Video transcript:
The secret to a purposeful, positive and productive workplace is no secret. The primary driver of a thriving work culture is employee workplace happiness.
Employee happiness drives performance, engagement, motivation, innovation and job satisfaction. Those are desirable outcomes for every business. The challenge is that senior leaders aren’t sure how to boost employee happiness.
The best way for senior leaders to discover what makes their employee population happy is to ask.
Here’s a powerful example. In December 2024, Thulium CEO Tamara McCleary (one of the kindest and wisest humans I know) conducted two polls — one on X and one on LinkedIn. One hundred seven people responded to this question: “If you had to choose just one key to workplace happiness, which would it be?” The responses:
- A close work friend I trust — 8%
- Career growth & advancement — 13%
- Competitive compensation — 19%
- Positive team culture — 60%!
Here’s a chart of these results.

For this sample of 107 respondents, a positive team culture benefits workplace happiness three to six times as much as the other three choices.
A critical 2012 Deloitte study found a strong correlation between employees who are happy at work and employees who say their company has a clearly articulated and lived culture.
How can senior leaders build a positive work culture? Our proven three-phase culture refinement process helps leaders:
- DEFINE their desired work culture by specifying their organization’s servant purpose, values, measurable behaviors, strategies and goals
- ALIGN all plans, decisions, actions and people — leaders and team members — to their ideal work culture by holding everyone accountable for values and behaviors.
- REFINE practices, operations and more by celebrating and hiring talented, values-aligned leaders and team members — and coaching misaligned leaders and team members to ensure everyone embraces your desired work culture. This helps build and sustain a workplace where happiness is embedded in how your organization operates.
What have I missed? What questions do you have? Add your comments or post your questions on my YouTube channel.
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
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