Leadership strategies for boosting happiness at work with Lori-Ann Duguay

We are all about the pursuit of workplace happiness this week with my guest Lori-Ann Duguay.   LorAnn is the owner and founder of People Powered Solutions, and the author of The Happiness Factor, a delightful book filled with actionable insights for creating happy cultures drawn from Lori-Ann’s extensive experience in the HR space.  She shines a light on the 10 fundamental needs of employees that are key to fostering a joyful and productive work environment. We discuss how effective communication and a robust onboarding process are not just nice-to-haves but essential for long-term success. The heart of our conversation centred on the importance of purpose, how as leaders we demonstrate and communicate purpose in a way that resonates across the organisation. That’s a big ask but Lori-Ann’s insights make it feel achievable for all. Press play for a hit of happiness!    Shownotes See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-strategies-lori-ann-duguay Key Moments  Planet Human: The Intersection of Social Responsibility and Free Speech on Twitter/X Planet Zoë: Zoë is still in Bali, writing away making good progress on her fourth novel, tentatively called Olympus Rising. Olympus Bound is available for pre-order now.  **Lori-Ann Duguay's Career Journey (00:04:48)** Lori-Ann Duguay discusses her transition from a large organisation to HR consultancy and her mission to create happy and productive workplaces. **Choosing Happiness as a Focus (00:07:17)** Discussion on why happiness was chosen as the main focus in Lori-Ann's book and business. **Research for the Ten Happiness Factors (00:09:54)** Insight into the research process and the identification of the ten fundamental needs for employee happiness. **Importance of Effective Communication (00:13:11)** The essential role of communication in ensuring message interpretation and understanding in the workplace. **Secrets to Successful Onboarding (00:14:56)** The significance of a successful onboarding process and the impact on employee retention and success. **Maintaining Purpose in the Organisation (00:20:34)** Discussion on the importance of maintaining purpose in the organisation and making new employees feel welcomed and part of the team. **Purpose-driven leadership (00:20:58)** Discussion on keeping purpose at the forefront of daily tasks and how it drives motivation and resilience. **Conveying purpose (00:22:10)** Specific ways to convey purpose, such as storytelling, visual displays, and involving the team in the process. **Growth plans (00:26:13)** The importance of growth plans in mapping out career trajectory and skill development within the organisation. **Vertical and horizontal development (00:32:54)** Exploring the significance of both vertical and horizontal development in leadership and skill enhancement. **Use of AI in business (00:34:36)** Leveraging AI for administrative tasks and maintaining brand consistency in content creation. **Best leadership tip (00:36:56)** The importance of being human as a leader, emphasising vulnerability and empathy. **Lack of accountability in the workplace (00:37:22)** Highlighting the challenge of lack of accountability and its impact on organisational culture. **Thumbs up for a remarkable leader (00:38:11)** Acknowledgment of an exceptional leader's approach to employee engagement and visibility. **Favourite leadership book (00:39:52)** Recommendation of "Five Dysfunctions of a Team" for understanding high-performing team behaviours. **Starting workplace culture transformation (00:42:30)** The need to assess the current state using tools like the "Happiness Factor" culture check. **The 10 needs assessment (00:42:55)** Understanding the 10 needs and their delivery within the company, identifying areas for improvement and investment. **Assessing the employee experience (00:42:55)** Evaluating the current employee journey, touchpoints, and fulfilment of the 10 needs at various stages. **Key takeaways on leadership and culture (00:44:39)** Reflection on growth paths, buddy system for onboarding, and creating defining leadership moments.