Why happiness matters in the workplace: A conversation with happiness expert Vanessa King

What exactly defines happiness? And why does it matter in the workplace?

Leading positive psychology expert Vanessa King emphasizes that happy employees tend to drive better outcomes. Happy people are 12 per cent more productive, and achieve 13 per cent higher sales than less happy colleagues – and not only do they perform better at work. Happy people are physically healthier and better citizens who manage finances better and engage more in their communities.

Vanessa King is an author, keynote speaker and the head of Psychology and Workplaces for the charity and social movement Action for Happiness. She is interviewed by Alan Anderson -- a podcast host bringing lived experience and expert insight to wellbeing. In this podcast, they discuss how employers can nurture happy employees and also how individuals in general can cultivate happiness in their own lives.

Cultivating happier workplaces

The TELUS Mental Health Index shows that leadership quality greatly impacts employee mental health and wellbeing. In Canada, employees rating their managers as compassionate and supportive have mental health scores 21 points higher than those with less compassionate managers. We see similar trends globally. Americans rating their managers as compassionate have mental health scores 16 points higher, and British workers with compassionate managers have mental health scores 15 points higher than colleagues rating their managers as less compassionate.

So, what can employers to do foster happier employees? Vanessa has built a framework to help leaders foster more positive work environments, based on “5 C’s”.

Vanessa’s 5 C’s for happier work:

1. Control – Employees need to have freedom to do their job their way
2. Connection – Employees have good relationships with managers and colleagues
3. Competence and progress– Employees are using and developing strengths and skills
4. Contribution and meaning – Employees feel they are valued and their work matters
5. Constructive emotional environment – Employees work in a positive climate where people can share concerns and celebrate successes

Cultivating individual happiness

While it’s essential that leaders help create environments that foster healthy and productive teams, we also know that the wellbeing of leadership is important and directly impacts organizational performance. Today’s employees expect leaders to support their wellbeing – however, according to the 2026 TELUS Mental Health Barometer, less than half of German, French and Canadian people leaders feel equipped to support the wellbeing of their teams.

Ensuring leaders have specific benefits available to them to support their own wellbeing, as well as providing resources for leadership coaching, can help them feel better equipped to support themselves and their teams. However, the bottom line is that leaders need to ensure they’re taking care of themselves in order to properly support a team. Alan and Vanessa discuss what individuals – leaders or team members – can do on a personal level to achieve greater happiness.

The ten keys to happier living (GREAT DREAM)

1. Giving - Doing kind things for others. Helps activate reward centers in the brain
2. Relating - Connecting with people (the #1 factor for happiness, based on Harvard's longest-running psychology study)
3. Exercising - Taking care of the body, including movement, sleep and nutrition
4. Awareness - Living mindfully and noticing new things
5. Trying out - Pursue continuous learning to maintain psychological flexibility
6. Direction - Having goals and maintaining "active hope" (grounded optimism with action)
7. Resilience - Finding ways to bounce back from difficulties
8. Emotions - Practicing gratitude (e.g., writing down three good things each day)
9. Acceptance - Being comfortable with yourself and treating yourself with compassion
10. Meaning - Being part of something bigger than yourself

Supporting employee wellbeing is a non-negotiable in the modern workplace. In addition to providing tailored wellbeing benefits, leaders can use Vanessa’s 5 C’s to help cultivate healthier work environments. Additionally, individuals can use her ten keys to happier living to help build a more fulfilling life in general.

To learn more simple strategies that anyone can implement to improve their wellbeing at work, listen to Vanessa’s conversation with Alan Anderson.

Looking for more insights into supporting employee wellbeing?

Discover the TELUS Mental Health Index.

Learn more