Positive work environment must to spread happiness: Minister

Dubai - The course was organised by the National Happiness and Positivity Programme in collaboration with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

A positive work environment is essential to spreading happiness and productivity among employees, said Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony for the inaugural class of the Happiness and Positivity Programme for the Private Sector, the minister said the main idea behind government partnerships with the private sector is to create an adequate environment for initiatives that foster inspiration and happiness in society.
The course was organised by the National Happiness and Positivity Programme in collaboration with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, to train qualified Chief Happiness and Positivity Officers for the private sector.
The programme equipped the participants with the right skills and tools to launch science-based initiatives that take a practical and pragmatic approach to spreading happiness and positivity.
Al Roumi explained that the programme reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who has asserted that happy people produce more, live longer and drive better economic development in their communities and countries.
The minister said: "A positive work environment significantly improves the efficiency, the quality of services, and, consequently, the prosperity of an organisation. The National Happiness and Positivity Programme, in collaboration with influential private-sector partners, seeks to promote social responsibility and train staff to design and implement initiatives and projects that spread happiness in the workplace and the community at large."
Al Roumi lauded the Wharton School and the Positive Psychology Centre at the University of Pennsylvania for offering the scientific and practical content of the course, as well as the private companies in the UAE that sent high-profile executives to take part in the unprecedented programme.
Happy graduates speak
Yusra Abdul Ghaffar Baqi, head of the happiness and positivity department at Aafaq Islamic Finance, said: "By taking part in the programme, Aafaq sought - and succeeded - to better equip our happiness and positivity department to launch initiatives that spread happiness and establish a culture of positivity among our employees and customers. The programme offered an ideal platform to develop that kind of skill and know-how."
For his part, Sultan Al Mahmoud, chief marketing & support services officer at WallStreet Exchange, said: "The programme helped me better understand the direct impact of happiness and positivity on organisational productivity in general. Positive employees bring happiness to the workplace, which then spreads to the customers as well."
The programme addressed institutional happiness and its impact on productivity. Participants experimented with different approaches to designing successful initiatives, drive change and progress, create happy and positive work environments, and use emotional intelligence as a tool to strengthen employee relations and increase productivity.
The training programme included workshops, lectures, interactive sessions, and practical exercises. Under the tutelage of professors and experts from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, participants were introduced to global case studies and were asked to work together on joint projects.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com