How to Develop Happy Companies - The Organizational Brain

Most of the senior leadership at one of the companies where I consult always seem overly pessimistic. I am the executive coach of the president who thankfully is much more optimistic.

The company president and I through appreciative inquiry and focusing on strengths have been working on shifting the focus to appreciating what is right in the organization. It's been a lot of hard work, but through recognizing the good things in people and the company the culture and attitudes of people are becoming much more positive. They are finding it easier to attract top talent who want to work for an organization where leaders at all levels are enthusiastic and forward thinking.

Are your leaders happy and creating a happy company where people are fully engaged and love to work?

Organizations function much like the human brain. As the brain repeats behaviors, they become ingrained. Neurons connect in tight bonds that become easier to invoke.

Thus, habits of thought and deed are also easily ingrained in organizations. Negative thoughts, emotions and behaviors start to repeat over time. As individuals’ fear centers are activated, groups begin to react fearfully, and behaviors are reinforced and habituated.

In contrast, positive thoughts, emotions, behaviors and words have the opposite effect. Positivism activates the brain’s creative centers, and groups begin to think and act in creative ways. Positive actions are reinforced and habituated.

Most of the dangers companies face are hassles, setbacks, disappointments and frustrations. They’re not life-threatening. But because we’re hard-wired for hard times, we frequently respond as though they are.

Our emotional brain is quite comfortable with this response, as we innately crave instant gratification. Aggression, problem-solving and hyper-competitiveness lead to fear-driven reactions to the world.

It takes higher-order consciousness to find opportunity. But biologically, creativity and innovation cannot lead the mind when fear exists. Staying focused on opportunities ensures the executive brain remains in charge of your company’s future.

Whole-Brain Functioning & Return on People (ROP)

Healthy behaviors in the work environment require the emotional and executive brain to work together. Good decisions rely on input from intuition and feelings, and feelings rely on logic to sort out and decide on behaviors.

That’s why it’s critical to pinpoint which part of your mind is leading. If the emotional brain is in charge, you must learn to inform the executive brain to prevent it from being bullied. Unhealthy companies are gripped by fear and stuck in emotional reactions. They cannot adapt, leap forward or ultimately succeed. Achieving true happiness and leadership success means making full use of whole-brain functions.

Those who work in happy companies make full use of their imaginations every day, and they have strong prospects of prevailing in tough environments. They have the energy and innovative thoughts needed to expand into new niches.

The science of happiness is a crucial strategy for leaders’ and organizations’ health and wellness. Without it, you’ll fail to get the best from your people within and beyond the organization.

Instead of ROI, focus is on ROP by creating a fear-free, down-to-earth work environment that fosters creativity and energy. See reality clearly, but choose to address it positively. Perceive opportunities, not obstacles. Lead with values, optimism and fairness. Promote creativity and pragmatism.

Most importantly, avoid the reactive decisions you make when you’re driven by pure, animalistic fear.

Are you helping to create a happy company at your place of work?