Happiness is a state of being that everybody aspires for. And this is true in the workplace as well. More and more companies are realizing the value of happiness—and its direct impact on workplace productivity.
And productivity is most important in sales. Many sales reps are often inundated with tasks that they end up spending less than three hours of an 8-hour work day selling. Sales managers are constantly looking at ways to improve productivity in selling.
What’s so great about happiness? Happy people are more successful in multiple life domains, including marriage, friendship, income, work performance, and health.
So how can being happy help with sales productivity? Why is employee happiness suddenly a priority for business owners? It’s for these reasons:
Happy employees care about their work
Happy employees find meaning in everything they do, and this includes work. They don’t just go through the motions. They care about what they are doing. They align with company goals and objectives and is invested in the work.
This care extends to clients. They are more customer-centric because they know the value of customers to their business. They are more genuine in their transactions, and clients appreciate this. And as we all know, customer satisfaction has a direct impact on the bottom line.
Happy employees are higher-performing
It goes without saying that because they care about what they do; this also impacts their performance. One’s high spirits bring about a wonderful, boundless energy. Think about it: Have you ever seen a sluggish happy person? Happy employees are more driven and more “present”—and therefore more engaged. Employee engagement is one of the cornerstones of productivity because it demonstrates active participation and commitment.
It’s easy for happy employees to go over and beyond what is expected of them. They are more helpful and more likely to volunteer. Their energy also correlates to their mental and physical wellbeing: they are happy because they are mentally and physically healthy—and vice versa. And their energy, helpfulness, and good health have a direct effect on workplace productivity.
Happy employees are more collaborative
Happy people work well with others. It’s easy for them to establish relationships with peers, colleagues, and supervisors. People are also naturally drawn to their sunny, amiable disposition. This allows them to form great collaborations with team members. Teamwork is crucial in sales, and happy people make great team players.
Happy employees have a more positive mindset
They have a “can-do” attitude and this is critical in sales. Rejection is a downside of selling. You don’t always win deals, but what makes you a great salesperson is how you handle rejection. You can’t let the losses bring you down; you have to stay positive. Happy people are naturally optimistic, so they already have a leg up against competition.
Happy employees are more open to—and encourage—learning
Happiness is a sign of contentment, and this could be the reason why happy people come across as self-assured. Self-assured people take criticism very well. They view mistakes as opportunities for learning. They are not opposed to being trained and coached. In fact, they welcome it and they also encourage others to have the same mindset.
Happy employees are more resourceful and innovative
They are not bogged down by negativity or apathy. They are the type to not settle for anything less than what they know they are capable of doing. They will find ways to achieve what they know can be achieved—and are therefore more resourceful and spirited. When faced with challenges, they find solutions. They will innovate, take calculated risks, and remain persistent. It’s just not in their nature to give up.
Happy people are more productive and more creative, and this effect extends to all those experiencing positive emotions. Unhappy people are easily discouraged. When faced with setbacks, they complain. Happy people don’t spend time complaining. They immediately spring into action.
Aside from productivity, how else is your business rewarded by employee happiness?
- Loyalty: If your employees are happy, they are bound to stay put and not look elsewhere for a job. Ans low turnover means less expenses for hiring, onboarding, and training.
- Positive Contagion: Happy people are highly infectious, and you want that happiness to go around. And trust us, it will. When happy employees start showing their collaborative, supportive, and positive attitudes, other employees will sit up, take notice, and feel inspired to do the same.
- Happy customers: This is perhaps the biggest reward because it has a direct impact on revenue. The customers are the biggest beneficiaries of happy salespeople. Customers are serviced better. They have better relationships with the salespeople and actually enjoy working with them. And happy customers become loyal customers, which is great for your bottom line. Happy customers mean a happy, thriving business for you.
Happy salespeople are naturally confident and charismatic—two of the key sales characteristics one needs for better client relationship building.
Of course, management has to do its share in keeping employees happy. How do you create a happy, inspiring workplace? That conversation deserves a separate post.
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