The Science of Workplace Happiness

Reader Comments
Back to article

Check it out: http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/greatergood/2009july/Sharp.php

Christa Vu of CA 2:46PM April 30, 2010

Davidson's work with Tibetan monks is routinely referred to in the press, frequently in reference to his claims about the neurobiology of happiness and the possibility that meditation can make one more compassionate. Never however, is mention made of his highly invasive brain experiments on particularly fearful young monkeys. Apparently, happiness is achieved by exploiting others in gruesome ways.

Rick Bogle of WI 7:35PM April 20, 2010

Why FedEx needs a UNION!!!
GO to YouTube, search word: FedEx Inhumane Treatment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YnbcCV2KI4

JMM of KY 10:45PM April 15, 2010

Hi Rob,
Thank you for writing about this. Given that workplace happiness is at a record low, the more that people know about how to create that happiness for themselves the better!
Here's one of my favorite resources: Ed Schein, a now retired professor from MIT's Sloan School of Management, wrote on career anchors. He says that each of us are motivated by one of the following anchors: (1) technical or functional mastery, (2) managerial competence, (3) autonomy and independence (4) security (5) entrepreneurial creativity, (6) service to a cause, (7) challenge, and (8) lifestyle. Finding work that satisfies our anchor is a big step toward career happiness.
Your readers can see more on career anchors, and how to identify their anchors with a quick quiz, here: http://bit.ly/cEhFnQ.
Cheers,
Donna Svei
AvidCareerist.com

Donna Svei of ID 1:13PM April 15, 2010

Hi Rob,
Great article, could not agree more. The current economic woes are having a detrimental effect on America's workers, both the employed as well as the unemployed. A strange negative energy. Our brand new company (Tuesday) is trying to help people meet the challenges.
>>part of a budding group of researchers who are trying to figure out what makes people happy and how those feelings can be created and sustained. This field of study—which is equal parts science and psychology, with a hint of motivational speaking thrown in—is hardly new, but it has taken on growing importance as the sour job market continues to weigh on the psyches of American workers.<<
We launched (quietly) Tuesday ruHap, The Happiness company (www.ruhap.com), to help people be Happier. Our free website is full of very short, pragmatic, and hopefully fun ways to learn to be Happier and help your friends be Happier. Usually based on the scientific studies we boil it down to Happy snipets, delivered to your email, like our Happy Quote of the Day.
We will soon be launching our one day corporate seminars on How to Have a Happy Culture, Happy Hiring, and Happy Sales.
Please let me know if you have any suggestions, or comments. Thanks!
greg
Gregory S. Barsh, Esq.
Chief Happiness Officer and Founder
ruHap, The Happiness Company
www.ruhap.com
Be Happier, and help your friends be Happier too!

Gregory S. Barsh, Esq. of PA 11:47AM April 15, 2010

Go to Iceland!!!! First check out here http://www.travelcarsiceland.com

krakar of KY 9:28AM April 15, 2010

the way to make employees happy is to have a fair minded, well adjusted, knowlegeable boss. Most bosses do not have a clue. Many bosses acquired their jobs through who they knew and not what they know. The bad boss poisons the company right the way down.
If you have a great boss you work harder for him. You respect him and you want things to go well.
As for co-workers, always give them the benefit of the doubt. Most are good but there are some crafty, jealous, vindictive people and you have to know how to keep out of their way and also not to let them know what you are working on or what you are thinking. Just be pleasant to them on the surface. Just remember all the crooks in the church and in the legal field. Judges and lawyers are the busiest frequenters of brothels.....so never trust them. Although there are a few good ones but not many both in law, politics and the church. Always remember to "watch your back".
I know I have had lots of jobs from cleaning toilets to working in huge law firms. It's the same in all these places.
Mavis Murphy
ps I didn't go to university but all my kid did including my son who has a Ph.D from Oxford but unfortunately doesn't have his mum's street smarts. I am a cockney from London and live in Canada and the States now.
Love and kisses

mavis murphy 7:49AM April 15, 2010