November 5th, 2008 [email_address] 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 researcher University of Leuven Belgium ENPP Representative Researcher on evidence based happiness interventions www.evidencebasedhappiness.com , Researcher on employee well-being at www.iswlimits.be Worldwide qualitative researcher on 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

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

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

What is happiness determined by? Sonja Lyubomirsky

How can we influence those 40%? 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 movement Strengthen optimism Gratitude Random Acts of kindness Forgiveness Developing & using strengths Flow/ goal setting Mission/ Vision/Visualisations Mindfulness Heart Math

What do we need? More …… & and more …

Mindhabits Filmpje Paul Potts

Filmpje Paul Potts

Filmpje Paul Potts

Filmpje Paul Potts

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 thinking Neo-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 brain Positive feeling Brainstem Adapt 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

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

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