If employees are content, so is a nation

There is no better cure than happiness. At a corporate level, and in public governance, when employees are unhappy, there is bound to be low productivity. You can feel the dissatisfaction in the air, and can find people complaining about the state of affairs. There is no room for progress as employees would not be able to come up with innovative ideas.

The UAE is at the forefront of a change in mind-set. His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has always encouraged innovation and breaking with traditional ways to think outside the box. His latest book talks about happiness, too, as he advises people on the many ways to embrace a positive attitude.

One aspect of this is constant improvement. For instance, Shaikh Mohammad declared March as the ‘Month of Reading’, reviving the ‘Year of Reading’ initiative from last year. It shows that he is keen on getting people to improve themselves, and that he cares not for just a certain group of people, but for all UAE residents, and even people outside the country.

I’m noticing a change in my workplace too, as these ideas filter down. Now, the company I work for doesn’t just hold work-related meetings. We have reading clubs, and field trips where we are not expected to do anything – just have a good time. Such initiatives help employees change their routine, and get refreshed, setting the stage for innovation. If employees feel like the management cares about their lives, it helps a lot. For instance, most companies know that the top priority for most employees is family. So why not introduce a day where you can bring your children to work? This makes people happy and more loyal.

It is clear that Shaikh Mohammad’s vision for the country is similar. He’s not looking at short term goals. His strategy is far, far ahead of the times, as he directs the UAE to become a nation with happy residents. That too, in the Middle East, a region that has seen a lot of conflict and sadness.

- The reader is a senior social media specialist, based in Dubai.