The Happy Manifesto

Dr. Anja Milde, a former senior leader at Bayer, talks with us today about the company's radical organisational transformation.Hear how Bayer shifted from a rigid 12-layer hierarchy to a 'Dynamic Shared Ownership' model, empowering teams to make 95% of decisions, operating in 90-day learning cycles, and reducing management from 15,000 to 5,000 which delivered over 500 million euros in savings within the first year. Anja suggests that lasting transformation begins with individual mindset shiftsHear how her new company, Forward Evolution, helps other organisations achieve similar results.Anja's tips for a happy workplace:Transformation starts with yourselfDon't tell people what to do - let them make decisionsDo what you loveLinks and resources mentioned in this episode:Dr Anja Milde on LinkedIn4ward evolutionHappy Workplace

Today, Elaine Lin Hering, bestselling author and expert on speak-up cultures, joins Henry and Maureen for an insightful conversation on creating a happier workplace.Elaine reveals insights from her global work on “unlearning silence” in workplaces, explaining how silence is often learned from childhood and reinforced by leadership and cultural norms.Elaine also shares practical strategies for fostering genuine speak-up cultures and the importance of recognising systemic silencing, with actionable steps leaders can take to create more inclusive, human-centered, and joyful work environments. In this conversation, you'll hear new ways, ideas, and opportunities to develop your leadership skills and approach.Elaine's tips for a happy workplace:Acknowledge that people are human and let them be humanMake the full range of emotions acceptable in the workplaceWork is not everything - we all have lives outside of workHonour the gifts and skills in the workplace - there needs to be trustLinks and resources mentioned in this episode:Happy Workplace

Dr. Srikumar Rao, TEDx speaker and creator of the pioneering course, Creativity and Personal Mastery, joins our hosts, Henry and Maureen, and shares how our internal mental chatter shapes our reality and can cause unnecessary suffering. Drawing on the Buddha’s "parable of the second arrow" and other stories, Dr. Rao offers practical advice on observing thoughts, reframing challenges, and cultivating happiness in life and at the workplace. You'll hear personal anecdotes, Srikumar's reflections on joy, and tips for feeding positivity in ourselves and others. Srikumar's tips for a happy workplace:Observe your mental chatterStop experiencing the tragedies that have never happenedWhat can I do to help this person have a better experience of lifeLinks and resources mentioned in this episode:The Rao InstituteHappy Workplace

Samantha Green is the leader of a UK charity working on animal welfare in Sri Lanka. In today's conversation, Samantha shares how the Level Seven Senior Leaders programme helped her shift from top-down leadership to empowering self-managed teams. Samantha discusses her experience with cross-training staff, adopting 'Toyota-inspired' continuous improvement, and fostering a workplace of trust and transparency. Samantha also emphasises the importance of local leadership and provides practical advice for fostering a happy and inclusive workplace. You'll hear about the transformative impact of innovative leadership and investing in team development.Samantha Green's tips for a happy workplace:Visualise everything - whiteboards and on the wallsTrust people - give them control; not instructionsInvolve people in decisions that affect them

In this episode of the Happy Manifesto podcast, hosts Maureen and Henry converse with Vanessa King from Action for Happiness. Vanessa is an expert in positive psychology and the author of The Ten Keys to Happier Living.In this episode, Vanessa discusses the active pursuit of happiness, distinguishing between short-term pleasure and long-term fulfilment. Vanessa shares the importance of making connections, gratitude, and psychological safety in the workplace. We also discuss practical strategies for enhancing well-being, such as fostering positive mental habits and creating supportive work environments. Vanessa's insights offer actionable steps toward cultivating happiness in both personal and professional spheres.Vanessa's tips for a happy workplace:Realise there is a business case for happinessInvest in connecting with people in person and building relationships offlineFind individual focus timeInvest in training, processes, and cultureLinks and resources mentioned in this episode:Vanessa's Book The Ten Keys to Happier Living

Kelly McGovern is the Chief Nurse at the West Hertfordshire Foundation TrustIn this episode, Kelly shares how she has fostered a transformative culture of trust and empowerment in a healthcare environment.Kelly shares her leadership journey, highlighting the importance of empowering staff to drive change and celebrate small wins. She recounts how her hands-on approach and role modeling have led to significant improvements in patient care, such as reduced waiting times and better discharge rates. The conversation reveals the positive impact of a supportive work environment and the importance of breaking outdated rules toward fostering innovation and collaboration in healthcare.

Jenny Fernandez is an executive coach and professor at Columbia and NYU. In this episode, we explore some of Gen Z's unique characteristics, such as being digital natives and the impact of "helicopter parenting." Jenny highlights the challenges Gen Z faces, including communication skills, job security and concerns exacerbated by the pandemic. We also explore the need for supportive work environments, effective onboarding, clear training paths, and why mentorship is important. Jenny's tips for a happy workplace:Set your employees up for successHave a very clear training path so people know how to progressProvide mentors and sponsors for employeesLinks and resources mentioned in this episode:TEDx Talk by Jenny FernandezJenny Fernandez on LinkedInHappy Website

Nigel Paine, head of people development at the BBC, discusses the evolution of workplace learning, the creation of the BBC's iPlayer, and the importance of fostering a true learning culture in organisations. Nigel emphasises the need for trust, autonomy, competence, and connectedness toward creating an effective learning environment and shares with us examples from Danone and WD-40 to illustrate successful learning practicesNigel also highlights the significance of leadership qualities like courage and humility underscoring the critical role of continuous improvement and open communication in building a happy workplace culture.Nigel’s tips for a happy workplace:Make people feel part of the team and organisation.Constantly work on what is stopping good things from happening.Have an index: some measure of how well you are getting thereLinks and resources mentioned in this episode:Nigel's book The Great ResetHarvard Business Review