In this lens you will discover a simple 5-step process anyone can practice to grow and sustain happiness! Both individually and collectively as a group.
If you are doing something of interest, or even not but want to make it of interest, then you can use these steps to grow happiness. We subscribe to this psychological formula in the "Studies" section: Pleasure + engagement + meaning = happiness.
First we will examine the elements of the 'Formula' and apply them to the daily activities of a person or group.
Secondly, before you begin to practice the 5-steps or to achieve the results of happiness please read the 'Getting Started' foundational beliefs through which experiences can flow into actions (only actions get results)
Let's get started!
1. Formula --> Start with Pleasure
Find the pleasure or enjoyment in what you are doing.
Find what interests yourself and yourgroup. Something you enjoy and look forward to in what you are doing.
An example is a story about a lady who sacks groceries and becomes bored so she decides with her supervisor to include what gives her pleasure which is making people's day. Together they set a daily quota of people for her to make their day. Allowing her to move towards 'full engagement'
2. Formula --> add Engagement
Second part of the happiness formula is the "missing-link"
We define 'engagement' simply as "Involvement
with heart and mind"!
Let's dissect this definition:
First, involvement happens when skills closely match challenges. Here one's skills, abilities or training must develop in proportion to the challenges, tasks, or jobs which they execute or perform. Involvement can be successfully managed through actions.
Then, hearts and minds is the 'people' part. This is the emotions, feelings, and passion which colors experiences and relationships between people. And while this too is actionable it is more successfully lead using processes (such as the 5-steps) rather than managed by programs and systems.
3. Formula --> add Meaning
And finally, add Meaning to grow happiness
Your efforts both invidually and collectively must be important to you. They must contribute to something you care about.Your reasons may be singular or multi-faceted but they create a sense of purpose. From daily activities this begins on the frontlines and works its way up any organizational structure.
Meaning is a part of acceptance, expression, significance, and intentions. Conveyed by word, action, gesture, or situation.
Also important in adding meaning is retention. Those that benefit from your efforts continue to subscribe. Whether members of the a group or customers provided with services and/or products.
The 5 Steps
A Recipe for Engagement
Five actions which anyone can practice to build happiness for themselves and others around them -1. Thank: Builds recognition and leads appreciation.
2. Invite: Demonstrates intentions, which leads to commitments.
3. Ask critical questions: Creates attention and leads to long-term focus.
4. Get feedback from activities: Keeps associates engaged at a high level.
5. Share assessments: Develops opinions that foster dialogue.
Getting Started
Foundational beliefs for daily experiences
Click on the links to learn more about any of these foundations for the practice.
- Working Backwards
- Practicing the 5-steps is a user-centered approach!
While others certainly may influence happinness for you and your group they cannot delegate or program it for you. It must be something you strive for and internalize both individually and collectively. It is not a destination but rather a journey.
Working backwards from the bottom of the leadership pyramid up. Experiences form beliefs which influence the actions that create results. One leads experiences for the 'people' activities to complement results. - A Cycle of Engagement
- Though interaction an engaged person (involved with heart and mind) will engage another person and, in turn, be reengaged by the person they engaged.
- A Third or "Internal" Feedback
- Everyone gets feedback from colleagues and supervisors but to continue engagement--feedback from one's own daily activities is required.
The missing-link for sustaining this third feedback is participating in asking the critical questions for "How are we doing?"
Studies and Findings on Happiness
What researchers have found
Click on any title to view the full article:
- Is there a happiness formula?
- Psychologists have now come up with a formula for happiness.
Pleasure + engagement + meaning = happiness. - Happiness is the key to success
- Conventional wisdom has long stated that success that makes people happy. But according to new research, conventional wisdom is wrong. Happiness, rather than working hard, is the real key to success.
- Happiness is hand-on
- Who has real job satisfaction? Forget lawyers, accountants and architects, when it comes to happiness, hairdressers, plumbers and care assistants are the ones with the biggest smiles on their faces.
- HR failing to develop employee engagement
- HR professionals are spending too much time focussing on staff retention and talent management and neglecting the critical area of employee engagement, a new report claims.
- HAPPINESS: HAS SOCIAL SCIENCE A CLUE?
- Richard Layard's lectures (.pdf file format) at the London School of Economics
- "The Art of Work"
- "It is what the sailor holding a tight course feels when the wind whips through her hair....It is what a painter feels when the colors on the canvas begin to set up a magnetic tension with each other, and a new thing, a living form, takes shape...."
These words, written by American psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (Mee-high CHICK-sent-me-high-ee), describe the state of "flow." It's a condition of heightened focus, productivity, and happiness that we all intuitively understand and hunger for. - Full Engagement and Happiness
- What is "Flow" ??
Becoming fully involved with heart and mind is described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi as "Flow"
Search inside the book on the link below in the "Books on Happiness" - Chief Happiness Officer
- Alex Kjerulf is known as the Chief Happiness Officer and is the world's leading expert on happiness at work.
Free Happiness Program Handbook
For workplace, school, church, civic, or government!
A free course for group leaders to engage associates. Develop a career skill to guide their group in long-term customer focus, learning, and commitments among associates. Build a cycle of engagement for frontline daily operations.This handbook is a course to develop the practice into a career skill. The five tutorials follow the 5-step process to engage a group or team.
The handbook is not intended to integrate the practice into a multi-layered organization.
To download click here
Books on Happiness
For Group Leaders
Happiness: Lessons from a New Science
Amazon Price: (as of 12/09/2009) 
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
Amazon Price: (as of 12/09/2009)
Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life (Masterminds Series)
Amazon Price: $10.76 (as of 12/09/2009)
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George Reavis, is a Frontline Leadership Coach. Using his "Member" website and virtual office he coaches leaders using Workshops,...
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