And you, do you have a happiness manager in your company?

Its task is to study strategies, measures and actions to improve the working environment and make employees more motivated and productive. Nunzia Giunta, CEO of Man and Environmenta Turin-based consultancy company that takes care of accompanying companies towards sustainable development logics, is also one of the first chief happiness officer of Italy, a true manager of happiness, who takes care of bringing the culture of positivity and harmony into the work environment. «I try to promote the idea that a form of leadership is possible that does not use force as an instrument of imposition», he explains, «but chooses kindness and empathy as a factor of aggregation and involvement of people, also and above all in the company”.

The role of chief happiness officer was born in the United States, and used above all by large multinationals, but is also very present in Northern Europe. There is a training course: certification can be obtained online with 2BHappyAgency after a eight-week intensive coursedivided into both group and individual study moments, with practical exercises and laboratories.

Why did you decide to become a happiness manager?
«I realized that I “function” better if I put empathy and my ability to create relationships into practice, and four years ago I learned of the existence of a path to becoming a happiness manager, which today is considered one of the professions of the future. I spoke to my husband, co-owner of the company, about this possibility, and he immediately replied: “Why are you asking me this? Just do it!””.

Does your husband also think like you?
«Yes, so much so that he also obtained the certification. And now we have invested a significant sum to share this path with our collaborators: the organizers are developing one specifically for our company, and we are receiving a good response from everyone, even those who were most skeptical.”

What is studied in the course?
«The dynamics of anger, of emotional seizure, of empathy. The way in which you can avoid transforming resentment into something destructive, the different reactions of colleagues based on the tone you choose to communicate with them.”

At the moment, what measures have you implemented to increase the happiness of your employees?
«We formed a team building to observe who we are and what we need to feel better. Here, we don't stamp entry: anyone who arrives for a while can catch up later. We would like to increasingly base our relationships with our collaborators on trust. We organized laughter yoga sessions, which was very popular. On the birthday we give everyone a day off that everyone can spend as and with whoever they want (those who still want to come to work are paid an extra day off), we also make sure that the workstations are welcoming , for example by placing many plants. We believe in welfare that is not only economic in nature, but also one that promotes personal growth.”

Have you ever encountered difficulties in the practical application of these measures in the company?
«Every week, during the course, I was assigned some task to complete, and I realized that there were always aspects that could be improved in the company. I felt like revolutionizing everything immediately, but I understood that every intervention must be carefully thought out and evaluated, precisely because all workers are different, and all the different approaches and different sensitivities must be respected. For example, we had established a moment of listening, “tea with Nunzia”, ​​which worked very well for some, but not for everyone, because not everyone is willing to talk about themselves. And we had to be careful not to turn that moment into an occasion for gossip. In short, it's not that simple.”

You also have a cuddle manager.
«Yes, we have chosen to adopt an “office dog”, a shared management pet: all the employees voted yes to this particular referendum. Arthur, a nice mutt, arrives from the Collegno kennel. His role is very easy to understand: it decreases stress levels and increases collaboration between colleagues, trust, team spirit and above all productivity. Animals have the power to strengthen empathy, increase self-esteem and create a more relaxed atmosphere, significantly contributing to an increase in the quality of the company climate. He takes care of keeping the team's mood high and on occasion it turns into an excellent excuse to take a break: someone will even have to play with him and take him out to pee.”