November 5th, 2008

Happiness@work

Evidence Based Interventions

Introduction

Onno Hamburger, happiness coach

Psychologist, senior trainer and happiness coach at Van Harte & Lingsma

Developer of Happiness@work trainingprograms, coaching & workshops

Founding father of www.geluk.startpagina.nl, & the weblog about happiness in the workplace www.gelukkigwerken.nl

Introduction

Hein Zegers, happiness researcherUniversity of Leuven

Belgium ENPP Representative

Researcher on evidence based happiness interventions www.evidencebasedhappiness.com,

Researcher on employee well-beingat www.iswlimits.be

Worldwide qualitative researcheron happiness

What is happiness@work?

Meaning

Satisfaction

Pleasure

HAPPINESS

@work

Why Happiness@Work?

Happy employees are:

• More productive

• More creative & innovative

• More flexible & open to change

• More involved & loyal

• Healthier (less on sick leave)

• More profitable

What makes people happy in their job?

Factors people say makes them happier at the workplace

In rank order of importance:

• Friendly, supportive colleagues

• Enjoyable work

• Good boss or line manager

• Good balance Work/Life

• Varied work

• Belief that they’re doing something worthwile

Research by Chiumento, January 2007

What is happiness determined by?

50%

10%

40%

Genetics

Circumstances

Consciousbehaviour

Sonja Lyubomirsky

How can we influence those 40%?

50%

10%

40%

Genetics

Circumstances

Consciousbehaviour

Science:

The science of Happiness@work

Descriptive vs. Experimental research:

Experimental Happiness Research

Happiness interventions:

A new world

We know there’s a lot we don’t know

What we do know: Evidence Based Interventions

RET/ CBT/…Physical movementStrengthen optimismGratitudeRandom Acts of kindnessForgivenessDeveloping & using strengthsFlow/ goal settingMission/ Vision/VisualisationsMindfulnessHeart Math

What do we need?

More ……

& and more …

Mindhabits

Filmpje Paul Potts

Filmpje Paul Potts

Filmpje Paul Potts

Filmpje Paul Potts

“Reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels by 17 percent in people who played the game five minutes a day. ”

October 2007, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

How do you get happier?

Positive thinking / Realistic thinkingNeo-cortex

Emotional Brain

Brainstem

Few neural pathways from the outer to the inner layers

This makes cognitive psychological interventions less effective

Source: Ledoux (2003).

Many neural pathways from the inner to the outer layers

Direct influence emotional brain & brainstem

Neocortex

Emotional brainPositive feeling

BrainstemAdapt way of breathing

Source: www.heartmath.org

HeartMath

Coherence is not correlated to heart rate

Summary

Happiness@work is important for both employees and organizations

Happiness@work is common sense but not common practice

Different happiness@work interventions are available (see also hand-out)

More research and open mindedness is needed

Sources

www.h-l.nl/happiness

www.gelukkigwerken.nl

www.thoughtsonhappiness.nl

www.positivesharing.com

www.greatplacetowork.com

www.heartmathbenelux.com

Randstad research into happiness@work: onderzoek geluk

What is cortisol? Backgrounds Cortisol

Employee Satisfaction is not enough