Unlocking happiness at work How a data-driven happiness strategy fuels purpose, passion and performance

Jennifer Moss

Book - 2016

Unlocking Happiness at Work takes you on a journey into why and how leaders should become compassionate capitalists and ensure that their teams thrive. This book debunks the myth that happiness at work is a waste of time and demonstrates how it can deliver a more productive and engaged workforce, which can have real impact on the bottom line. Based on two decades of scientific research, real-time data, interviews and case studies, this book proves that happiness fuels higher performance, provides a greater sense of purpose and spreads passion throughout organizations. With insightful practical guidance throughout, Unlocking Happiness at Work is a lively and persuasive exploration of how to be more happy and make others more happy through th...e power of habits, emotional intelligence and an innovative approach to work/life flow. Case studies from lululemon, Zappos, Misfit Inc, The Body Shop and more are supported by tangible data and key performance indicators that show the significant benefits that come from adopting a happiness strategy. This is an essential resource for leaders who want to increase sustainability, attract new talent, improve their brand and boost profitability - in a way that is life-enhancing for them and their people.

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Subjects
Published
London : Kogan Page [2016]
Language
English
Main Author
Jennifer Moss (author)
Other Authors
Shawn Achor (author of introduction)
Physical Description
xi, 227 pages ; 24 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN
9780749478070
  • Foreword
  • Introduction
  • The scariest, best moments and how they change us permanently
  • What I want from you and for you
  • 01. The happiness/brain science connection
  • Neural pathways and behaviour
  • The history of neuroplasticity
  • Battling the bad habits
  • The ever-adapting memory
  • How our brains fire and wire
  • The motivated brain
  • Delivering meaning
  • How simple can it be?
  • Encourage friendships
  • Activities
  • Recommended reading
  • 02. The history of happiness
  • Rising from the ashes
  • Socrates
  • Helen Keller
  • Nelson Mandela
  • William James
  • Returning to the Towers after 9/11
  • The morning nurse or the night nurse?
  • The happiness shift
  • The happiness saturation
  • Activities
  • Recommended reading
  • 03. The power of habit
  • Our lazy brains
  • The myth of the 21-day habit
  • Quick wins
  • Physical and psychological fitness
  • When habits go bad
  • The attitude of gratitude
  • Building habits for life
  • Activities
  • Recommended reading
  • 04. Emotional intelligence and leadership
  • What is emotional intelligence?
  • The early adopters
  • Looking upstream
  • The return on investment of high emotional intelligence
  • The competitive advantage
  • Case study: The value of acceptance - Coreworx
  • Happiness and money: The awkward conversation
  • Outcomes of higher emotional intelligence
  • Survival of the authentic
  • Activities
  • Recommended reading
  • 05. Conscious capitalism
  • What is conscious capitalism?
  • Case study: The beauty of ethical shopping - The Body Shop
  • Do customers really care?
  • The firms of endearment
  • The talent attraction and retention benefit
  • How can we shift from old patterns to new patterns?
  • Case study: The misfits - Misfit Inc.
  • The story of Whole Foods
  • Embarking on the conscious capitalist journey
  • Where to start?
  • Activities
  • Recommended reading
  • 06. The happiness disruptors
  • The technology explosion
  • The pitfalls of professional development
  • We're missing the budget
  • How learning equals loyalty
  • Feeling cool towards the hot desk
  • Activities
  • Recommended reading
  • 07. Engaging the whole person
  • How work makes us feel alive... and keeps us alive too
  • The whole person
  • The introduction of work/life balance
  • The power of purpose
  • Case study: Zappos
  • Case study: Virgin
  • Case study: REI
  • Building a flexible culture
  • Millennials
  • To wrap up
  • Activities
  • Recommended reading
  • 08. A happier approach to change
  • Change is hard
  • Ignoring change won't make it go away
  • Is happiness too hard?
  • Who are these leaders?
  • The little things are actually the big things
  • Why authenticity matters
  • Why do we react negatively to change?
  • Brain management vs. change management
  • How can happiness help navigate change more effectively?
  • Activities
  • Recommended reading
  • 09. Want to be a global company? Be a global citizen
  • Dimensions of global brands
  • Case study: TOMS Shoes
  • The pursuit of purpose vs. the pursuit of profit
  • Purpose or perks?
  • Laurent and lululemon
  • Activities
  • Recommended reading
  • 10. The future of happiness
  • Humanizing the super-computer
  • When robots learn emotional intelligence
  • How will this change the workforce?
  • The future of ageing happily
  • The rise of mindfulness
  • Frankenstein, or just great science?
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
  • Index
Review by Choice Review

The "happiness industry" has mushroomed in the last few decades, with scholars trying to unravel the relationships between happiness--more formally labeled "subjective well-being"--and a number of factors, the "biggie" being income. Cross-section or longitudinal studies examine whether relative or absolute levels of income matter, the importance of other cultural or social variables in the determination of a person's or a society's happiness, and the extent to which public policy actions might improve outcomes. But Unlocking Happiness at Work is not a serious addition to this literature, nor is there anything in the volume--the prose, references, or index--that ties back to these well-respected contributors. Rather it falls into the tired genre of "airport rack" pulp, replete with feel-good, TED-talk-type PowerPoint slides on strategies and homilies geared for after-dinner presentations to business leaders and wannabees. Chapter titles--"The power of habit," "Conscious capitalism," "The happiness disruptors," "Engaging the whole person," "Want to be a global company?"--offer a glimpse into the contents. Summing Up: Not recommended. --Allen R. Sanderson, University of Chicago

Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.