07 Mar The science of happiness at work
via the Huffington Post by Laura Berger
In True Grit, Grace, and Gratitude, I used the term "happy hour" as a constructive and necessary analogy, but I do have a good bit of aversion toward the expression. Why does an hour we reserve to be happy have to be after work? I also have tepid excitement for the sayings "Work hard, play hard," and "All work and no play makes Jack a Dull Boy" because the masses interpret them as having work and play happening at two different times.
My approach to executive coaching is multi-faceted and situation-based, but my greatest mission is to blur the lines between employment and enjoyment. My view of the optimal workspace to which leaders should aspire is one where leaders create, in themselves and their employees, a pervading feeling of drive, purpose, camaraderie, and comfort. Now let's match the facets of that statement with the brain science behind the human state of happiness.
The article "Hacking Into Your Happy Chemicals" by fellow Huffington Post columnist, Thai Nguyen of theutopianlife.com, sums it up beautifully, identifying the four primary brain chemicals secreted during happiness:
-
Dopamine – Creates motivation. Exposure also produces an addiction to winning.
-
Serotonin – Creates feelings of significance. People with high levels also manifest greater logic.
-
Oxytocin – Creates togetherness. Environments promoting oxytocin are also marked by strong teams.
-
Endorphins – Alleviate anxiety and depression. People with endorphin surges are also ambitious and perseverant.
Take a moment to see how well the bolded words map to my statement of the optimal workplace.
So what levers can we pull to promote happiness? And how do these techniques specifically map to the brain chemistry that makes you and your teams go to work with a big glorious smile?
…keep reading HERE to find out!