Happiness at work - what studies show

Happiness at work

“Taste the Joy that comes from Labor” - Longfellow

·         Am I happy at work?

·         Certain conditions can lead an employee to experience more meaning in their work

1.       The work should draw out the variety of talents and skills

2.       The employee should complete the whole task from beginning to end, rather than play a minor role in the big picture

3.       The employee should feel that her work has a significant impact on others

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi –

·         Showed that work that is neither too difficult nor too easy leads to higher levels of

·         Engagement- We have to create meaning and pleasure at work

·         The ultimate responsibility to find the proper job lies with us

·         We can increase FLOW by setting clear Goals, even when the job does not require it

·         Taking Initiative can help, but sometimes we need to look for another job

·         We need courage, having fear and going ahead anyway-

Finding our Calling

Abraham Maslow – “The most beautiful fate, the most wonderful good fortune that could happen to any human being is to be paid for doing that which he passionately loves to do”

·         It is not always easy to discover what sort of work would lead to this fortune

·         Research shows that people experience their work in 3 ways, as a:

1.       job

2.       career

3.       calling

·         The job is perceived as obligation, with focus on pay, not personal fulfillment

·         For a career, the motivation is extrinsic- advancement, power, prestige

·         For “The calling”- the job is an End in itself-he works because he wants to,

·         He is passionate about what he does, he perceives it as privilege rather than duty

·         The way we see work –job, career or calling- affects our happiness

·         Satisfaction with life and work is more dependent on how the employee sees her work

·         Than on income or occupational prestige

·         It takes effort to find our calling

·         Most job tests focus on our strengths rather than our Passions

·         Questions like “what am I good at?”must be asked after

·         We have identified what gives us Meaning- What do I Want to Do?