5 things every boss must do to make their employees happy

5 things every boss must do to make their employees happy5 things every boss must do to make their employees happyWhether itsreducing the hurs in a work weekorbringing puppies into the office, companies all over the world are prioritizing employees happiness because its proven to increase productivity.For some workers, their moods are directly related to their managers attitudes. Business Insider spoke with Steve Bushnell, certified leadership coach and founder ofCharles River Careers. He said there are five simple steps every boss should take to ensure their employees happiness in the workplace.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more1. First, every boss must listen to their employeesBushnell said by far the most important quality a great boss can have is being a great listener. He even emphasized the importance of listening with intent.In leadership counseling, people are very excited about their ideas and want to move very quickly, Bushnell said. What they dont often do is listen to the wisdom of their reports.To listen with intent, he says, bosses must deliberately make time to listen and must be present when they are engaging with their staff.Dont go in with pre-existing biases, and instead go in with an open mindset, he said. If you walk in with a stack of your own biases, you really arent listening.2. Bosses must understand the importance of a work-life balanceWork should never completely consume an employees life. They have other hobbies, commitments, and events that are happening outside of the office, and managers must be open to employees exploring those other areas.Giving employees some flexibility to do the work in a way that suits their busy, complicated lives is important, Bushnell said. The more you can tip the dial towards improving that balance, then theyll be more present, engaged, and available in the end. And theyll be happier.3. Managers must give their employees feedback on their workBushnell believes managers should be giving their employees regular and ongoing feedback. Whether its positive or negative, communication is important in creating an enjoyable work environment.When Im alone in my cube by myself all day long, its nice when someone checks on me and sees how Im doing, he said. I want to know that what Im doing is connected to the organization. I want to work with people who are interested in and care about what Im doing.Bushnell also points out that feedback is best when given face-to-face. Stop by their office, cube, or connect over Skype video and say, Thanks so much. I really appreciate what you did on our projects.4. Great managers connect their employees roles to the larger pictureFor an employee to be happy, they have to feel like the job theyre doing actually matters. If they feel like they are wasting their time, they will ultimately become uninterested in the job as a whole.You have to connect their role to the larger mission of the organization, Bushnell said. I want to build the cathedral. I dont want to make bricks.As a leader, Bushnell said, managers should make it clear what the goals are and what they are trying to accomplish as a company. They should then explain how each role fits into that larger picture.5. Bosses must offer fair and reasonable compensationThough it may seem obvious, employees are most happy when they are getting paid well. If a worker feels like they are not getting paid fairly, they could feel underappreciated and taken advantage of.This article originally appeared on Business Insider.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people