The Impact of Happy on R3's People Success Strategy

At R3, success hinges on more than just delivering cutting-edge IT, security, and compliance solutions. Keeping pace with evolving challenges requires more than technical expertise to stay ahead—it requires strong team dynamics, effective communication, and a culture that fosters collaboration. Enter Happy, a transformative tool that’s helping R3 improve workplace relationships, boost engagement, and create a thriving team environment.

In the inaugural episode of How I Use Happy, Happy Ambassador Christine Passo interviews Hilary Reichler, R3’s Director of People Success. Hilary shares how Happy has become an essential part of the company’s toolbox, supporting their mission to enhance team communication and employee engagement.

Here are the key takeaways from their conversation and top insights for teams looking to harness the power of Happy.

Building a Culture That Prioritizes People

Hilary begins by explaining her role at R3: ensuring that employees have an exceptional experience and feel supported in their roles. For her, success starts with bringing in great people who align with the company’s core values and creating an environment where they can excel and grow.

“Culture is definitely something that trickles down from the top,” Hilary says. “The most important piece is having someone at the helm driving the ship who believes that people are the primary force behind a company's success and understands that being able to invest in them is what will help in the long run.”

Members of R3 leadership presenting to their team

This people-first mindset aligns perfectly with Happy’s mission to enhance organizational culture by focusing on improving communication and relationships. At R3, Happy helps the team understand and adapt to diverse communication styles, enabling smoother collaboration and stronger connections among team members. By fostering mutual respect and understanding, Happy has become a key driver of R3’s workplace culture.

Enhancing Communication Across Diverse Workstyles

One of the standout features of Happy for R3 is its ability to support better communication. As a growing company, R3 constantly welcomes new employees, each bringing their unique communication preferences. This diversity, while a strength, can sometimes create friction if not managed effectively.

Happy’s tools, such as Happy Insights, allow team members to compare their communication styles with those of their colleagues. “It’s such a simple tool to say, ‘This is how you like to communicate, and this is how I like to communicate,’” Hilary shares. “It’s like having a little coach in your back pocket.”

Hilary recalls instances where these insights transformed her interactions. Learning about a colleague’s background or interests through their Happy Profile opened doors to deeper connections. In one case, a shared connection to Ohio helped her build rapport with a colleague she initially had some trouble connecting with. These tools make bridging communication gaps and building trust seamless and intuitive.

Self-Awareness as the Foundation for Growth

Happy isn’t just a tool for understanding others; it’s also a powerful resource for self-reflection. After taking the Happy Assessment, which is modeled after the DISC framework, Hilary discovered valuable insights about her own workstyle. As a Driver, she’s focused on achieving results and values direct, transparent communication. However, this approach isn’t always ideal for every situation.

“Happy has made me more aware of my own communication style,” Hilary says. She explained that it helped her pause and reflect before approaching conversations, ensuring that she was mindful of how others might perceive her tone or approach.

This heightened self-awareness has been transformative for Hilary, enabling her to adapt her communication style to meet the needs of her team. By fostering this kind of personal growth, Happy supports a culture where continuous improvement becomes second nature.

Bringing the Personal to Work

Hilary’s experience with Happy highlights how the platform goes beyond traditional workplace tools by addressing the human side of work. By providing insights into team members’ personalities and preferences, Happy helps R3 create stronger, more authentic relationships.

R3 team member volunteering their time for community organization Food & Friends

Hilary highlights how Happy has reshaped the way new employees are welcomed at R3. By uncovering unique details about team members that might not surface in an interview, the platform creates a foundation for authentic connections right from the start.

Christine adds, “Happy brings the personal to work, which we can’t avoid anymore.” By uncovering shared interests and building genuine connections, Happy helps teams build a foundation of trust and camaraderie from day one.

Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

Hilary also highlights how Happy has helped her reframe potentially challenging interactions. She recalls moments where different communication styles initially created tension. With Happy’s insights, she’s been able to approach these situations with empathy and understanding, turning potential conflicts into opportunities for connection.

For Hilary, this has made all the difference in her role as a Director of People Success. By using Happy to better understand her team, she’s able to create a supportive environment where employees feel seen and valued. It’s a reminder that navigating workplace challenges with empathy can lead to stronger relationships and better outcomes.

Why Happy is a Game Changer

Hilary’s experience with Happy underscores its versatility as a tool for enhancing workplace culture. Whether it’s improving communication, fostering personal connections, or driving self-awareness, Happy empowers teams to work better together.

For teams looking to replicate R3’s success, they should focus on understanding and adapting to diverse workstyles as a core strategy for fostering collaboration and cohesion. By leveraging tools like Happy, teams can uncover new ways to connect, communicate, and grow together, paving the way for a more unified and productive workplace.

As Hilary reflects on her journey with Happy, she emphasizes its potential beyond the workplace. “Communication is life,” she says. “It’s about developing authentic, strong relationships with everyone in our world.”

For those ready to transform their team dynamics, Happy offers a starting point for meaningful change. Whether you’re a leader or a team member, Happy provides the tools to improve communication, build trust, and create a workplace where everyone feels empowered and supported.