Work is not always easy. Sometimes it is hard, but the benefits of creating and maintaining a happy workplace are immeasurable. Happiness has a multiplying effect. Happiness encourages risk taking. Happiness inspires creativity. Happy people are not afraid to make mistakes and they also make less mistakes. Happy people learn faster. Happy people are comfortable making decisions. A happy work environment attracts good people and in turn, promotes a culture of productivity and accountability. So, it is important when hiring to look at people that bring laughter to the workplace.
Recruiting happy people into your company is not always easy, but it can help to study body language and critically facial expressions and responses when interviewing potential new hires. These are the people who will make your workplace happier, and you do not have to be an expert in body language to read a genuine smile from a fake social one. Emotionally intelligent people are usually happy people too. They are perceptive, sensitive to others and fun to work with. Happiness among employees’ fuels performance and achievement, resulting in a competitive edge many companies crave. It is natural to come across people with the relevant experience and past achievements when interviewing a candidate, and we all want these qualities when hiring, but ignoring a personality can be a mistake. The best candidate on paper might be the worst person to bring into your team.
When interviewing, look at their other qualities – the soft skills that may not initially be that obvious because you are focusing on their technical capabilities. How you feel around this person? Do they highlight positive or negative emotions? Can you feel their energy? Do they seem like they care about relationships and people? A persons past experiences in terms of performance is important, but someone that brings unhappiness into the workplace will kill productivity and motivation. Hiring happy people is not an easy goal, but when I interview, I always keep an eye out for Happy People. What would your team be like if you did the same?
Robbie Quinn
