn
Happy Website
In this episode of the Happy Manifesto Podcast, co-hosts Maureen and Henry engage with Helen Stuart, Managing Director of Now You're Talking.
Helen Stuart, Managing Director of Now You're Talking discusses her transformative experiences from a leadership program at TLC, emphasising trust, empowerment, and psychological safety in management.
Helen shares practical insights on fostering team ownership, leveraging individual strengths, and creating a supportive work environment based upon 'pre-approval', trust, and ownership.
The conversation also touches on the importance of vulnerability in leadership and the benefits of recognising and utilising team members' unique skills.
Helen’s tips for a happy workplace:
- Trust and empower your team
- Create a trusting environment that embraces freedom and ownership
- Publicly celebrate wins and people's strengths
Nigel Paine, head of people development at the BBC, discusses the evolution of workplace learning, the creation of the BBC's iPlayer, and the importance of fostering a true learning culture in organisations.
Nigel emphasises the need for trust, autonomy, competence, and connectedness toward creating an effective learning environment and shares with us examples from Danone and WD-40 to illustrate successful learning practices
Nigel also highlights the significance of leadership qualities like courage and humility underscoring the critical role of continuous improvement and open communication in building a happy workplace culture.
Nigel’s tips for a happy workplace:
- Make people feel part of the team and organisation.
- Constantly work on what is stopping good things from happening.
- Have an index: some measure of how well you are getting there
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
Nigel's book The Great Reset
Harvard Business Review
Did you know that there's a strong link between happiness and success?
In today's episode, we explore the surprising connection between happiness, productivity, and workplace culture.
Nic Marks, a happiness expert and founder of the Centre for Wellbeing at the New Economics Foundation, and CEO of Friday Pulse, sheds light on this fascinating relationship and dives deep into the Happy Planet Index.
We discuss the impact of happiness on productivity and how a positive workplace environment can boost creativity and efficiency. Nic also reveals the important role of social networks and how the power of strong relationships contributes to fostering happiness and well-being.
Discover how a happier workforce can lead to a more successful business and hear some practical advice for leaders to enhance employee happiness and productivity.
Nic’s tips for a happy workplace:
- Connect (develop relationships)
- Be active
- Take notice (be mindful)
- Keep learning
- Give
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
https://wellbeing.hmc.ox.ac.uk/publications/does-employee-happiness-have-an-impact-on-productivity/
Many businesses still focus solely on financial metrics to understand why they are underperforming. However, one crucial factor is often overlooked—the well-being and happiness of employees who contribute to those results.
Mark Price, former Marketing Director of Waitrose and founder of WorkL, discusses the critical role of employee happiness in driving business success. Drawing from his 32-year career at the John Lewis Partnership, Mark shares valuable insights into the direct impact of a positive work environment on productivity, employee retention, reduced absenteeism, and overall business growth. He also reflects on his experience turning around Somerfield stores by prioritising staff happiness; leading to remarkable improvements in performance.
Mark introduces a six-step framework for cultivating a happy workplace, providing actionable strategies for measuring and improving employee satisfaction, as well as the pivotal role leadership plays in fostering a thriving workplace culture. Whether you're a business owner, manager, or employee, this episode reveals why happiness at work is not just a "nice-to-have" but a key driver of long-term, sustainable success.
Mark’s tips for a happy workplace:
- Understanding the six-step framework: Reward and recognition. information sharing, empowerment, instilling pride, well-being, and career development
- It’s all about leadership: know where we’re going and why
- Good leaders need to be relentlessly optimistic
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
WorkL
Happy Economics Book
Connect with Mark on LinkedIn
In many workplaces, mistakes are not tolerated or easily forgotten, leading to environments where employers are feeling pressurised to be perform perfectly and potentially nervous to innovate new ideas.
Ben Clarkson, Chief Finance and Operating Officer at Parkinson’s UK, joins the podcast today to share his journey implementing the principles of the Happy Manifesto, including the idea of celebrating mistakes rather than admonishing them. Previously at Asthma and Lung UK, Ben recounts his leadership experiences there, highlighting the importance of empowering people, recruiting for attitude and fostering an inclusive culture.
Ben reveals the impact on employees when the principle of celebrating mistakes is introduced: creating a culture of openness, accountability, and trust where every mistake is seen as a learning opportunity for growth. This inspiring episode underscores the transformative power of the Happy Manifesto principles in creating positive organisational cultures and good leadership.
Ben’s tips for a happy workplace:
- Create an inclusive culture where everyone can be their true and best selves
- Nothing worth doing is ever easy. Be brave.
- Empower people
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
Parkinson’s UK
Asthma and Lung UK
Connect with Ben on LinkedIn
Happy Manifesto Free EBooks
Happy Manifesto
Round Table
Creating a culture of trust and collaboration and empowering frontline staff in the pressurised environment of Adult Social Care could be a challenge but it’s possible when leaders are given a clear blueprint, and the skills needed.
Helen Taylor, Head of Services in Adult Social Care at Hounslow Council took on that challenge when she joined our Level Seven Senior Leader Apprenticeship programme and joins us today to share her transformational journey of embedding coaching practices within her teams, successfully creating a positive workplace environment that values individual strengths and encourages open communication and innovation.
She discusses the small, yet impactful changes she made, encouraging autonomy and decision-making among team members, creating psychological safety and utilising liberating structures for effective team collaboration.
Helen’s tips for a happy workplace:
- Creating a culture of freedom, responsibility and trust
- Give staff respect and opportunity and not punishing mistakes
- Play to people’s strengths and social styles
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
The Coaching Habit book by Michael Bungay-Stanier
Level 7 Senior Leadership Apprenticeship Programme
Alex Kjerulf is the original chief happiness officer and in today's episode shares insights from his 25-year journey, emphasising that true workplace happiness stems from meaningful results and positive relationships; rather than superficial perks.
Alex reveals the growing global interest in workplace happiness, the benefits of remote working, four-day workweeks, and the pitfalls of relentless positive thinking.
Hear practical tips for fostering a happy work environment and to finding joy outside of work distinguishing it from mere job satisfaction.
Alex's tips for a happy workplace
- Stop wasting money on the wrong things: focus on results and relationships
- Start with the leaders in your workplace (if they don't get it, nobody will!)
- Put somebody in charge of the happiness project (have a Chief Happiness Officer)
Links and resources mentioned in this episode
Alex's book Happy Hour Is 9 to 5
The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer
Alex's video 6 Reasons Why Greece’s New 6-day Work Week Will BACKFIRE
Emma Halahan is an apprentice who has worked with the Dog Star Foundation and is now at Guy's and St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust. In this conversation, Emma shares her journey as a Gen-Z leader, discussing her experiences with leadership, the challenges of transitioning between organizations, and the impact of her apprenticeship.
Emma also highlights the importance of empowering her team, developing team members who show initiative, embracing agile methodologies, and practicing radical candor with her colleagues.
Emma's tips for a happy workplace
- As a leader, build a culture of multiplying
- Build radical candor: empathy and feedback with team members
- Take the joy of joy at work seriously
Links
Multipliers, book by Liz Wiseman
Radical Candor, book by Kim Scott
Learning from mistakes can create a more fulfilling work environment says our guest, Dr. Natalie Nixon, a creativity strategist, who draws upon parallels with jazz music's improvisational nature, to explore the intersection between creativity, organisational culture, and productivity. Natalie advocates for a human-centric approach to problem-solving and balancing curiosity with discipline towards fostering innovation.
Additionally, Natalie challenges traditional work culture by proposing the "motor framework" (MTOR), which values movement, thought, and rest. Her passion for dance exemplifies the joy found in activities outside of work, underscoring the episode's theme of creativity in a happy workplace.
Natalie's tips for a happy workplace
- Building cultures of trust in the workplace
- Modeling self-inquiry as leaders and managers
- Motor activity is more movement, thought and rest
Links
Connect with Natalie via LinkedIn
Figure 8 Thinking (Natalie's website)
The Creativity Leap (Natalie's book)
Understanding that happiness can be tied to outcomes, and that joy can be connected to the process of growth and potential, in both life and at work, can be key to developing happiness in the workplace.
In this episode, Maja Djikic, an associate professor at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, and author of The Possible Self, shares her "Wheel of Self" framework and explores the distinction between happiness and joy; and the implications of focussing on joy over happiness.
Maja also emphasises the impact of organisational culture on problem-solving and employee well-being, highlighting the role of leadership.
Maja’s tips for a happy workplace:
-
Allow people to pursue their own interests regardless of skill
-
Identify and address draining work elements
-
Recognise individuals needs for fulfilment
Links:
Maja Djikic
Early and accurate diagnosis of breast cancer, particularly in younger individuals, is important not just in the workplace but to any individual in any team or community and this is at the heart of CoppaFeel's mission: to promote early diagnosis to 18-24 year-olds, which can lead to treatments being more effective and less invasive whilst working towards higher survival rates. CoppaFeel is a breast cancer awareness charity taking a happy and positive approach to serious business.
In this episode, CEO, Natalie Heskall, shares details of the organisation's training programs that enhance communication and teamwork, and the implementation of an approach that puts people first to empower projects and employees. She also shares Copperfield's adoption of a nine-day fortnight work schedule and the importance of playing to individual strengths.
Natalie's tips for a happy workplace:
- Understand your purpose
- Foster by belonging to and building community
- Provide autonomy for people to be themselves
Links:
CoppaFeel
Embracing neurodiversity in the workplace not only benefits neurodiverse individuals, but creates a more inclusive, flexible, and productive environment for everyone. By understanding and acknowledging different strengths and needs, we can reshape jobs and work cultures to foster a sense of belonging and joy, leading to more effective organisations.
Ludmila Praslova is an organisational psychologist at Vanguard University in Southern California. Her work focuses on embracing neurodiversity in the workplace and promoting a more inclusive, flexible, and productive environment for everyone. She champions the idea of understanding and acknowledging different strengths and needs to foster a sense of belonging and joy in workplace settings.
Ludmila’s tips for a happy workplace1. Create flexible social environments that allow people to connect in ways that work for them. 2. Adapt work schedules, information sharing, and learning opportunities to suit individual cognitive strengths. 3. Encourage a non-judgmental environment where people feel comfortable expressing their feelings without fear of criticism or misunderstanding. 4. Cater to individual physical and sensory needs, like temperature preferences, noise levels, and work locations.
Links* Connect with Ludmila via LinkedIn * The Canary Code: A Guide to Neurodiversity, Dignity, and Intersectional Belonging at Work – Ludmila’s book * Liberating Structures Immersion Workshop
Going from startup to scale-up takes strategic planning and insight, along with a real understanding of employee happiness. Plus, crafting great job descriptions and letting people make their own decisions once they’re in a role are key to developing a team of A players.
Dominic Monkhouse has a distinguished career in scaling up businesses, especially within the IT sector. He successfully built two web hosting businesses from 0 to £30,000,000 within 5 years, and is an author of two books that demonstrate his insight and experience in business growth and people management.
Dominic’s tips for a happy workplace1. Hire great people 2. Show them the destination 3. Get out of the way so they can do their best work
Links The Melting Pot – Dominic’s podcast * Connect with Dominic via LinkedIn * Mind Your F*King Business: The No-Nonsense Guide to Making Your Good Business Great – Dominic’s book * The Founder's Survival Guide: Lead your business from start-up to scale-up to grown-up, by Rachel Turner * The Jolt Effect: How High Performers Overcome Customer Indecision, by Matthew Dixon * Hiring for Attitude: A Revolutionary Approach to Recruiting and Selecting People with Both Tremendous Skills and Superb Attitude, by Mark Murphy * Employees First, Customers Second: Turning Conventional Management Upside Down, by Vineet Nayar
Employee happiness makes a big contribution to a company's success, as can self-management. But how do you know what’s really working, driving the business forwards, and helping it meet its targets?
This week's guest is Pieter Jelle de Brue, founder of digital agency Statik, a company that values employee happiness and has adopted a self-managing structure with multiple autonomous teams. They’re continuing to grow and evolve, and one of the metrics they’re currently conducting an experiment to find out if what people say about employee happiness really does have a measurable impact on a company’s bottom line.
Pieter’s tips for a happy workplace* Trust people to organise themselves when the purpose and goals are clear * Run small experiments to continuously evolve and improve * Value employee happiness as a measure of success
Links* 2024 Happy Workplaces Conference * Connect with Pieter via LinkedIn * Reinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage in Human Consciousness, by Frederic Laloux
A four-day work week doesn’t simply lead to longer weekends. When implemented right, organisations can maintain the same level of productivity, and give their employees significant – and measurable – increases in happiness.
The four-day week challenges traditional concepts of work and productivity and encourages companies to measure output rather than time spent working. This shift in approach has led to reduced stress, fewer sick days, and enhanced team cohesion.
Andrew Barnes is the originator of the four-day work week idea, which has now become a global movement and has been implemented in multinationals, governments, and NGOs worldwide. Andrew has written a book on the four-day week and has been involved in numerous implementation pilots in countries and companies of various sizes.
Andrew’s tips for a happy workplace1. Introduce the four-day working week 2. Look after your building 3. Put great art up on the walls
Links* Connect with Andrew via LinkedIn * The 4 Day Week: How the Flexible Work Revolution Can Increase Productivity, Profitability and Well-being, and Create a Sustainable Future – Andrew’s book * The Four-Day Working Week at Happy * Happy’s apprenticeships and long-term development programmes * Happy’s Level 5 Global Majority Empowerment Apprenticeship programme
Before chasing the latest technologies or trends, organisations need to focus on building a strong foundation and core capabilities. They need a culture that encourages learning, collaboration, and transparency, and to have leadership that prioritises long-term success over short-term gains.
In this episode, Henry is joined by Howard Yu, a renowned strategist and innovation expert, a Thinkers 50 strategy award winner, and the Lego Professor of Innovation and Management at the IMD business school in Switzerland. With extensive experience studying and analysing companies' longevity and their ability to sustain new growth, Howard is now the author of Leap, a book exploring how successful companies have been able to transform themselves and adapt to new challenges.
Howard’s three tips for a happy workplace1. Document and share as much as possible, providing access for all employees so they can understand the decisions the company is making. 2. Create a data-rich work environment where openly discussing and documenting failed experiments is encouraged. Capture realtime decision-making processes so everyone can learn from their mistakes. 3. Allow independent teams to operate as micro-enterprises, or adopt Jeff Bezos’ “two pizza” rule.
Links* Connect with Howard via LinkedIn * Leap: How to Thrive in a World Where Everything Can Be Copied – Howard’s book * Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making, by Tony Fadell * The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail, by Clayton Christensen * Amazon’s Two Pizza Rule: one simple rule for maximising meeting effectiveness
Creating democratic workplaces lead to accelerated growth and a culture that people love. By giving power to employees and treating them with dignity and fairness, companies can tap into the full potential of their workforce.
Transitioning to a democratic workplace takes a specific mindset, democratic leadership skills, and the implementation of systems and processes that value transparency and accountability. But not only does it increase employee satisfaction and engagement, it can also result in significant revenue growth.
Traci Fenton is the author of Freedom at Work and the CEO of WorldBlu, an organisation focused on democratic workplaces. Traci has been working for decades to help build freedom-centred democratic workplaces and has collaborated with hundreds of companies around the world.
Traci believes in giving power to people and creating environments that value transparency, accountability, and the inherent worth of every individual. In her discussion with Henry and Maureen, she emphasises the transformative impact of democratic principles on organisational success, and highlights the accelerated growth and positive culture that democratic workplaces can create.
Traci’s tips for a happier workplace1. Adopt a mindset of valuing every individual's worth and giving power to the people. Treat employees with dignity and respect. 2. Develop democratic leadership skills, including meaningful conversations, active listening, fairness, and transparency. 3. Implement systems and processes that support freedom-centred principles, like transparency, accountability, and choice.
Links* Connect with Traci via LinkedIn * Freedom at Work: The Leadership Strategy for Transforming Your Life, Your Organization, and Our World – Traci’s book * Join Happy’s Liberating Structures Immersive Workshop * WorldBlu’s Freedom at Work scorecard
A culture of trust, empowerment and respect towards employees leads to a successful and sustainable business model, higher levels of customer satisfaction, and a happy workplace. That ethos has been key to Handelsbanken’s operation for over 40 years, and has led them to top ratings in UK customer satisfaction for 15 years.
It also makes financial sense. The banking group has been the most profitable within its peer group for nearly 50 years.
Bernard Charles is Chief HR Officer at the UK division of Handelsbanken, a decentralised banking environment that prioritises individual and corporate banking customer relationships. The group’s unique approach to banking includes a lack of individual sales targets and a bonus structure that is equally distributed among all employees, regardless of their position in the company.
Bernard’s tips for a happy workplace1. Cultivate a culture of trust within your organisation. Believe in your employees' capabilities and trust them to make the right decisions. 2. Provide your employees with the right conditions to make decisions in their areas of expertise. This not only creates engagement but also fosters a sense of ownership and shared purpose. 3. Respect each employee as an individual in their own right. This includes creating an environment where everyone feels like they can bring their whole selves to work and where everyone has the opportunity to be included and heard.
Links* Connect with Bernard via LinkedIn
Creating a culture of psychological safety is crucial for organisations. By fostering an environment where people feel safe to speak up, share their ideas, and take intelligent risks, companies can promote learning, innovation, and growth. Celebrating failures – especially intelligent failures that result from thoughtful exploration – can encourage individuals to take risks and contribute to the collective knowledge of the organisation.
Amy Edmondson is largely credited as the founder of the Psychological Safety movement. She’s written five books, and her work focuses on the importance of psychological safety in organisations and how it contributes to innovation, learning, and success. She’s conducted extensive research on creating environments where individuals feel safe to speak up, share ideas, and take risks.
In this episode, Amy shares examples of organisations that have successfully created psychological safety, the concept of intelligent failures, the challenges of creating psychological safety in remote work environments and the importance of active listening and inviting participation.
Amy’s tips for a happy workplace* Create a culture where people feel safe to contribute their knowledge, questions, expertise, and concerns. * Monitor your response and show genuine interest and appreciation for what others are saying. * Use tools and technology to facilitate communication and collaboration. * Encourage taking risks and trying new things, celebrating intelligent failures that result from thoughtful exploration.
Links* Connect with Amy via LinkedIn * Right Kind of Wrong: Why Learning to Fail Can Teach Us to Thrive – Amy’s latest book * New Smart Working Code of Practice announced (PAS3000) * Taking Risks, Making Mistakes: How Psychological Safety Drives Innovation
Ricardo Semler’s radical book Maverick is now 30 years old. Happy was an early adopter of some of its key principles, and when software company cofounder Zahid Malik was looking for implementation examples, Happy was just about the only one he found.
As Semler’s work suggests, implementing a culture of trust, freedom, and autonomy can have a transformative impact on a company. By allowing employees to make decisions, fostering open communication, and providing guidelines and frameworks, organisations can create a happy and productive workplace. But it’s important to strike a balance and ensure that the right people are in the organisation who can thrive in a Maverick environment.
Zahid is the founder of called Risr. They specialise in providing software for education and training organisations to help them manage and run their assessments, exams, and continuing professional development. While he’s faced challenges in implementing the principles of Maverick, he’s striven to create autonomous units within his organisation, allowing teams to make decisions and operate in ways that best serve their customers.
Zahid’s top tips for a happy workplace1. Having freedom and autonomy is crucial for a happy workplace. Allowing employees to make decisions and have control over their work contributes to their overall satisfaction. 2. But not everyone may thrive in an environment like this, so it's essential to ensure that employees align with the company's values and ways of working. 3. Providing employees with clear guidelines and boundaries within which they can exercise their freedom helps bring structure and prevents chaos in the workplace.
Links* Connect with Zahid via LinkedIn * Risr – Zahid’s company * Maverick: The Success Story Behind the World's Most Unusual Workshop, by Ricardo Semler * Creating joy at work – Episode 2 with Cathy Busani * Reinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage in Human Consciousness, by Frederic Laloux * Bullshit Jobs: The Rise of Pointless Work, and What We Can Do About it, by David Graeber
As an organisation expands and new people come on board – either remotely in or in satellite offices – it can be hard to ensure everyone’s aligned with the same values and goals. This can lead to a lack of cohesion and a sense of disconnection among team members.
So organisations need to find creative ways to maintain their culture as they grow. TLC, a relationship charity based in Greater Manchester, which invests in its employees’ wellbeing. They give staff the freedom to plan their own career paths and make decisions across the organisation rather than working in a purely hierarchical way.
This week, TLC’s Chief Executive uncovers how the charity creates a happy workplace by promoting a sense of community, and giving employees the opportunity to shape and lead the organisation.
Michelle’s tips for a happy workplace* Be authentic and encourage others to do the same. * Always listen and be open to ideas from anyone. * Be willing to fail and commit to learning from it.
Links* Connect with Michelle via LinkedIn * TLC – Talk, Listen, Change * Happy’s Level 7 Senior Leadership apprenticeship programme – the “Happy MBA”
Creating a truly inclusive and happy workplace means understanding and addressing the unique needs and feelings of each individual. This involves actively listening to and communicating with employees, recognising and addressing implicit biases, and creating a culture of trust and fairness.
Creating connections between teammates and increasing knowledge and understanding of each other's backgrounds and strengths will help foster greater inclusion and happiness in the workplace.
Femi Otitoju is the co-founder of EW Group, an equality, diversity, and inclusion partnership. She’s been helping organisations become more inclusive since 1988. In her conversation with Henry and Maureen, she tackles unconscious bias and how it can be addressed through training and recognition.
Femi’s tips for a happy workplace* Assume good intent when people make contributions. Even if someone makes a mistake or uses terminology that might not be comfortable for everyone, start by assuming that they did not intend to offend anyone. * Combat micro-aggressions with micro-affirmations. Consciously use small positive statements and gestures, like acknowledging people's presence, welcoming their contributions, and congratulating them on a job well done. * When receiving feedback or criticism, assume good intent and respond with graciousness. Thank the person for their feedback and take the time to understand their perspective. Avoid getting defensive or dismissive, and recognise that feedback is a rare and precious gift that can help improve workplace happiness.
Links* Connect with Femi via LinkedIn
Psychologically safety isn’t just about creating a comfortable climate, but about embracing discomfort. That’s because discomfort helps us grow and address complex problems, which in turn leads to greater psychological safety.
This means shifting from a parent-child dynamic to an adult-to-adult relationship within teams. That involves relating to people's potential, treating them as competent professionals, and involving them in the decision-making process.
A psychologically “safe” environment without a level of discomfort can hinder people’s growth and professional development, which can affect innovation and creativity.
To create a more psychologically safe environment, this week’s guest, Lisa Gill, suggests staying curious for longer, asking good coaching questions, and being honest and open about our challenges as leaders.
Lisa’s tips for a happier workplace1. Allow space for people to be something other than happy if that's what's real for them. 2. Create a climate of psychological safety by embracing discomfort as well as safety. 3. Practice adult-to-adult conversations by relating to people's potential and being curious and empathetic.
Links* Episode 10 – Beyond Budgeting, with Bjarte Bogsnes * Connect with Lisa via LinkedIn * Why Psychological Safety is Important for Productive Teamwork, by Shane Snow * Jessica and Douglas Rauch from Aquadec on tradesmen and teal – from Lisa’s Leadermorphasis podcast * The Advice Trap: Be Humble, Stay Curious & Change the Way You Lead Forever, by Michael Bungay Stanier * Brave New Work: Are You Ready to Reinvent Your Organization?, by Aaron Dignan * Liberating Structures
Co-management is a radical and fair way to run a company. One company’s approach of having no hierarchy and no bosses has allowed for a more collaborative and communicative environment, where teams can solve problems together.
Matt Perez is the co-founder of Nearsoft, a software company that practices co-management. Instead of having bosses, they have leadership teams that solve problems and make decisions. They also have a unique approach to dealing with poor performance before it comes an issue.
Matt’s tip for a happier workplaceWorkplace happiness involves being true to oneself and respecting others' boundaries. By finding common ground, differences can be resolved, creating a more collaborative environment. Face-to-face conversations are especially effective in resolving issues and finding common ground.
Links* Connect with Matt via LinkedIn * Radical Companies: Organized for Success Without Bosses or Employees – Matt’s book * Maverick: The Success Story Behind the World's Most Unusual Workshop, by Ricardo Semler
Happiness is not just a feeling, but an action that can be intentionally built within an organisation. By prioritising happiness and promoting engagement, pride, and appreciation, companies can create a culture that leads to profitability and success.
Dr Pelè developed the concept of "profitable happiness", which centres around the notion that organisations can create a culture of happiness that leads to engaged and productive employees, and ultimately, profitability. Dr Pelè emphasises the importance of eudaimonic happiness, which focuses on engagement, meaning, and purpose, rather than just seeking pleasure.
With this framework, managers can create habits of profitable happiness by providing appreciation, autonomy, and recognition to their employees.
Links* Profitable Happiness: The 5 Key Habits of a High-Performance Organization – Dr Pelè’s book * The Profitable Happiness Podcast * Eudaimonia * Try the Profitable Happiness software beta * Go Kaba Monate – Dr Pelè & Mash Macaroni (closing music)
Budgeting is time-consuming, can lead to quickly-outdated assumptions, and can stimulate unethical behaviours like resource hoarding. Beyond Budgeting is a management philosophy that challenges traditional management practices, specifically the budgeting process.
In this episode, Henry speaks with Bjarte Bogsnes about the problems with budgeting, and how some companies have broken free of the budgeting mindset. Bjarte is a senior advisor at the Norwegian company Statoil, now Equinor, and has been a key figure in developing and promoting the Beyond Budgeting philosophy.
Bjarte’s tip for a happier workplaceFollow the 12 Beyond Budgeting principles around governance and transparency, accountable teams, goals and rewards, and planning and controls.
Links Beyond Budgeting: Business Agility in Practice – Happy’s event on July 12th* * Connect with Bjarte via LinkedIn * This is Beyond Budgeting: A Guide to More Adaptive and Human Organisations – Bjarte’s book
Creating a happy and productive workplace starts with a focus on culture. A coaching culture can help build trust and encourage open communication.
Sarah Pugh is the CEO of Whizz-Kidz, the UK's leading charity for young wheelchair users. She shares her insights on leading a hospice to an Outstanding rating in just one year. She did this by making culture a fundamental part of the change process. She reveals how this experience has informed her work at Whizz-Kidz and the steps she’s taken there to put culture at the heart of everything.
Sarah’s tips for a happy workplace* Lead with kindness, and remember that kindness is a strength, not a sign of weakness. * Treat people like adults and they will act like adults. Look for the potential in people and allow them the opportunity to shine. * We learn so more from our mistakes than we do our successes, so eliminate blame and encourage people to learn from mistakes.
Links* Connect with Sarah via LinkedIn * Whizz-Kidz * Happy’s Level 7 Senior Leadership Apprenticeship Programme – the “Happy MBA” * Introduction to Liberating Structures * The magic of leadership is empathy, with Tom Peters – Episode 1 of the Happy Manifest Podcast
Implementing a self-managing organisation requires a shift in mindset and a commitment to creating a positive work environment. This involves giving employees trust, freedom and responsibility, as well as promoting health and wellbeing. In this episode, Henry and Maureen speak to Luke Kyte, a senior leader whose company made this transition.
Reddico is a self-managing SEO agency that implemented unlimited holiday, formed a salary panel, and measured success through metrics like the Net Promoter Score. All in place of things like pingpong tables and nights out that look great on social media, but don’t improve employee happiness or promote wellbeing.
Luke's three tips for creating a happy workplace* Start with trust, building the company for the vast majority of people who want to do a great job and want ownership. * Treat perks and benefits as the cherry on top, and focus on changing the organizational structure. * Include people in decision-making and strategy across the business, particularly when going through a process of change.
Links* Connect with Luke via LinkedIn * Net Promoter
When Jason Mitchell escaped the office to reconnect with his tasks, he noticed something: he was losing sight of the relationships behind the tasks.
“Action has meaning only in relationship; without understanding relationship, action on any level will only breed conflict. The understanding of relationship is infinitely more important than the search for any plan of action.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti
This discovery led Jason to build regular check-ins with members of his team, that weren’t simply task-orientated, but were people-orientated.
Jason is VP of Customer Experience at Typefi, and joins Henry to discuss what he experienced and learned through Happy’s Level 7 Senior Leadership Apprenticeship Programme, otherwise known as the “Happy MBA”.
Jason’s three tips for a happy workplace* Support your team to pursue their ideas for improvement, not yours. * Embrace asynchronous working. * Celebrate anything and everything you can.
Links* Connect with Jason on LinkedIn * Typefi * The 2023 Happy Cultural Planner * Level 7 Senior Leadership Apprenticeship Programme * Multipliers, Revised and Updated: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smart, by Liz Wiseman
The guiding principle at UK software firm Mayden is to manage the work, not the people. The company has put in place a clear decision-making process and a scaffolding structure that replaces most line management positions.
Everyone within Mayden has access to an individual coach who is trained and experienced in coaching, and the company has retained a tier of directors who deal with residual line management responsibilities. Mayden's approach encourages individuals to manage themselves and take responsibility for decisions.
The process of forming and growing a managerless team is outlined in a new book written by Mayden. And Alison Sturgess-Durden, one of Mayden’s Directors joins Henry and Maureen to dig into the details.
Alison’s tips for a happy workplace:* Be mindful of the people you've employed and, and, and free them up to get on with doing the job that they want to do. * Empower your employees to do their jobs without fear of blame. Employees need to feel safe to make decisions and manage their work, and should feel supported if something goes wrong. * Focus on respecting your employees as valuable adults and encouraging them to be be kind.
Links* Connect with Alison on LinkedIn * Made Without Managers: One Company's Story of Creating a Self-Managing Workplace, by Alison Sturgess Durden, Chris May, and Philippa Kindon
A multiplier is a leader who amplifies the intelligence and capability of their team, making work feel challenging yet exhilarating. Diminishers, on the other hand, unintentionally hold people back and create an environment where people defer to them. Both types of leaders have vastly different impacts on their teams.
Liz Wieman, the author of Multipliers, joins Henry and Maureen to discuss how to recognise the genius in others, create an environment that elicits the best thinking, provide challenges, encourage debate, and foster ownership and accountability.
Liz’s tips for a happy workplace* Empower team members by giving them control, which helps them feel less like victims and more in charge of their work. * Point people to where they can be most impactful and show them how their work is making a difference. * Lighten the load, not by doing other people's work for them, but by doing the small things that make work easy for others.
Links* Impact Players: How to Take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact – Liz’s new book * Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smart – Liz’s previous book * The Fearless Organization - Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth, by Amy Edmondson * The Multipliers Accidental Diminisher Quiz * Adam Grant
Wholeness, self-management and evolutionary purpose are three core principles that changed Helen Sanderson’s view on teams.
Helen is the founder of Wellbeing Teams, an organisation providing care and support at home. As a self-governing team, they are able to create greater trust and autonomy for employees. But this wasn’t a framework that can just be dropped in:
I thought it was like adding a new app on your phone, but it wasn't; it was transforming the operating system.
Helen’s three tips for happy workplaces* Increase autonomy and social support. * Don’t be afraid to talk about feelings at work. * Be clear about how we want to show up.
Links* Connect with Helen on LinkedIn * Reinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage in Human Consciousness, by Frederic Laloux * Wellbeing Teams * One-page profiles * Start With Why – Simon Sinek * Confirmation Practices - rethinking performance management * The ‘Values’ Bit in Values-based Recruitment * Dying for a Paycheck, by Jeffrey Pfeffer * Buurtzorg and the power of self-managed teams of nurses – Lisa Gill’s Leadermorphosis podcast
Henry is in conversation with Chris McQueen from the Stroke Association. With Happy’s help, Chris and his team developed a set of five principles that drive the decisions the organisation makes, and how they want to work.
The Association is a traditionally hierarchical organisation, but through the “Happy MBA”, they’ve created more interdependence within team-members, with less need for knowledge and instructions to be passed down through the hierarchy.
Chris’ three tips for a happier workplace* Build a culture of trust. * Set clear boundaries. * Create a safe environment where people are willing to try new things.
Links* The Stroke Association * Level 7 Senior Leadership Apprenticeship Programme * Liberating Structures Immersion Workshop
What if people could spend 80% of their time at work doing things that gave them joy? That was the question Happy’s Managing Director Cathy Busani asked herself that still informs her work, now 27 years later.
What Cathy found is that when people spend time doing the things they’re good at, their work feels more effortless, and thus more joyful. In this chat with Henry, Cathy lays out her strengths, and how Happy’s approach has evolved over time.
Cathy’s three tips for creating happier workplaces* Put your people at the heart of what you do. * Start from a premise of believing the best. * Stay curious.
Links Ralph & Katie – the A Word* spin-off show mentioned by Maureen * Pre-approval: What is it and why should you do it? * Recruit for Attitude, Train for Skill in Practice * Do you celebrate mistakes?
A leader needs to be prepared to be available. That means not overbooking themselves with meetings, burning out, and being unable to think creatively. To author and columnist Tom Peters, empathy is the most important skill a leader can have.
In May 1986, Tom wrote about having only five levels of management, even in big multinationals. In ‘88, he wrote Stuff the Bureaucrats, Embrace the Customer, Listen to the Workers, and since the ‘90s has been speaking on the importance of having women in leadership positions.
Tom’s COVID-19 Leadership Seven* Be kind * Be caring * Be patient * Be forgiving * Be present * Be positive * Walk in the other person's shoes
Links* Connect with Tom on LinkedIn * Tom Peters’ Compact Guide to Excellence * Leadership the Hard Way, by Dov Frohman and Robert Howard * What Google learned from its quest to build the perfect team * The Customer Comes Second: Put Your People First and Watch 'em Kick Butt, by Hal Rosenbluth and Diane McFerrin Peters * Resume vs eulogy virtues * Kindness in Leadership, edited by Gay Haskins, Mike Thomas, and Lalit Johri
Let's stop thinking about how to create joy at work, and start doing it.
Join Henry Stewart and Maureen Egbe as they explore creating happy workplaces. Each episode features actionable examples from management experts and Happy clients, which you can put into practice in your own workplace.
The show launches on January 11th, with new episodes arriving every two weeks.