It’s a tough time for libraries, and people in customer service. And while we don’t want to veer into any toxic positivity, it is good to spend a little time focused on building your happiness level. We are not going to solve people’s serious mental issues here. But bringing some happiness skills to your week can be helpful to everyone!

Mondays can be a little hard, even when things are going fine. Use this small injection of a happiness skill to your week. We are here to support you, and to help you to be a little happier in the library.

We have talked about individual happiness strategies here, and they are important. This week we are looking at the idea of happiness across an entire workplace.

Check out this excerpt from the article Workplace Happiness: Is It Possible?

“Happy workplaces enhance employees’ outcomes. When the vibe is friendly, work no longer feels like a burden, but a place where to feel valued. Below are some reasons why having a happy workplace is important for any company:

1. Business Success: A happy workplace is one where employees support each other and are open about their vulnerabilities – a key component of business success. Mistakes are not being hidden and failures are often seen as opportunities. Both business and employees benefit from a happy workspace.

2. Motivation: More energy and optimism can be seen when employees enjoy their work. Individuals feel driven to perform their daily tasks and are open to receiving feedback. Happy employees are more likely to see feedback as an opportunity for growth and development. 

3. Health Improves: Happiness also boosts people’s immune systems. Therefore, happy employees mean it’ll be less likely that people will call in due to sickness. Fewer call-ins mean greater productivity and stronger financial gains. 

4. Creativity Upsurges: People become even more creative when they are feeling happy. They will want to innovate, explore new initiatives, make their voices be heard, and give their best. It’s very unlikely that something original can arise from an unhappy mental state. 

5. Teamwork: Employees will start engaging with each other more as a team if the workplace encourages happiness. A happy workplace always denotes healthier communication. Employees will interact on a better level amongst themselves and also with customers. This is an even more important feature for salespeople.

6. Learning From Mistakes: Hiding mistakes often involves losing time, money, energy, and other resources. Workplace happiness is key to avoid this pitfall. Happy employees are more likely to praise each other, give feedback, and learn from the mistakes made. Unhappy employees, on the other hand, may see feedback as criticism and might end up frustrated.  “

CMLE can be part of your support network; we are here for you, and support you in your library work. Take a nice deep breath in, and whoosh it out; it’s going to be okay today.