A few years ago, when I first heard about the job position of Happiness Manager during my foreign travels, I couldn’t help but smile. Another quirky idea from the technological paradise in Silicon Valley? A job where someone hands out candies to colleagues, lights scented sticks in the offices, and occasionally organizes company picnics? But then I started to think about it more deeply.
I am convinced that when employees feel happy, it creates an atmosphere in the company where great ideas are made, people support each other, and there is a room for growth. In our group of companies, we are not just about business, but also about ensuring that the people who work with us feel proud, motivated, and happy, helping us create value and contribute to the overall strategy of our mission.
When a colleague knocked on my office door one day, with an emotional expression, and confided in me that the combination of high work commitment and serious personal issues was exhausting her, it struck me. I realized that across our companies, we need someone to address such situations – someone who helps maintain the balance for individuals and our entire teams.
Back then, I drew inspiration from abroad and decided to introduce the position of Happiness Manager in our organization. This role serves as a mediator, helping to resolve misunderstandings among the employees, ensuring smooth communication, discovering colleagues’ wishes and requirements, and finding ways to make their work more enjoyable in line with corporate goals. In our companies, this role is embodied by a fantastic professional coach and mentor in one person, who nurtures the creativity of employees and develops the corporate culture. Thanks to this role, we have a positive atmosphere, improved team communication, and significantly reduced turnover. Our employees do not feel like cogs in the system; they feel like part of something bigger – our mission.
I believe it’s time to change our perspective on work and what we expect from it. If surveys show that up to three-quarters of the population does not look forward to work every morning, despite spending eight to ten hours a day, and decades of their lives in it, we need to do something about it. Early in my professional career, I realized the importance of surrounding myself with colleagues who spread a positive atmosphere. My first assistant was a lady around fifty, maybe older. Marie came for an interview and confidently stated that, at my young age, I really needed her. A lady who had worked her entire life in international business and could manage my office. She was an admirable woman and not only managed the office but also acted as a happiness manager, not only for the team but especially for me. She knew what to do and how to get things done, how to listen to the colleagues and how to help the team. And how she led the team building sessions! She always stirred even the shiest people to action with her table dancing.
With someone like a good happiness manager, you not only increase employee happiness and satisfaction, but ultimately, you ensure your happiness as well because a happy and thriving team means a happy and thriving company. Modern companies with advanced technology sectors and corporate cultures are increasingly realizing this. In addition to Happiness Managers, they are introducing other unusual positions that would have seemed like fantasy just a few years ago. Wellness Coordinators focus on the physical and mental well-being of employees and organize activities such as yoga classes or fitness sessions during working hours. Mindfulness Coaches offer courses and workshops focusing on mindfulness and stress management. Nowadays, when remote work is becoming more common, the role of Remote Work Coordinator is gaining popularity, ensuring that colleagues working from home have everything they need and feel like part of the team. There’s even a Pet Coordinator! This role is responsible for everything related to animals in the workplace – from providing space for dogs to organizing activities for them. I understand it because, like me, I sometimes have to deal with not only where to leave my children but also my dog, as well. Sometimes he gets sick or sad, and I have to bring him to the office.
In my daily work, I increasingly realize that good leadership lies in having the courage to perceive the future, even when it’s uncertain, and to pursue your goals with the courage to do things differently. Therefore, my vision for our companies is clear: to create places where everyone feels appreciated and to offer an inspiring environment that allows for growth and prosperity. I believe that positions like Happiness Managers can be a crucial step toward transforming the traditional work environment. And that they will bring a smile to your face first. After all, a smile is an essential part of happiness.
Ivana Tykač,
