Expert Tips: How companies get happy employees

A dual control principle for sensitive postings, a "truth sandwich" against false claims and a Scandinavian model for happier and more productive employees: Austria's quality managers received lots of tips from internet expert Ingrid Brodnig and happiness researcher Maike van den Boom at the 27th qualityaustria Forum in Salzburg. The new CEOs of Quality Austria - Christoph Mondl and Werner Paar - explained what contribution management systems can make to the success of the big picture. 

The qualityaustria Forum in Salzburg is the annual fixed date for Austria's quality managers. This year, the motto of the event was "Our quality, my contribution: digital, circular, safe". The book author and Internet expert Ingrid Brodnig and the German happiness researcher Maike van den Boom, who lives in Sweden, acted as guest speakers.

Ingrid Brodnig (journalist and author) ©Anna Rauchberger

Avoid defensive role

"False reports on the Internet are becoming a problem for more and more companies," explained Brodnig. "Look for allies in organizations with the same interests or in other people affected and also inform the employees about circulating rumors so that they react correctly to customer inquiries," was one of the expert's recommendations. Some false reports are shared so often because they correspond to wishful thinking or existing prejudices. “The allegations should of course be refuted. But you shouldn't overemphasize what's wrong, because that puts you on the defensive and draws too much attention to it," says Brodnig. It is much more important to argue with scientifically proven facts and to emphasize the right thing.

Strategy against false claims 

"Truth sandwich" is one of Brodnig's recommended strategies for counteracting false claims. The entry is made with the description of the actual facts, then the incorrect information is corrected and the initial argument is repeated when exiting. "If people hear a statement more often, there is a greater chance that they will believe it," says Brodnig. If wild rumors or allegations are posted on a company's Facebook page, don't overheat in responding. "Weigh your words carefully, don't be insulting and rely on a four-eyes principle by having people with experience in social media proofread it," advises the expert. If you delete offensive posts, you should document them beforehand.

qualityaustria forum Maike van den Boom (happiness researcher) ©Anna Rauchberger

Question decisions without taboos

Happiness researcher Maike van den Boom had brought numerous recipes for success for happier, more creative and more productive employees with her from her adopted home of Sweden. Instead of fixed departments and clearly defined areas of responsibility, more autonomy and personal responsibility are needed. “The more freedom and diversity, the easier it is to find solutions. In Scandinavia everything is constantly being questioned, including the authority of the manager and the decisions that you made together the day before,” explained van den Boom. The north can hardly be disturbed by uncertainty. Germans and Austrians, on the other hand, like to try to control everything. "We need more self-confident, courageous people who know that their opinion counts," says the expert.

Rewards for teams and not just for individuals

But what is the best way to get employees on board? "With love for people," says the happiness researcher. You don't just have to ask the employees how they are doing, you have to take an honest interest in them. This also includes private problems, in which one should support them if possible. "Of course, if your cat is ill or an employee is about to get divorced, this has an impact on work performance," explained van den Boom. It's a constant give and take. The task of a manager is not to assign work, but to ensure that each individual can use their potential for the benefit of the company. However, there should be rewards for good performance not only for individuals, but for the teams so that they encourage each other.

Christoph Mondl (CEO Quality Austria) ©Anna Rauchberger

Continuous improvement processes

The argumentation of Christoph Mondl and Werner Paar, who jointly took over the management of Quality Austria in November 2021, also aimed at the contribution of individuals to the success of organizations. “Management systems are important for the further development of companies in order to reflect the big picture and to integrate all sub-areas. All processes and procedures must be considered,” explained Mondl. “Reflect and change your running system. Continuous improvement processes are de facto a must these days. Implementing a management system once is no longer enough. Instead, you have to constantly question your own actions,” said Paar. "We must all develop and bear a new 'we responsibility' here: Everyone must take responsibility for the success of cooperation - in the private, professional and entrepreneurial sphere," say the two CEOs.

Werner Paar (CEO Quality Austria)  ©Anna Rauchberger

Mondl and Paar also referred to the flood of information. The global availability of information leads to massive competitive changes as well as uncertainties. In this context, trust in brands and the credibility of certificates and awards will continue to gain in importance in the future.

QualityAustria

Quality Austria – Training, Certification and Assessment GmbH is the leading Austrian authority for System and product certifications, Assessments and validations, Assessments, Training and personal certification as well as for that Austria quality mark. The basis for this are globally valid accreditations from the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDW) and international approvals. In addition, the company has been awarding the BMDW since 1996 State award for company quality. As the national market leader for Integrated management system to ensure and increase corporate quality, Quality Austria is the driving force behind Austria as a business location and stands for “success with quality”. It cooperates worldwide with approx 50 organizations and actively works in standards bodies and international networks with (EOQ, IQNet, EFQM etc.). More than 10.000 customers in short passes 30 countries and more than 6.000 training participants per year benefit from the many years of expertise of the international company. www.qualityaustria.com

Main photo: qualityaustriaForum fltr Werner Paar (CEO Quality Austria), Ingrid Brodnig (journalist and author), Maike van den Boom (happiness researcher), Christoph Mondl (CEO Quality Austria) ©Anna Rauchenberger