Innovation Management: Discovering Feel Good Managers

At Incenteev, we are fans of all managerial innovations, especially if they involve bringing well-being to the workplace. We recently discovered that a new profession exists in management: Feel Good managers, and we can’t resist introducing you to this modern management approach.

Popular among our German neighbors, Feel Good managers are a true revolution in innovation management.

A new kind of role, which aims to improve the working conditions of each employee, so that good mood and motivation coexist in the office.

But who are these Feel Good managers? Why are they here? And what do they do?

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Innovation Management: why Feel Good Management?

Well-being is important in companies, as revealed by the Gallup index concerning professional engagement. This demonstrates how closely engagement and a sense of well-being at work are linked.

The concept is therefore inspired by methods developed by Google, where everything is done to make employees feel good. This ranges from rest rooms, to video game rooms, to gyms, as well as music rooms and free food and drinks.

Many companies are therefore starting to develop these positions to improve the lives of their employees in the workplace.

“New companies have understood the importance of re-motivating their employees. The younger generation no longer just wants to earn a salary but demands a new concept of work life,” analyzes Lea Böhm, Feel Good manager for the startup Ezeep, who sees her role as a “ability to defuse conflicts to get everyone pulling in the same direction”.

But What Exactly Do these Somewhat Special “Managers” Do?

Feel Good Managers are not yet considered “true” managers in companies, but they are not just simple employees either. They are rather considered internal consultants.

The goal of Feel Good managers is to improve employee productivity and channel their stress. To do this, they must value each employee in the company, improve internal communication, and ensure that everyone feels their best in their professional environment.

All of this involves fostering understanding among colleagues by organizing various events such as breakfasts or cooking classes. For some of these new managers, a relaxed atmosphere also comes from a pleasant environment, so they work in collaboration with interior designers to create more convivial spaces.

But Feel Good management is not just about organizing events; it affects the entire organization of the company.

“Improving communication between different levels is an integral part of the Feel Good manager’s job. We foster a feedback culture. We have implemented regular meetings between employees and managers.” says Gitta Blatt, HR Manager and Feel Good manager at Wooga, a social game developer.

This is truly about innovation management. They must relieve all employees of logistical concerns that could interfere with their work by implementing various services, such as an emergency babysitting service to allow employees to work later.

“Our employees should feel at home in the office. We must listen to employees, especially newcomers who sometimes experience a cultural shock. We provide them with moral and administrative support, from apartment hunting to work permits for foreigners,” adds Gitta Blatt.

What is the Profile of these Well-Being Managers?

Approachability, ability to understand expectations, and empathy are the qualities required to be a Feel Good manager.

They must therefore combine several roles, from psychologist to internal communication, from HR Director to “atmosphere creator”, with good management knowledge, the Feel Good manager must remain very versatile and take on delicate responsibilities. The Feel Good manager must have some experience in the professional world, in life in general, or even better, in business consulting.

Several dozen startups have integrated these new managers into their organizational charts. A position, for the moment, essentially occupied by women with degrees in psychology, sports sociology, management, or trained in event management professions.

If you are inspired by this type of role, a private school in Stuttgart offers a one-year training program to become a Feel Good manager, and the GoodPlace website offers seminars on this topic.

At Incenteev, we are fans of developing well-being at work. What do you think?

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Other articles that might interest you:

• When Psychology Revolutionizes Leadership – Patrick Amar
• The Positive Organization – Eric Mellet
• Combining management and coaching for performance: the ideal manager-coach profile