7 Ways Leaders Promote Unhappiness
Unhappiness is easier than happiness like lousy leadership is easier than remarkable.
The best way to promote unhappiness is to neglect happiness.
Leaders who neglect happiness lead unhappy teams.
7 ways leaders promote unhappiness:
- Waste energy avoiding stuff. Protection is necessary but it doesn’t build the future.
- Keep telling people what you don’t want and don’t like.
- Accept nothing less than perfection.
- Compare the present to the good ole days.
- Belittle. Remind people of their weaknesses and failures.
- Don’t play. Work all the time.
- Punish initiative.
Unhappy organizations fall below their potential.
Happiness is energy.
10 ways leaders inspire happiness:
- Enjoy happiness. Some leaders fear happiness. Honor happiness when you see it.
- Earn trust. Be a trustworthy leader. Have you had a leader you didn’t trust? Were you happy? Productive? Trust precedes happiness. Distrust produces unhappiness.
- Promote transparency. Silos are made of secrets. Transparency eliminates secrets.
- Listen. Listening is cost effective. You don’t have to agree or solve. Listen to understand. Relax. Talk less. Make space for silence. Happiness stands on feeling understood.
- Focus on meaning and purpose. Meaningful work inspires happiness. Remind people how their work matters. Let them know they matter.
- Connect strengths and talents to challenges and opportunities. Everyone on your team sucks at something. Choose to acknowledge and leverage their strengths.
- Give control. The more controlling you are, the more unhappiness you cause.
- Show appreciation. Name behaviors you admire. Dive below results to behaviors that produce results.
- Be friendly.
- Make values based decisions. Profits matter, but it’s not just about profit anymore.
Which of these happiness principles seems most important to you?
How do leaders inspire happiness at work?
Dan, as the author of “Seven Secrets to Enlightened Happiness,” this really got my attention–but hey, all your posts do that. What you say here is so true: “The best way to promote unhappiness is to neglect happiness.”
As for the principles I think are most important, they’re all connected, but I will single out this one: “Happiness stands on feeling understood.”
I like your statement that happiness is energy. It happens to almost be the definition of happiness in my book, where I define enlightened happiness as feeling positive energy about yourself and your life or the progess you make in either arena.
I hope a lot of us stop and think about “happiness is energy.” That’s why happiness in the workplace is a valid business concern. Why is this so hard for us to wrap our minds around? Leaders know they don’t want an unhappy employee but they aren’t so sure happiness at work is that big of a deal
Your post today is helpful in tipping the scales on this matter, thanks!
Thanks Alan. It’s great to be in alignment with you. I respect your insights.
Thanks also for advocating for the idea that happiness stands on feeling understood.
If anyone is interested in Alan’s book, go to “Seven Secrets to Enlightened Happiness.”
Hello Dan,
I like all tips on 10 ways leaders inspire happiness.
Nice sharing!
Best Regards,
Naren
The principle I believe is most important is #4: Listen. To me an effective leader is one that doesn’t take control but rather encourages others to be creative. That happens only by truly listening – not to correct, to have a quick comeback but to facilitate support for group efforts.
Each principle is worth its weight in gold. All needs to be followed for happiness.
I wanted to call out “Meaningful work inspires happiness.” Knowing what we are doing has purpose at work and in life is key to well-being.
Great list. So often leaders lose sight of doing the simple things well which make a huge difference
Dan, thanks for this post. I worked with someone last week who made me feel completely unhappy and they did all the things you mention above, now I know what caused my unhappiness, I can decide to ignore their way of working and continue in the way I truly believe produces great results.
A great reminder to focus on the positive.
“Belittle. Remind people of their weaknesses and failures.”
The worst is when leaders enjoy doing this in a crowd, as entertainment.