Dear happy people at Novo Nordisk
Thank you for letting me be a part of your away-day. It was a pleasure discussing happiness at work with you, and I was happy to see your involvement in the things I threw at you. I hope the rest of your event was a blast!
This page contains my slides, written Tips&Tricks and videos to help you create even more happiness in your day and your projects.
Download the presentation
If you want the presentation I used, you can download it.
Recommended reading
Book reviews and a list of recommended reading can be found here.
Tips and exercices
A seminar is one thing – creating change is something more. That’s why I have collected some of the simple-to-do but effective tools from my seminars, leaving you no excuse not to get started :o)
Connect with a fine “Good Morning”
You remember us practicing how to create good relationsships from the morning forward. It’s all about:
- Getting eye contact
- Saying Good Morning!
- Adding something extra, a friendly comment or question
- Adding a touch
Praise and recognition
Being recognized for what we do well is a basic human need, and a source of inner motivation and happiness. There a many ways of getting at it:
- Express it face to face. Be specific, and leave out any suggestions for improvement at this time.
- Write it down. In an email, on a note, or maybe on the card that comes with the flowers.
- Spread the word. Tell everyone in a meeting, in an email to the entire team, or pop into every office with a positive story about a fellow team-mate.
- Give ’em a High Five, and say “Well Done!!”. It’s quick, easy, visible, efective and fun :o)
Most important: Be yourself, no matter what you do. But do something.
Talk about more that just the job
Leaders and co-workers alike have a need to know each other well, as human beings, not just human doings. That’s why I recommend the simple measure of taking time to talk about “all the other stuff”, at lunch or at random times during the day. Make it a priority to have at least one small conversation each day that is not work-related. Also on busy days. Especially on busy days.
Be happy, and let is show
How does professional look like? Many would say intense, with a straight, serious face, at times bordering on upset. Nonsense! There is nothing wrong with being really happy at work, smiling and taking the job, deadlines etc. seriously. And since you actually do far better at work when you are happy, it also makes a whole lot of sense. Practice it, maybe even in front of the mirror :o)
Celebrate your successes
When you or your team succeed, do you then celebrate or quickly move on the the next bit? Make a habit of celebrating milestones conquered, results achieved and problems overcome. It can be grand, with dinner and champagne, or it can be light and simple: Gather everyone in a circle, applaud one another and give specific praise to the heroes of the day. You cannot pospone without a loss of effect, so do it now.
Focus on the positve
All of us are prone to what psychologists call Negativity Bias. We spot the mistakes easily enough, and tend to remember bad experiences more readily than the goo ones. The way out is actively focusing on the bright side. Ask yourself, before you leave work:
What were the good things today?
Be specific about it, and find at least three things. Brain researchers have documented that writing stuff down makes them appear more true to us, so jot these down every day – it will change your outlook and the mood you bring home with you.
Random Acts of Kindness
You can really do something for the people around you be surprising them in a good way. It doesn’t have to be someting grand – a cup of coffee at the right time, a door held open or an offer for help in a tight spot, all can save the day. Positive surprises trigger the release of dopamine, and we like that – it helps make us happy.
Videos on happiness at work
My own TEDx talk from London:
Here is a very happy and playful steward with Southwest Airlines, who does the rap:
Regarding acts of kindness to make others happy, here is Mukhtar, surprized on his birthday:
Now, go make your workday a happy one
Have a fantastic day!
/Jon Kjær Nielsen :o)
Speaker, Consultant, M.Sc.