The birth of the new royal baby and yet another great weekend for British sport seem to have had an amazing effect on so many people at the moment.  It’s amazing how events that we are not even directly involved in can lift our spirits and impact our behaviour.

Now, we all know that when we are feeling good, we are much more likely to perform better.  Yes, we all know this, but do we actually think about it in each and every moment when it comes to leading our teams?  My experience is that whilst we recognise the importance of feelings in our performance, many of us omit to behave in ways that actually promote a sense of achievement and joy in the workplace.

It can’t be a coincidence that we consistently see businesses that feature high up on the list of Best Companies to Work For also achieving top positions in the most profitable companies ranking.  

The feedback we receive from people attending our programmes is that a key factor for them in feeling good about their place of work is being noticed by their boss.  There is the more obvious element to this, in that they say that when they receive specific recognition for their performance and contribution it makes them feel valued and that their efforts are worthwhile.  However, there is also a more basic and perhaps simpler element; as leaders, how often do we make the time to spend with individuals, how often do we ask them about their work, their thoughts and their well-being, how often do we really listen to them….  These are things that, when consistently experienced, can really impact the happiness and engagement levels of people in the workplace.

It is easy to forget the impact that we can have on others and just get caught up in our day to day issues, allowing these pressures to stop us taking the time to notice what is going on for those around us.  As a parent, I am reminded by my daughter frequently, just how important it is to give her my time and attention.  She not only tells me all the time how happy she is to see me and how much she has missed me if I been away working, but she will also ensure that I am in no doubt about the impact on her if I am ‘too busy’ for a few days to just sit and play with her, read her a story or listen to all her news from school. 

Unfortunately, as adults, we find it far more difficult to pinpoint the cause of our unhappiness and lack of motivation sometimes and, even if we are clear about the cause, telling our boss that they need to spend more time with us, or listen to us more, probably doesn’t sit comfortably with many people.

I also spend a lot of time working with horses, riding out on the gallops in training on a regular basis.  Just like children, a horse will let you know fast when you are not paying them enough attention or ‘listening’ to their signals.  Fortunately, I don’t need reminding too often in these circumstances, because the result can frequently involve a painful landing!

So, let’s keep using all these wonderful national experiences to remind us that every one of us has the capacity to influence the levels of happiness, engagement and morale in those working around us each day.  If you knew that there is one thing you could do today, to positively impact every member of your team so that they feel recognised and valued, what would it be?

Emma Littmoden is a partner at leadership programme provider, The Living Leader