Why happiness is good for business with Jenn Lim

Summary

In this live session, Abby Guthkelch from Facebook Workplace interviews Jen Lin, a global authority on workplace culture. Jen discusses the importance of employee happiness and belonging in driving performance, emphasizing the need for leaders to create supportive environments. She introduces the concept of 'wholeness', advocating for a holistic approach to employee well-being that includes both highs and lows. The discussion highlights the role of technology in fostering community and the significance of aligning personal values with organizational purpose to achieve meaningful work.

Takeaways

• 😀 Employee Experience (EX) is pivotal in fostering a sense of belonging, which enhances performance by focusing on aspects like purpose, trust, meaning, and pride.
• 🌐 Companies must support their people with the right technology and environments to maintain connectivity and a sense of belonging, regardless of location.
• 📈 Workplace from Facebook identified three key rules for leaders to transform EX: supporting well-being, building community, and enabling efficient communication.
• 🔑 Leaders play a crucial role in EX strategies by creating environments that enable happiness and thriving among employees, as well as being active and visible within those communities.
• 🌟 Jen Lin emphasizes that happiness at work is not just about feeling good; it's about creating sustainable, meaningful lives that contribute to a company's success.
• 🌱 The concept of 'wholeness' is introduced, suggesting that organizations should consider the complete spectrum of employee experiences, including both highs and lows.
• 🔗 Technology is a tool that can support remote work and community building, but it must be used intentionally and effectively.
• 🤝 Virtual communities can play a significant role in maintaining workplace culture and employee well-being, especially in a remote work environment.
• 🔄 There's a shift from work-life balance to work-life integration, highlighting the importance of respecting employees' whole lives.
• 📊 Jen Lin's upcoming book introduces the 'Wheel of Wholeness', a tool for individuals to assess and improve various aspects of their lives for better work engagement and satisfaction.
• 🔄 Organizations should leverage the science of happiness to create happier workplaces, focusing on purpose, values, autonomy, progress, and connectedness.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the live session with Jen Lin?

The main focus of the live session is to discuss employee happiness, fostering a sense of belonging among employees, and the vital role leaders play in employee experience strategies.

What is the 'Adaptive Age' mentioned by Jen Lin?

The 'Adaptive Age' is a term used by Jen Lin to describe the current era characterized by rapid technological advancements, hyperconnectivity, and the need for organizations to adapt to change in real time to stay competitive.

What does Jen Lin believe is the key to building a successful organization?

Jen Lin believes that focusing on happiness, wholeness, and creating meaningful lives for employees is the key to building a successful organization.

What are the three rules identified by Workplace from Facebook for transforming employee experience?

The three rules are: supporting well-being, building community, and enabling efficient communications.

How does Jen Lin define 'wholeness' in the context of organizations and individuals?

Jen Lin defines 'wholeness' as considering both the highs and lows of an organization and individuals in a holistic way, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and aligning personal values with organizational purpose.

What role does technology play in fostering workplace cultures and employee happiness, according to Jen Lin?

Jen Lin suggests that technology should be used as a tool to support and enhance workplace cultures and employee happiness, especially in a remote or virtual environment.

What does Jen Lin recommend for leaders to immediately impact employee happiness and wholeness?

Jen Lin recommends that leaders start with purpose and values, engage in exercises to understand individual purposes and values, and ensure they align with the organization's purpose.

How can organizations shift their purpose and align their values, especially if they've been around for a long time?

Jen Lin suggests that organizations can shift their purpose by getting executive buy-in, breaking out into subgroups to realign around a new purpose, and making the purpose relevant to today's society.

What is the 'Wheel of Wholeness' mentioned by Jen Lin?

The 'Wheel of Wholeness' is a tool that represents the different aspects of an individual's life that contribute to their overall well-being, such as mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, purpose, and financial elements.

How does Jen Lin suggest measuring the impact of happiness initiatives in the workplace?

Jen Lin suggests starting with the science of happiness, focusing on levers like purpose, values, autonomy, progress, and connectedness, and measuring the impact of these initiatives to show improvement.

What is the significance of the equation 'Happy employees equal happy customers equal happier company' mentioned in the script?

This equation signifies the belief that when employees are happy and fulfilled, it leads to better customer experiences and ultimately contributes to the success and happiness of the entire company.