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The Happy Manifesto (Henry Stewart, Maureen Egbe)

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Explore every episode of The Happy Manifesto

Dive into the complete episode list for The Happy Manifesto. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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Pub. DateTitleDuration
19 Mar 2025How Engaging Employees Shapes a Happier Workplace with Ann Hartland00:28:12

Ann Hartland, Deputy CEO and Growth Director of Ceda, discusses the importance of joy at work, personal growth, and leadership as well as her experiences in the Level 7 Happy MBA programme.

Ann shares insights into her role highlighting a people-first approach and the significance of listening to employees.

Today's conversation reveals some of the challenges and successes of implementing a positive workplace culture and the practical application of theoretical learnings.

Ann also touches on her personal interests, including dog massage therapy and triathlons, underscoring the value of maintaining joy both in and out of work.

Jenny's tips for a happy workplace:

  • Do you know what is expected of you at work?
  • Do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day?
  • Regular, direct and honest communication

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

Daniel Pink's book Drive

Bruce Daisley's podcast Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat

Gallup's 12 Engagement Questions

20 Nov 2024How Does Employee Happiness Have an Impact on Workplace Productivity with Nic Marks00:31:37

Did you know that there's a strong link between happiness and success?

In today's episode, we explore the surprising connection between happiness, productivity, and workplace culture.

Nic Marks, a happiness expert and founder of the Centre for Wellbeing at the New Economics Foundation, and CEO of Friday Pulse, sheds light on this fascinating relationship and dives deep into the Happy Planet Index.

We discuss the impact of happiness on productivity and how a positive workplace environment can boost creativity and efficiency. Nic also reveals the important role of social networks and how the power of strong relationships contributes to fostering happiness and well-being.

Discover how a happier workforce can lead to a more successful business and hear some practical advice for leaders to enhance employee happiness and productivity.

Nic’s tips for a happy workplace:

  1. Connect (develop relationships)
  2. Be active
  3. Take notice (be mindful)
  4. Keep learning
  5. Give

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

https://wellbeing.hmc.ox.ac.uk/publications/does-employee-happiness-have-an-impact-on-productivity/

26 Apr 2023How self-management increases client and employee satisfaction, with Luke Kyte00:28:58

Implementing a self-managing organisation requires a shift in mindset and a commitment to creating a positive work environment. This involves giving employees trust, freedom and responsibility, as well as promoting health and wellbeing. In this episode, Henry and Maureen speak to Luke Kyte, a senior leader whose company made this transition.

Reddico is a self-managing SEO agency that implemented unlimited holiday, formed a salary panel, and measured success through metrics like the Net Promoter Score. All in place of things like pingpong tables and nights out that look great on social media, but don’t improve employee happiness or promote wellbeing.

Luke's three tips for creating a happy workplace

  • Start with trust, building the company for the vast majority of people who want to do a great job and want ownership.
  • Treat perks and benefits as the cherry on top, and focus on changing the organizational structure.
  • Include people in decision-making and strategy across the business, particularly when going through a process of change.

Links


20 Mar 2024Is employee happiness really a viable metric for success? with Pieter Jelle de Brue00:24:07

Employee happiness makes a big contribution to a company's success, as can self-management. But how do you know what’s really working, driving the business forwards, and helping it meet its targets?

This week's guest is Pieter Jelle de Brue, founder of digital agency Statik, a company that values employee happiness and has adopted a self-managing structure with multiple autonomous teams. They’re continuing to grow and evolve, and one of the metrics they’re currently conducting an experiment to find out if what people say about employee happiness really does have a measurable impact on a company’s bottom line.

Pieter’s tips for a happy workplace

  • Trust people to organise themselves when the purpose and goals are clear
  • Run small experiments to continuously evolve and improve
  • Value employee happiness as a measure of success

Links


09 Oct 2024How Celebrating Mistakes Creates a Culture of Trust with Ben Clarkson00:27:47

In many workplaces, mistakes are not tolerated or easily forgotten, leading to environments where employers are feeling pressurised to be perform perfectly and potentially nervous to innovate new ideas.

Ben Clarkson, Chief Finance and Operating Officer at Parkinson’s UK, joins the podcast today to share his journey implementing the principles of the Happy Manifesto, including the idea of celebrating mistakes rather than admonishing them. Previously at Asthma and Lung UK, Ben recounts his leadership experiences there, highlighting the importance of empowering people, recruiting for attitude and fostering an inclusive culture.

Ben reveals the impact on employees when the principle of celebrating mistakes is introduced: creating a culture of openness, accountability, and trust where every mistake is seen as a learning opportunity for growth. This inspiring episode underscores the transformative power of the Happy Manifesto principles in creating positive organisational cultures and good leadership.

Ben’s tips for a happy workplace:

  1. Create an inclusive culture where everyone can be their true and best selves
  2. Nothing worth doing is ever easy. Be brave.
  3. Empower people

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

Parkinson’s UK

Asthma and Lung UK

Connect with Ben on LinkedIn

Happy Manifesto Free EBooks

Happy Manifesto

Round Table

13 Dec 2023How Autonomy Leads to Profitability at Handelsbanken00:20:39

A culture of trust, empowerment and respect towards employees leads to a successful and sustainable business model, higher levels of customer satisfaction, and a happy workplace. That ethos has been key to Handelsbanken’s operation for over 40 years, and has led them to top ratings in UK customer satisfaction for 15 years.

It also makes financial sense. The banking group has been the most profitable within its peer group for nearly 50 years.

Bernard Charles is Chief HR Officer at the UK division of Handelsbanken, a decentralised banking environment that prioritises individual and corporate banking customer relationships. The group’s unique approach to banking includes a lack of individual sales targets and a bonus structure that is equally distributed among all employees, regardless of their position in the company.

Bernard’s tips for a happy workplace

  1. Cultivate a culture of trust within your organisation. Believe in your employees' capabilities and trust them to make the right decisions.
  2. Provide your employees with the right conditions to make decisions in their areas of expertise. This not only creates engagement but also fosters a sense of ownership and shared purpose.
  3. Respect each employee as an individual in their own right. This includes creating an environment where everyone feels like they can bring their whole selves to work and where everyone has the opportunity to be included and heard.

Links


06 Mar 2024Andrew Barnes, creator of the 4 Day Week movement00:35:27

A four-day work week doesn’t simply lead to longer weekends. When implemented right, organisations can maintain the same level of productivity, and give their employees significant – and measurable – increases in happiness.

The four-day week challenges traditional concepts of work and productivity and encourages companies to measure output rather than time spent working. This shift in approach has led to reduced stress, fewer sick days, and enhanced team cohesion.

Andrew Barnes is the originator of the four-day work week idea, which has now become a global movement and has been implemented in multinationals, governments, and NGOs worldwide. Andrew has written a book on the four-day week and has been involved in numerous implementation pilots in countries and companies of various sizes.

Andrew’s tips for a happy workplace

  1. Introduce the four-day working week
  2. Look after your building
  3. Put great art up on the walls

Links


22 Nov 2023Celebrating Intelligent Failures and Taking Responsibility, with Psychological Safety author Amy Edmondson00:28:37

Creating a culture of psychological safety is crucial for organisations. By fostering an environment where people feel safe to speak up, share their ideas, and take intelligent risks, companies can promote learning, innovation, and growth. Celebrating failures – especially intelligent failures that result from thoughtful exploration – can encourage individuals to take risks and contribute to the collective knowledge of the organisation.

Amy Edmondson is largely credited as the founder of the Psychological Safety movement. She’s written five books, and her work focuses on the importance of psychological safety in organisations and how it contributes to innovation, learning, and success. She’s conducted extensive research on creating environments where individuals feel safe to speak up, share ideas, and take risks.

In this episode, Amy shares examples of organisations that have successfully created psychological safety, the concept of intelligent failures, the challenges of creating psychological safety in remote work environments and the importance of active listening and inviting participation.

Amy’s tips for a happy workplace

  • Create a culture where people feel safe to contribute their knowledge, questions, expertise, and concerns.
  • Monitor your response and show genuine interest and appreciation for what others are saying.
  • Use tools and technology to facilitate communication and collaboration.
  • Encourage taking risks and trying new things, celebrating intelligent failures that result from thoughtful exploration.

Links


11 Sep 2024Leading with Happiness: Insights from the Original Chief Happiness Officer - Alex Kjerulf00:29:01

Alex Kjerulf is the original chief happiness officer and in today's episode shares insights from his 25-year journey, emphasising that true workplace happiness stems from meaningful results and positive relationships; rather than superficial perks.

Alex reveals the growing global interest in workplace happiness, the benefits of remote working, four-day workweeks, and the pitfalls of relentless positive thinking.

Hear practical tips for fostering a happy work environment and to finding joy outside of work distinguishing it from mere job satisfaction.

Alex's tips for a happy workplace

  1. Stop wasting money on the wrong things: focus on results and relationships
  2. Start with the leaders in your workplace (if they don't get it, nobody will!)
  3. Put somebody in charge of the happiness project (have a Chief Happiness Officer)

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

Alex's book Happy Hour Is 9 to 5

The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer

Alex's video 6 Reasons Why Greece’s New 6-day Work Week Will BACKFIRE

24 Jul 2024How Gen Z Leaders Can Embrace Radical Candor To Empower Their Teams with Emma Halahan00:27:43

Emma Halahan is an apprentice who has worked with the Dog Star Foundation and is now at Guy's and St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust. In this conversation, Emma shares her journey as a Gen-Z leader, discussing her experiences with leadership, the challenges of transitioning between organizations, and the impact of her apprenticeship.

Emma also highlights the importance of empowering her team, developing team members who show initiative, embracing agile methodologies, and practicing radical candor with her colleagues.

Emma's tips for a happy workplace

  1. As a leader, build a culture of multiplying
  2. Build radical candor: empathy and feedback with team members
  3. Take the joy of joy at work seriously

Links

Multipliers, book by Liz Wiseman

Radical Candor, book by Kim Scott

14 Jun 2023Profitable Happiness, with Dr Pelè00:29:25

Happiness is not just a feeling, but an action that can be intentionally built within an organisation. By prioritising happiness and promoting engagement, pride, and appreciation, companies can create a culture that leads to profitability and success.

Dr Pelè developed the concept of "profitable happiness", which centres around the notion that organisations can create a culture of happiness that leads to engaged and productive employees, and ultimately, profitability. Dr Pelè emphasises the importance of eudaimonic happiness, which focuses on engagement, meaning, and purpose, rather than just seeking pleasure.

With this framework, managers can create habits of profitable happiness by providing appreciation, autonomy, and recognition to their employees.

Links


22 May 2024Joyful Work: More Than Just a Happy Workplace with Maja Djikic00:30:36

Understanding that happiness can be tied to outcomes, and that joy can be connected to the process of growth and potential, in both life and at work, can be key to developing happiness in the workplace.

In this episode, Maja Djikic, an associate professor at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, and author of The Possible Self, shares her "Wheel of Self" framework and explores the distinction between happiness and joy; and the implications of focussing on joy over happiness.

Maja also emphasises the impact of organisational culture on problem-solving and employee well-being, highlighting the role of leadership.

Maja’s tips for a happy workplace:

1. Allow people to pursue their own interests regardless of skill

2. Identify and address draining work elements

3. Recognise individuals needs for fulfilment

Links:

The Possible Self - Maja's book

Gallup

Maja Djikic

08 May 2024The CoppaFeel Approach to Breast Cancer Awareness, with Natalie Haskell00:28:08

Early and accurate diagnosis of breast cancer, particularly in younger individuals, is important not just in the workplace but to any individual in any team or community and this is at the heart of CoppaFeel's mission: to promote early diagnosis to 18-24 year-olds, which can lead to treatments being more effective and less invasive whilst working towards higher survival rates. CoppaFeel is a breast cancer awareness charity taking a happy and positive approach to serious business.

In this episode, CEO, Natalie Heskall, shares details of the organisation's training programs that enhance communication and teamwork, and the implementation of an approach that puts people first to empower projects and employees. She also shares Copperfield's adoption of a nine-day fortnight work schedule and the importance of playing to individual strengths.

Natalie's tips for a happy workplace:

  1. Understand your purpose
  2. Foster by belonging to and building community
  3. Provide autonomy for people to be themselves

Links:

CoppaFeel

27 Sep 2023How to make your workplace more inclusive, with Femi Otitoju00:26:20

Creating a truly inclusive and happy workplace means understanding and addressing the unique needs and feelings of each individual. This involves actively listening to and communicating with employees, recognising and addressing implicit biases, and creating a culture of trust and fairness.

Creating connections between teammates and increasing knowledge and understanding of each other's backgrounds and strengths will help foster greater inclusion and happiness in the workplace.

Femi Otitoju is the co-founder of EW Group, an equality, diversity, and inclusion partnership. She’s been helping organisations become more inclusive since 1988. In her conversation with Henry and Maureen, she tackles unconscious bias and how it can be addressed through training and recognition.

Femi’s tips for a happy workplace

  • Assume good intent when people make contributions. Even if someone makes a mistake or uses terminology that might not be comfortable for everyone, start by assuming that they did not intend to offend anyone.
  • Combat micro-aggressions with micro-affirmations. Consciously use small positive statements and gestures, like acknowledging people's presence, welcoming their contributions, and congratulating them on a job well done.
  • When receiving feedback or criticism, assume good intent and respond with graciousness. Thank the person for their feedback and take the time to understand their perspective. Avoid getting defensive or dismissive, and recognise that feedback is a rare and precious gift that can help improve workplace happiness.

Links


23 Oct 2024Unlocking Business Success Through Employee Happiness: Insights from Mark Price00:35:52

Many businesses still focus solely on financial metrics to understand why they are underperforming. However, one crucial factor is often overlooked—the well-being and happiness of employees who contribute to those results.

Mark Price, former Marketing Director of Waitrose and founder of WorkL, discusses the critical role of employee happiness in driving business success. Drawing from his 32-year career at the John Lewis Partnership, Mark shares valuable insights into the direct impact of a positive work environment on productivity, employee retention, reduced absenteeism, and overall business growth. He also reflects on his experience turning around Somerfield stores by prioritising staff happiness; leading to remarkable improvements in performance.

Mark introduces a six-step framework for cultivating a happy workplace, providing actionable strategies for measuring and improving employee satisfaction, as well as the pivotal role leadership plays in fostering a thriving workplace culture. Whether you're a business owner, manager, or employee, this episode reveals why happiness at work is not just a "nice-to-have" but a key driver of long-term, sustainable success.

Mark’s tips for a happy workplace:

  1. Understanding the six-step framework: Reward and recognition. information sharing, empowerment, instilling pride, well-being, and career development
  2. It’s all about leadership: know where we’re going and why
  3. Good leaders need to be relentlessly optimistic

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

WorkL

Happy Economics Book

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn

07 Feb 2024Creating freedom-centred democratic workplaces, with Traci Fenton00:28:36

Creating democratic workplaces lead to accelerated growth and a culture that people love. By giving power to employees and treating them with dignity and fairness, companies can tap into the full potential of their workforce.

Transitioning to a democratic workplace takes a specific mindset, democratic leadership skills, and the implementation of systems and processes that value transparency and accountability. But not only does it increase employee satisfaction and engagement, it can also result in significant revenue growth.

Traci Fenton is the author of Freedom at Work and the CEO of WorldBlu, an organisation focused on democratic workplaces. Traci has been working for decades to help build freedom-centred democratic workplaces and has collaborated with hundreds of companies around the world.

Traci believes in giving power to people and creating environments that value transparency, accountability, and the inherent worth of every individual. In her discussion with Henry and Maureen, she emphasises the transformative impact of democratic principles on organisational success, and highlights the accelerated growth and positive culture that democratic workplaces can create.

Traci’s tips for a happier workplace

  1. Adopt a mindset of valuing every individual's worth and giving power to the people. Treat employees with dignity and respect.
  2. Develop democratic leadership skills, including meaningful conversations, active listening, fairness, and transparency.
  3. Implement systems and processes that support freedom-centred principles, like transparency, accountability, and choice.

Links


13 Sep 2023Treat your team like adults, with Lisa Gill00:23:23

Psychologically safety isn’t just about creating a comfortable climate, but about embracing discomfort. That’s because discomfort helps us grow and address complex problems, which in turn leads to greater psychological safety.

This means shifting from a parent-child dynamic to an adult-to-adult relationship within teams. That involves relating to people's potential, treating them as competent professionals, and involving them in the decision-making process.

A psychologically “safe” environment without a level of discomfort can hinder people’s growth and professional development, which can affect innovation and creativity.

To create a more psychologically safe environment, this week’s guest, Lisa Gill, suggests staying curious for longer, asking good coaching questions, and being honest and open about our challenges as leaders.

Lisa’s tips for a happier workplace

  1. Allow space for people to be something other than happy if that's what's real for them.
  2. Create a climate of psychological safety by embracing discomfort as well as safety.
  3. Practice adult-to-adult conversations by relating to people's potential and being curious and empathetic.

Links


11 Oct 2023How to Create and Maintain a Strong Culture in a Growing Team, with Michelle Hill00:27:29

As an organisation expands and new people come on board – either remotely in or in satellite offices – it can be hard to ensure everyone’s aligned with the same values and goals. This can lead to a lack of cohesion and a sense of disconnection among team members.

So organisations need to find creative ways to maintain their culture as they grow. TLC, a relationship charity based in Greater Manchester, which invests in its employees’ wellbeing. They give staff the freedom to plan their own career paths and make decisions across the organisation rather than working in a purely hierarchical way.

This week, TLC’s Chief Executive uncovers how the charity creates a happy workplace by promoting a sense of community, and giving employees the opportunity to shape and lead the organisation.

Michelle’s tips for a happy workplace

  • Be authentic and encourage others to do the same.
  • Always listen and be open to ideas from anyone.
  • Be willing to fail and commit to learning from it.

Links


19 Feb 2025How Embracing Trust Can Build a Happy Learning Culture in Your Organisation with Helen Stuart00:22:37

In this episode of the Happy Manifesto Podcast, co-hosts Maureen and Henry engage with Helen Stuart, Managing Director of Now You're Talking.

Helen Stuart, Managing Director of Now You're Talking discusses her transformative experiences from a leadership program at TLC, emphasising trust, empowerment, and psychological safety in management.

Helen shares practical insights on fostering team ownership, leveraging individual strengths, and creating a supportive work environment based upon 'pre-approval', trust, and ownership.

The conversation also touches on the importance of vulnerability in leadership and the benefits of recognising and utilising team members' unique skills.

Helen’s tips for a happy workplace:

  1. Trust and empower your team
  2. Create a trusting environment that embraces freedom and ownership
  3. Publicly celebrate wins and people's strengths

12 Apr 2023Bringing meaning to action, with Jason Mitchell00:34:19

When Jason Mitchell escaped the office to reconnect with his tasks, he noticed something: he was losing sight of the relationships behind the tasks.

“Action has meaning only in relationship; without understanding relationship, action on any level will only breed conflict. The understanding of relationship is infinitely more important than the search for any plan of action.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti

This discovery led Jason to build regular check-ins with members of his team, that weren’t simply task-orientated, but were people-orientated.

Jason is VP of Customer Experience at Typefi, and joins Henry to discuss what he experienced and learned through Happy’s Level 7 Senior Leadership Apprenticeship Programme, otherwise known as the “Happy MBA”.

Jason’s three tips for a happy workplace

  • Support your team to pursue their ideas for improvement, not yours.
  • Embrace asynchronous working.
  • Celebrate anything and everything you can.

Links


01 Nov 2023Exploring Maverick's Influence on Modern Workplaces, with Zahid Malik00:23:49

Ricardo Semler’s radical book Maverick is now 30 years old. Happy was an early adopter of some of its key principles, and when software company cofounder Zahid Malik was looking for implementation examples, Happy was just about the only one he found.

As Semler’s work suggests, implementing a culture of trust, freedom, and autonomy can have a transformative impact on a company. By allowing employees to make decisions, fostering open communication, and providing guidelines and frameworks, organisations can create a happy and productive workplace. But it’s important to strike a balance and ensure that the right people are in the organisation who can thrive in a Maverick environment.

Zahid is the founder of called Risr. They specialise in providing software for education and training organisations to help them manage and run their assessments, exams, and continuing professional development. While he’s faced challenges in implementing the principles of Maverick, he’s striven to create autonomous units within his organisation, allowing teams to make decisions and operate in ways that best serve their customers.

Zahid’s top tips for a happy workplace

  1. Having freedom and autonomy is crucial for a happy workplace. Allowing employees to make decisions and have control over their work contributes to their overall satisfaction.
  2. But not everyone may thrive in an environment like this, so it's essential to ensure that employees align with the company's values and ways of working.
  3. Providing employees with clear guidelines and boundaries within which they can exercise their freedom helps bring structure and prevents chaos in the workplace.

Links


04 Dec 2024How Embracing a Learning Culture Cultivates a Happy Workplace with Nigel Paine00:28:31

Nigel Paine, head of people development at the BBC, discusses the evolution of workplace learning, the creation of the BBC's iPlayer, and the importance of fostering a true learning culture in organisations.

Nigel emphasises the need for trust, autonomy, competence, and connectedness toward creating an effective learning environment and shares with us examples from Danone and WD-40 to illustrate successful learning practices

Nigel also highlights the significance of leadership qualities like courage and humility underscoring the critical role of continuous improvement and open communication in building a happy workplace culture.

Nigel’s tips for a happy workplace:

  1. Make people feel part of the team and organisation.
  2. Constantly work on what is stopping good things from happening.
  3. Have an index: some measure of how well you are getting there

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

Nigel's book The Great Reset

Harvard Business Review

25 Jan 2023Creating joy at work, with Cathy Busani00:33:27

What if people could spend 80% of their time at work doing things that gave them joy? That was the question Happy’s Managing Director Cathy Busani asked herself that still informs her work, now 27 years later.

What Cathy found is that when people spend time doing the things they’re good at, their work feels more effortless, and thus more joyful. In this chat with Henry, Cathy lays out her strengths, and how Happy’s approach has evolved over time.

Cathy’s three tips for creating happier workplaces

  • Put your people at the heart of what you do.
  • Start from a premise of believing the best.
  • Stay curious.

Links


31 May 2023Beyond Budgeting, with Bjarte Bogsnes00:32:48

Budgeting is time-consuming, can lead to quickly-outdated assumptions, and can stimulate unethical behaviours like resource hoarding. Beyond Budgeting is a management philosophy that challenges traditional management practices, specifically the budgeting process.

In this episode, Henry speaks with Bjarte Bogsnes about the problems with budgeting, and how some companies have broken free of the budgeting mindset. Bjarte is a senior advisor at the Norwegian company Statoil, now Equinor, and has been a key figure in developing and promoting the Beyond Budgeting philosophy.

Bjarte’s tip for a happier workplace

Follow the 12 Beyond Budgeting principles around governance and transparency, accountable teams, goals and rewards, and planning and controls.

Links


12 Jan 2023The magic of leadership is empathy, with Tom Peters00:32:21

A leader needs to be prepared to be available. That means not overbooking themselves with meetings, burning out, and being unable to think creatively. To author and columnist Tom Peters, empathy is the most important skill a leader can have.

In May 1986, Tom wrote about having only five levels of management, even in big multinationals. In ‘88, he wrote Stuff the Bureaucrats, Embrace the Customer, Listen to the Workers, and since the ‘90s has been speaking on the importance of having women in leadership positions.

Tom’s COVID-19 Leadership Seven

  • Be kind
  • Be caring
  • Be patient
  • Be forgiving
  • Be present
  • Be positive
  • Walk in the other person's shoes

Links


25 Sep 2024Leading with Heart: Insights on Building a Positive Workplace Culture with Helen Taylor00:24:05

Creating a culture of trust and collaboration and empowering frontline staff in the pressurised environment of Adult Social Care could be a challenge but it’s possible when leaders are given a clear blueprint, and the skills needed.

Helen Taylor, Head of Services in Adult Social Care at Hounslow Council took on that challenge when she joined our Level Seven Senior Leader Apprenticeship programme and joins us today to share her transformational journey of embedding coaching practices within her teams, successfully creating a positive workplace environment that values individual strengths and encourages open communication and innovation.

She discusses the small, yet impactful changes she made, encouraging autonomy and decision-making among team members, creating psychological safety and utilising liberating structures for effective team collaboration.

Helen’s tips for a happy workplace:

  1. Creating a culture of freedom, responsibility and trust
  2. Give staff respect and opportunity and not punishing mistakes
  3. Play to people’s strengths and social styles

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

The Coaching Habit book by Michael Bungay-Stanier

Level 7 Senior Leadership Apprenticeship Programme

19 Jun 2024Effective Strategies for Embracing Errors and Fostering Creativity in a Happy Workplace with Dr. Natalie Nixon00:28:41

Learning from mistakes can create a more fulfilling work environment says our guest, Dr. Natalie Nixon, a creativity strategist, who draws upon parallels with jazz music's improvisational nature, to explore the intersection between creativity, organisational culture, and productivity. Natalie advocates for a human-centric approach to problem-solving and balancing curiosity with discipline towards fostering innovation.

Additionally, Natalie challenges traditional work culture by proposing the "motor framework" (MTOR), which values movement, thought, and rest. Her passion for dance exemplifies the joy found in activities outside of work, underscoring the episode's theme of creativity in a happy workplace.

Natalie's tips for a happy workplace

  1. Building cultures of trust in the workplace
  2. Modeling self-inquiry as leaders and managers
  3. Motor activity is more movement, thought and rest

Links

Connect with Natalie via LinkedIn

Figure 8 Thinking (Natalie's website)

The Creativity Leap (Natalie's book)

24 Apr 2024Creating workspaces where neurodivergent people can thrive, with Ludmila Praslova00:30:42

Embracing neurodiversity in the workplace not only benefits neurodiverse individuals, but creates a more inclusive, flexible, and productive environment for everyone. By understanding and acknowledging different strengths and needs, we can reshape jobs and work cultures to foster a sense of belonging and joy, leading to more effective organisations.

Ludmila Praslova is an organisational psychologist at Vanguard University in Southern California. Her work focuses on embracing neurodiversity in the workplace and promoting a more inclusive, flexible, and productive environment for everyone. She champions the idea of understanding and acknowledging different strengths and needs to foster a sense of belonging and joy in workplace settings.

Ludmila’s tips for a happy workplace

  1. Create flexible social environments that allow people to connect in ways that work for them.
  2. Adapt work schedules, information sharing, and learning opportunities to suit individual cognitive strengths.
  3. Encourage a non-judgmental environment where people feel comfortable expressing their feelings without fear of criticism or misunderstanding.
  4. Cater to individual physical and sensory needs, like temperature preferences, noise levels, and work locations.

Links


10 May 2023Be kind, break rules – with Sarah Pugh00:30:20

Creating a happy and productive workplace starts with a focus on culture. A coaching culture can help build trust and encourage open communication.

Sarah Pugh is the CEO of Whizz-Kidz, the UK's leading charity for young wheelchair users. She shares her insights on leading a hospice to an Outstanding rating in just one year. She did this by making culture a fundamental part of the change process. She reveals how this experience has informed her work at Whizz-Kidz and the steps she’s taken there to put culture at the heart of everything.

Sarah’s tips for a happy workplace

  • Lead with kindness, and remember that kindness is a strength, not a sign of weakness.
  • Treat people like adults and they will act like adults. Look for the potential in people and allow them the opportunity to shine.
  • We learn so more from our mistakes than we do our successes, so eliminate blame and encourage people to learn from mistakes.

Links


05 Jul 2023Empowering teams: a case study in co-management, with Matt Perez00:24:47

Co-management is a radical and fair way to run a company. One company’s approach of having no hierarchy and no bosses has allowed for a more collaborative and communicative environment, where teams can solve problems together.

Matt Perez is the co-founder of Nearsoft, a software company that practices co-management. Instead of having bosses, they have leadership teams that solve problems and make decisions. They also have a unique approach to dealing with poor performance before it comes an issue.

Matt’s tip for a happier workplace

Workplace happiness involves being true to oneself and respecting others' boundaries. By finding common ground, differences can be resolved, creating a more collaborative environment. Face-to-face conversations are especially effective in resolving issues and finding common ground.

Links


05 Mar 2025How Can Employers Create a Happier Workplace For Generation Z?00:29:41

Jenny Fernandez is an executive coach and professor at Columbia and NYU.

In this episode, we explore some of Gen Z's unique characteristics, such as being digital natives and the impact of "helicopter parenting."

Jenny highlights the challenges Gen Z faces, including communication skills, job security and concerns exacerbated by the pandemic.

We also explore the need for supportive work environments, effective onboarding, clear training paths, and why mentorship is important.

Jenny's tips for a happy workplace:

  1. Set your employees up for success
  2. Have a very clear training path so people know how to progress
  3. Provide mentors and sponsors for employees

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

TEDx Talk by Jenny Fernandez

Jenny Fernandez on LinkedIn

Happy Website

10 Apr 2024Building and nurturing a team of A players – with Dominic Monkhouse00:35:28

Going from startup to scale-up takes strategic planning and insight, along with a real understanding of employee happiness. Plus, crafting great job descriptions and letting people make their own decisions once they’re in a role are key to developing a team of A players.

Dominic Monkhouse has a distinguished career in scaling up businesses, especially within the IT sector. He successfully built two web hosting businesses from 0 to £30,000,000 within 5 years, and is an author of two books that demonstrate his insight and experience in business growth and people management.

Dominic’s tips for a happy workplace

  1. Hire great people
  2. Show them the destination
  3. Get out of the way so they can do their best work

Links


22 Mar 2023How Mayden created a self-managing workplace, with Alison Sturgess-Durden00:29:26

The guiding principle at UK software firm Mayden is to manage the work, not the people. The company has put in place a clear decision-making process and a scaffolding structure that replaces most line management positions.

Everyone within Mayden has access to an individual coach who is trained and experienced in coaching, and the company has retained a tier of directors who deal with residual line management responsibilities. Mayden's approach encourages individuals to manage themselves and take responsibility for decisions.

The process of forming and growing a managerless team is outlined in a new book written by Mayden. And Alison Sturgess-Durden, one of Mayden’s Directors joins Henry and Maureen to dig into the details.

Alison’s tips for a happy workplace:

  • Be mindful of the people you've employed and free them up to get on with doing the job that they want to do.
  • Empower your employees to do their jobs without fear of blame. Employees need to feel safe to make decisions and manage their work, and should feel supported if something goes wrong.
  • Focus on respecting your employees as valuable adults and encouraging them to be be kind.

Links


10 Jan 2023Introducing the Happy Manifesto Podcast (Trailer)00:00:54

Let's stop thinking about how to create joy at work, and start doing it.

Join Henry Stewart and Maureen Egbe as they explore creating happy workplaces. Each episode features actionable examples from management experts and Happy clients, which you can put into practice in your own workplace.

The show launches on January 11th, with new episodes arriving every two weeks.

22 Feb 2023Self-managing teams, with Helen Sanderson MBE00:32:38

Wholeness, self-management and evolutionary purpose are three core principles that changed Helen Sanderson’s view on teams.

Helen Sanderson’s MBE is the founder of Wellbeing Teams, an organisation providing care and support at home. As a self-governing team, they are able to create greater trust and autonomy for employees. But this wasn’t a framework that can just be dropped in:

I thought it was like adding a new app on your phone, but it wasn't; it was transforming the operating system.

Helen’s three tips for happy workplaces

  • Increase autonomy and social support.
  • Don’t be afraid to talk about feelings at work.
  • Be clear about how we want to show up.

Links


08 Mar 2023From diminisher to multiplier: how to elevate your leadership style, with Liz Wiseman00:38:27

A Multiplier is a leader who amplifies the intelligence and capability of their team, making work feel challenging yet exhilarating. Diminishers, on the other hand, unintentionally hold people back and create an environment where people defer to them. Both types of leaders have vastly different impacts on their teams.

Liz Wiseman, the author of Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter, joins Henry and Maureen to discuss how to recognise the genius in others and create an environment that elicits the best thinking, provides challenges, encourages debate, and fosters ownership and accountability.

Liz’s tips for a happy workplace

  • Empower team members by giving them control, which helps them feel less like victims and more in charge of their work.
  • Point people to where they can be most impactful and show them how their work is making a difference.
  • Lighten the load, not by doing other people's work for them, but by doing the small things that make work easy for others.

Links


21 Feb 2024Building workplaces for long-term success, with Howard Yu00:28:57

Before chasing the latest technologies or trends, organisations need to focus on building a strong foundation and core capabilities. They need a culture that encourages learning, collaboration, and transparency, and to have leadership that prioritises long-term success over short-term gains.

In this episode, Henry is joined by Howard Yu, a renowned strategist and innovation expert, a Thinkers 50 strategy award winner, and the Lego Professor of Innovation and Management at the IMD business school in Switzerland. With extensive experience studying and analysing companies' longevity and their ability to sustain new growth, Howard is now the author of Leap, a book exploring how successful companies have been able to transform themselves and adapt to new challenges.

Howard’s three tips for a happy workplace

  1. Document and share as much as possible, providing access for all employees so they can understand the decisions the company is making.
  2. Create a data-rich work environment where openly discussing and documenting failed experiments is encouraged. Capture realtime decision-making processes so everyone can learn from their mistakes.
  3. Allow independent teams to operate as micro-enterprises, or adopt Jeff Bezos’ “two pizza” rule.

Links


08 Feb 2023How the Stroke Association is creating greater workplace autonomy, with Chris McQueen00:28:14

Henry and Maureen are in conversation with Chris McQueen from the Stroke Association. With Happy’s help, Chris and his team developed a set of five principles that drive the decisions the organisation makes, and how they want to work.

The Association is a traditionally hierarchical organisation, but through Happy’s Level 7 Senior Leadership Programme, an MBA-level qualification, they’ve created more interdependence within team-members, with less need for knowledge and instructions to be passed down through the hierarchy.

Chris’ three tips for a happier workplace

  • Build a culture of trust.
  • Set clear boundaries.
  • Create a safe environment where people are willing to try new things.

Links


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