Positive teams start with you driving the momentum, says workplace happiness expert Heidi Horne. And as an EA, you hold a pivotal role in shaping the culture and morale of your organisation.
An EA often serves as the bonding agent that keeps it all glued together by navigating around hectic schedules, tight deadlines, and teams with diverse demands. This level of influence trickles down to encouraging connectedness and the happiness of the team. Thankfully, creating happy teams does not require grand gestures – small, intentional actions can make a huge difference by boosting positivity, strengthening collaboration, and reducing stress.
Workplace happiness starts from the top down, and being an EA aligned with the leadership team puts you in a great position to help set the positive tone trickling down into the organisation. Research has shown that happy, engaged teams are more productive, adaptable, and creative. Some of the smallest practices, such as a one-minute mindfulness reset or sharing gratitude, can bring profound change to team dynamics. Encouraging these practices enables teams to be supportive and resilient while thriving under demanding tasks.
Actionable strategies for team happiness
- One-Minute Resets: when stress levels rise, encourage teams to start with a short breathing exercise, such as the 4-7-8 technique: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7, and exhale for 8. This simple practice lowers stress and helps regain focus within moments.
- Lead with gratitude: begin meetings by starting with each team member sharing one thing they’re grateful for. This small, reflective act creates a positive, connected atmosphere and sets an encouraging tone for the rest of the day.
- Make time for micro-breaks: long drawn-out meetings are exhausting. Including small pauses, for example five-minute breaks to stretch, hydrate and move around can recharge energy and boost attention for the remainder of the meeting.
- Break down big goals: large tasks, especially in complex workflows, can feel overwhelming. Break them into smaller steps, and focusing on one task at a time (rather than multi-tasking) has been proven to be much more effective. Along the way, celebrate the “micro-wins” helps to maintain motivation and momentum.
- Minimise online distractions: suggest that team members turn off non-essential notifications during meetings. Encourage mindfulness techniques to help everyone approach tasks with focus and clarity, ensuring more productive collaboration.
EAs are in the unique position to lead by example. By modelling calm, proactive practices, such as mindfulness or celebration of successes, you set the same pace for your team. Your influence shapes a well-balanced, motivated, and positive environment.
It’s rewarding and possible to build happy teams and maintain them. Placing emphasis on well-being, creating intentional habits, and actually caring about your team’s well-being needs, cultivate a positive work culture of empowered people. Remember, small, consistent actions lead to meaningful long-term success.
Also read: Why friendships at work are important | Executive PA Media
