Cultivating Happiness at Work: What is PERMA?

The PERMA Framework

Finding joy and fulfillment at work can sometimes feel like a distant dream. However, it's possible to create a workplace where the five elements of the PERMA framework – Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment – are not just words on paper but a lived reality. In this blog post, we'll take a heartfelt journey through the PERMA framework to discover how kindness, emotional connection, and gentle support can make your workplace a haven of happiness.

Positive Emotion

Imagine walking into your office and feeling an instant surge of positivity. It's not just the bright colors and natural lighting; it's the collective effort to infuse happiness into every nook and cranny. Celebrate those small wins and moments of success. Create a space where employees can share their accomplishments, express gratitude, and revel in the joy of working together. It's amazing how a little positivity can go a long way in boosting morale.

Engagement

Engagement at work is more than just ticking tasks off your to-do list. It's about feeling a sense of ownership and creativity in what you do. Encourage employees to take charge of their work processes and tasks, providing a gentle hand to guide them. Promote a healthy work-life balance, ensuring that employees can take breaks to recharge and refocus. In an engaged workplace, people find meaning in their work and, in turn, happiness.

Relationships

The bonds we form with our colleagues are often a significant source of happiness. In a PERMA-inspired workplace, relationships are nurtured and celebrated. Team-building activities and social events bring people together, creating a sense of belonging and camaraderie. Mentorship programs connect experienced employees with newcomers, forming a support network that's more like a close-knit family.

Meaning

Finding meaning in your work can be a deeply emotional experience. It's about understanding how your daily efforts contribute to a greater purpose. In a PERMA-inspired workplace, the organisation's mission and values are communicated clearly. Employees know that their work matters, and they're encouraged to volunteer or participate in charitable activities during work hours. By doing so, they find a sense of meaning and purpose that warms the heart.

Accomplishment

Finally, we arrive at accomplishment – the sweet satisfaction of setting goals, achieving them, and receiving recognition for your efforts. Clear and achievable goals are set, and regular feedback acknowledges progress and hard work. The "appreciation board" is a place where colleagues celebrate each other's achievements, fostering a culture of recognition and accomplishment that makes the heart swell with pride.

Creating a PERMA-inspired workplace isn't just about boosting productivity or job satisfaction; it's about nurturing the human spirit. It's about recognising that happiness is not just a byproduct of work but an integral part of it. By infusing kindness, emotional connection, and gentle support into the workplace, we can create environments where employees thrive, grow, and, most importantly, find happiness in their everyday tasks.

Interested to know more?

You can also sign up for our collaborative consultancy workshop where we delve in to psychological safety and how the PERMA framework can really support the journey to a thriving workplace.

Sherry White

Sherry, Founder of NEuRDiverse—

a passionate advocate for holistic neurodivergent support, with lived experience of AuDHD and a deep understanding of co-occurring conditions.

As both a neurodivergent individual and a parent to three neurodivergent children, Sherry brings a personal and professional perspective to the challenges faced by the community.

Through NEuRDiverse, she works to create safe spaces, push for systemic change, and provide resources that reflect the real-life complexities of neurodivergence.

Sherry also holds various volunteer positions for great organisations like Response, Broken Spoke and CIPD as well as running her own business management, HR and safety consultancy company.

https://oxfordpeoplesolutions.co.uk
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