The Art of Happiness at Work
Ξ July 17th, 2008 | → 2 Comments | ∇ Psychology, links |
While I’ve spent a lot of time talking about the incredible changes that could occur as a result of things like creative capitalism and microfinance, I think that there’s an equally enormous change brewing as a new generation enters the workplace and brings with them a totally new view on how work should serve them.
Just as we’re beginning to realize that companies can do good and do well, it’s also becoming clear that employees are demanding they be fulfilled both emotionally and financially by their work. A recent article in The Guardian argues that this has incredible implications for the future of business. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, but I think that it will be such a sea change the ripples will be felt throughout society.
Just consider for a moment how much differently you act when you’re content with life. How much less irritated are you and how much more empathetic are you when life is going smoothly? The answer is obvious and think about how much better happy people are for the community because they spread those good vibes around without even realizing it. We live in a world increasingly obsessed with work and increasingly stressed out by work. To think that this does not adversely affect the general human interaction beyond the office is shortsighted. Unhappy workers aren’t just bad for business, they’re bad for all of us.
I don’t think that as the next generation replaces the boomers that we’ll all magically be transported to Xanadu, but I do think that it could make life less stressful. Wouldn’t that be nice?
