Being a team leader, you must have witnessed your employees punch in for work in the morning, complete their tasks, have a break, resume, and punch out in the evening. This goes without interruption, interaction, or engagement among your employees. To the naked eye, this may look like a productive “routine” and stable workforce. However, the reality is far from different. Your team is following a depreciative cycle, which in the long run will lead to a loss in productivity, fresh ideas, and, more importantly, the vigor and enthusiasm to work. The cross-generational connection among your employees is not just for the benefit of your organization; rather, it enhances the overall working experience for your team. The concept of a “happier hour” can eradicate many such issues. From unifying teams to boosting morale, happier hours have transcended from leisure to a necessity.
Workplaces today have been divided according to different generations, and in-office team-building workshops are not enough to tackle these differences. From millennials to Gen Z, it is hard to keep track of which new generation is sprouting. However daunting it may be, you need to make peace with the fact that your workplace is perhaps the only common ground for all these generations to come together and yield something. Every generation has different preferences, perspectives, experiences, skills, and mindsets. To ensure that all your employees are on the same page despite generational differences, a happier hour can prove to be a boon for you and your team. It can overcome challenges faced in communication, collaboration, and trust building, reducing a significant amount of misunderstandings and allowing you to leverage the full potential of your team. Happier Hour is a fresh and unique concept that doesn’t need to be reserved for after-work social gatherings. It can easily revolve around casual networking and ensure that engagement is celebrated and fostered in your workplace.
In this article, we will look at how “happier hour” fosters cross-generational connection and lasting trust, leading to a more dedicated and unified team. Breaking down generational stereotypes has never been easier with this concept, allowing you to create an environment where employees are open to unscripted conversations, paving the path for unlimited knowledge-sharing.
SOURCE: Freepik
Fosters Cross-Generational Mentorship Without Formality
Gone are the days when mentors used to suggest a few points to go about things, and employees would jot those down and move on. In today’s workplace, where modern and forward approaches are replacing traditional methods, happier hours help develop relationships organically. A corporate entertainment company ensures that your team uses laughter as a way to seek mentorship without formality. It helps to reduce hesitation among younger employees and allows humor to create a more genuine and engaging conversation with their mentors. This can remove the pressure of a structured mentorship program and open a two-way channel for your mentors as well as employees.
Breaks Down Generational Stereotypes and Biases
It is very often for workplace stereotypes to develop and hinder communication between employees from different generations. Some employees may be overly reliant, some may be resistant, and others may be overly independent. These assumptions are fostered by our subconscious mind which can prevent employees from forming meaningful relationships. However, happier hours can help employees reveal their unique personalities in a light-hearted and supportive environment. Laughter can help bring your employees together and make them more comfortable, irrespective of the generation they belong to. It can help your team share vulnerabilities, break down any stereotypes or biases, and create a more inclusive and respectful workplace.
Enhances Psychological Safety and Encourages Honest Communication
Psychological safety is as important as physical safety. If you or your employees feel psychologically unsafe, you can become more reserved and secluded in the workplace. Happier hours can create a low-pressure environment which can allow employees to feel less intimidated by each other and feel safe to express their thoughts and ideas. A relaxed environment can lead to honest communication and ensure that employees from different backgrounds can voice their perspectives without hesitation and fear of judgment.
Builds Stronger Cross-Departmental Trust and Collaboration
It is very common for different departments to behave as independent entities inside a single workplace. This gives rise to a divided environment which can decrease productivity and unity. Happier hours and laughter can bridge this gap and create a sense of trust between different departments, ensuring that all departments collaborate as people first instead of seeing a colleague from another department as just a name in an email thread. It can create personal connections that can last irrespective of the designation, department, and role of your colleagues. This can lead to shared workloads and a helpful environment that is crafted naturally.
SOURCE: Freepik
Improves Employee Well-Being, Engagement, and Retention
Workplaces are high-stress environments, and as a result, burnout and dissatisfaction are very common. Happier hours combat this by developing a sense of belonging and camaraderie among your employees and ensuring that they look at their work as an activity they “want” to do instead of “need” to do. It provides a break from daily pressure and ensures employees can relax and have fun while tackling difficult situations and heavy workloads.
End Note
It is no longer uncommon for people from different generations to work together. As you progress forward and grow, creating a team that can collaborate and engage with each other without the generational barrier is essential. Happier hours go beyond the traditional team-building activities and ensure that you transform your workplace into a more connected and productive environment.