What is it that makes us truly successful? Renowned psychologist, best-selling author and happiness guru Dr. Robert Holden believes our definition of success has changed over time.
While many of us were brought up to believe that success will make us happy, Robert says we’re now looking at success differently. “In fact, I think many of us today believe happiness actually increases our chances of success,” he says.
Speaking at Wednesday evening’s Xero Happy Hour workshop for entrepreneurs in London as part of the Business of Happiness project, Robert challenged us to think about what our own image of success really looks like.
Happiness is a great way of measuring success, Robert says. “When we’re happy, it brings out the best in us. We think more clearly, we perform better, and we’re much more fun to be around… when we’re happy, people want to work with us.”
“When you truly know what makes you happy and when you really follow your joy, that’s what increases your chances of success.”
“What is the point of success if we’re not enjoying it?”
“In the past, I really think work was just about making money, buying stuff and increasing your net assets. Now work is about expressing yourself and being creative. It’s about making a contribution, showing the world who you are.
“So for a lot of us, we don’t have a job, we have a purpose and our work is meaningful. A meaningful job, a meaningful life, that’s a huge key to happiness.”
After surveying more than 1,000 UK entrepreneurs and working alongside a panel of experts in business and psychology, we identified five tips to help you build a happier business.
Five tips for a happier business
Have a vision: Knowing what you’re working for helps you take pride in your work and focus on your goals.
Good relationships: Honest and clear communication with your employees, clients and customers helps to keep them happy.
Freedom and flexibility: A good work life balance and being able to enjoy free time or family occasions with flexible hours allows you to manage your workload and do your best job.
Growth and investment: Learning new skills and helping others to do the same encourages engagement and excitement.
Creativity: It’s not just about coming up with new ideas, but also allowing yourself and your team to be creative and using the right tools to do so.
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