“The goal of Happiness@Work is to equip participants with practical tools to increase workplace happiness,” says Jana Jandová

Are you happy at work? This is a question we often ask ourselves at least a few times in our lives. For this interview, we’ve invited Jana Jandová, coach, trainer, and consultant specializing in personal and career development. How did she become interested in workplace happiness, and how does she see the role of coaching in career development?

EDU Effective as a media partner for the largest Czech leadership conference, Happiness@Work LIVE!

For the second year, EDU Effective is proud to be a media partner of the Happiness@Work LIVE! conference, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The program promises to be inspiring. This year’s theme is Leadership for the Future, providing insights into how to improve the “leading with happiness” competency, practical examples of how these principles work in companies, and the leadership skills needed for the future.

The event will feature international and local speakers, including leadership experts like Eliška Remešová, Alex Kjerulf, Sonja Lyubomirsky, and Michal Meško. Be inspired by both global companies and those closer to home in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Jana, I’m so glad you accepted our invitation to chat. To start, how did you first get involved with the topic of happiness at work?

My journey into workplace happiness began with my own experience. I was working for a large international company where, after a leadership change, there were major shifts in both culture and job expectations. I realized I hadn’t been happy there for quite some time.

So, I quit and spent a few months abroad. When I came back, I knew my next job had to be somewhere I would feel good—where I could see the impact of my actions, enjoy a positive atmosphere and relationships, and have opportunities to continue growing.

That’s when I started delving deeper into the concept of happiness at work. I discovered a community of happiness managers led by Michal Šrajer. In June 2018, when Michal organized the first non-conference for this group, where participants co-create the content, I didn’t hesitate. From there, it was a small step to becoming part of the Happiness@Work conference team.

Your career is incredibly rich and varied. I was particularly interested in your work with the Učitel naživo (Teacher in Real Life) organization. What were your responsibilities there?

Working at Učitel naživo was an incredibly enriching experience. Over four years, I was part of the People Care team and later led it. I witnessed the transformation of what started as a somewhat ‘punk’ startup into a more stable organization with agile processes—all within a nonprofit environment constrained not only by funding but also by the educational system.

My main role was developing individuals and teams and providing managers with one-on-one support (through coaching, mentoring, and consultations) in their roles. I also focused on fostering a company culture that made people feel good and allowed them to do great work. This included a wide range of activities—from strategic thinking on how to build a learning organization to setting up team supervision systems and facilitating more challenging conversations.

In such a dynamic environment, with a highly dedicated team and an important mission, it was also necessary to step on the brakes sometimes and remind people to slow down to avoid burnout.

It often involved subtle work on sensitive issues, with people coming to me to share things that were difficult even for them to admit to themselves. To this day, I maintain close relationships with many of them, and we stay in touch.

Do you believe it’s possible to create space for personal growth and happiness in the workplace?

I think it’s not just possible but essential. Alongside meaningful work, good relationships, and health, personal growth is the fourth pillar of happiness and job satisfaction. If one of these areas is consistently out of balance, we won’t feel happy at work, no matter how prestigious the position. Research has shown that people who are happy at work perform significantly better. So, it’s in every company’s interest to create space for this growth. As Richard Branson, one of the UK’s wealthiest businessmen, says, “Take care of your people, and they will take care of your customers.”

How did you get involved with Happiness@Work?

It all started with the happiness managers’ gathering I mentioned in 2018. Michal told me about the Happiness@Work conference, which is run by a self-managed team of volunteers. I wanted to be part of it because the topic of workplace happiness resonated with me on a personal level, and I saw the value in bringing this concept to more companies, where it could help many others. The conference team is also built on principles of freedom and happiness, and being part of this team meant experiencing happiness at work firsthand. I’ve now been involved in organizing the conference for six years.

Each year, you select interesting speakers for the Happiness@Work LIVE conference. What’s your process for choosing them?

It’s like a 3D puzzle that comes together gradually. First, we focus on the theme of the conference, and we think about who are the experts in that field. We also have a long list of speakers we’d love to bring to the stage because they are top-notch speakers both in the Czech Republic and abroad, and their insights are highly valuable. Sometimes it takes years to bring these stars to the conference.

We also prioritize diversity—not just in terms of gender, age, or nationality, but in terms of expertise. Our speakers come from a variety of fields: academic experts, business leaders, and practitioners from different sectors, including public administration and manufacturing. The goal is to provide a well-rounded picture and offer participants multiple perspectives.

What was a highlight from last year’s conference, and what are you most looking forward to this year?

The most memorable thing is always the incredible atmosphere. Whether you’re walking through the foyer or the expo booths or sitting in the main hall, there’s this palpable energy from people eager to work on themselves and their company cultures. They’re determined to make changes and find ways, rather than excuses.

A key moment from last year was right at the start when we experienced what it truly means to lead from the heart. Michal Šrajer moved himself and much of the audience to tears within five minutes, delivering an emotional message about the importance of authenticity in leadership. It was a powerful demonstration of the four pillars of happiness—relationships, results, growth, and health.

Another powerful moment came from Radvan Bahbouh, who mentioned that only 10% of adults actively pursue personal growth, and I realized that many of them were sitting in our hall that day.

It’s tough to choose just one speaker I’m most looking forward to this year, but if I had to, it would be Josef Dvořáček from Sonnentor. Josef and his company have been a beautiful example of a thriving company culture where not only herbs but people flourish as well. His 2018 conference talk moved the entire hall and received a standing ovation, and I expect this year will be no different.

In your opinion, how does leadership affect team satisfaction and well-being?

Leadership plays a fundamental role. As a coach, I often work with managers on leadership topics, and I’ve seen how their personal growth transforms team dynamics and results. I’ve also conducted numerous exit interviews and internal satisfaction surveys, where the phrase “my boss” frequently comes up—both as a reason to stay and to leave.

Recent research from July 2024 showed that 75% of employees cited their manager as the main reason for leaving a job. That’s a huge number, and it’s why this year’s conference theme is Leadership for the Future. We believe leaders hold the key to their team’s happiness.

What would you recommend to people who want to learn specific tips at the conference for improving their company’s work environment?

I’d actually flip the question around and focus on how to not only learn those tips but bring them back to their organizations. If you stay in the realm of theory, nothing will change. What really works is attending the conference not just as an individual but as part of a team. This creates room for discussion about how to specifically implement ideas in your company with people who share the same experience and know the environment firsthand. This way, you can collectively strategize to make the ideas work. Ideally, you’d bring your boss along because they have more power to support these changes. That’s why leadership is such a big topic at our conference—company culture is a strategic issue.

What do you see as the biggest challenges in today’s workplace from a well-being perspective, and how can leaders support their teams’ happiness?

The biggest challenge today is definitely the pace of change. The speed at which information flows and the increasing uncertainty in our lives can be overwhelming. From a well-being perspective, it’s crucial to build resilience (both mental and physical), create a safe environment within the team, and strengthen adaptability to face these changes. In my view, leaders should start by working on themselves. If they actively work to balance their own four pillars of happiness, it will not only benefit them but also send a powerful signal to their teams. Alignment between internal values and external actions builds trust and authenticity. When teams feel psychologically safe, they’re more likely to discuss difficult topics, which strengthens their sense of stability and ability to face uncertainty.

What role does coaching play in leadership and personal development?

Coaching plays a crucial role in leadership and personal development. It’s an effective tool not only for achieving goals but for realizing potential, developing skills for better performance, and increasing personal satisfaction. Studies show that 18.5% of our happiness (subjective well-being) is influenced by whether we set developmental goals as adults and track our progress toward them.

Coaches are also essential for leaders in another way. Leadership can be a lonely role, and the higher up you go, the more demanding it becomes. For CEOs, a coach is often the only person they can share their thoughts and feelings with openly without risking the stability of their company. Coaching provides the space and perspective leaders need to organize their thoughts and develop strategies for themselves and their organizations.

As a coach, what changes do you observe most frequently in participants during the coaching process, and how do these changes impact their work and personal lives?

Watching transformations in coaching is truly a magical process, and I’m fortunate to witness it firsthand. Often, behind a specific goal lies a deep internal transformation that extends into many areas of personal and professional life. I often warn my clients about this at the start 🙂

What’s typical of these changes, no matter the goal or topic, is increased self-awareness—people begin to understand who they are and who they want to be, ultimately becoming the best version of themselves. Coaching also enhances mindfulness and the ability to focus on what’s already working. People start experiencing more happy moments simply because they notice them. And that brings us back to the meta-analysis of happiness—when people feel happier and see their success and positive changes, their confidence grows, along with their determination to make changes, motivation to reach new goals, and overall life drive.

It’s beautiful to watch people blossom through coaching—how insecure managers become confident leaders, or how those who used to put their needs last start listening to themselves.

You’re also a facilitator of Google’s #IamRemarkable program, which supports self-confidence and personal development, and you collaborate with platforms like Femme Palette and TopLeader. How do you see the role of these programs and platforms in boosting participants’ self-confidence and leadership?

It’s incredibly important that programs like these exist, and I’m happy to be part of them. Self-confidence is often an issue that people bring into coaching or mentoring sessions. I’ve met many amazing individuals who have achieved a lot, are role models for others, yet struggle with imposter syndrome. It’s a widespread phenomenon across different fields. More often than not, it affects women, which is largely due to the cultural and historical context of our society. I’m glad that there are programs and tools that help break down deeply ingrained negative beliefs about oneself and allow people to view themselves in a kinder light. And thanks to these platforms, we can reach more people.

With your team at Happiness@Work, you organize Europe’s largest conference on workplace happiness each year. What do you have planned for the next edition?

It’s true that while preparations for this year’s conference are in full swing, we’re already preparing for the next one. This is largely because top speakers from around the world often have packed schedules months in advance, and it can take years of planning to secure some of them. One such speaker is Richard J. Davidson, a professor of psychology and psychiatry and the founder of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I believe I can already reveal that he’s someone to look forward to.

If you could share one key takeaway from the Happiness@Work Live conference with all attendees, what would it be?

We spend around 80,000 hours of our lives at work. That’s far too long to spend feeling unhappy. If you want to discover what you can do to increase happiness for yourself and your company and see what leadership for the future looks like, join us at the Happiness@Work conference on October 15, 2024, at the Prague Congress Center.

Thank you, Jana, for this wonderful conversation! If you’d like to learn more about Jana’s work or the Happiness@Work LIVE conference, visit her website, LinkedIn, or the official conference page.