The Serious Business of Happiness…

modoto ltd has slightly disappeared off the radar over the past 18 months or so because we’ve been dedicating pretty much all our time to Happiness.  The Happy City Initiative is gaining some recognition (we’re included as ‘rising stars of tomorrow’s green scene’ in this weekend’s Observer magazine) as people begin to understand the power and scope of our initiative for change.

The first hurdle to ‘getting’ what we’re doing, is the word ‘Happiness’ itself.   We’re so bombarded by ideas of happiness as pleasure, that people often struggle to distinguish between the two.  This confusion has deep roots because the marketing and advertising machinery of economic growth has devoted its considerable skill to persuading us that things which give us pleasure are the route to happiness.  This has never been true.

Pleasure is always short-lived. No matter how pleasurable the activity/thing is, an overdose of anything will begin to pall in time, and ultimately become repulsive.   Happiness as we’re viewing it is a set of universally recognised qualities in life.  Irrespective of culture, geography, age or any other factor, we KNOW that people value relationships most highly and that we ALL thrive when we have a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose and place.  Noticing and naming these things for ourselves is an incredibly powerful thing to do, because happiness is the magic key to social and environmental transformation, not simply an ephemeral bit of joy.

Since everybody has their own ideas about happiness, it’s a conversation we can all have.  The magical part (the bit that leads to social, environmental and yes, economic transformation) is that conversations about happiness built on the points above, draw people into positive, constructive engagement in ways that overcome some of our most intractable challenges. This is hugely important.

In business terms, there’s plenty of evidence around to show that employees are looking much more actively for a good work life balance, and that many are making changes that de-prioritise cash if it relieves them from being in the stress/burnout zone.   This shifting perspective should come as no surprise to any forward looking organisation, since it’s so clearly linked to the shifting landscape of 21^st century business.  We’ve overdosed on consumption to such an extent that people are searching for meaning, and that search for meaning is highlighting the effects of our industrial impact on environment and society.

So what can we do to adapt?  We’ve developed a ‘Happiness Challenge’ that helps people get to grips with the meaning, importance and value of happiness as a focus which improves work and life in many ways.  The challenge, which starts with teams inside an organisation and develops to include stakeholders and eventually local communities, is a sure-fire way to build a positive, happier workplace where people thrive and success naturally flourishes.

We’ve got the evidence to show that a happiness focus is incredibly effective as a way to increase creativity, pro-activity and to reduce interpersonal conflict.  We know it enhances collaboration and negotiation skills, and these things quite naturally increase job satisfaction, improve health and retention rates, and as a result, directly boost the happiness of customers and suppliers.

The challenge itself is a 10 week programme including group workshops, on-line and supported learning, coaching and action with trainer mentoring throughout.  It’s based on live issues and features leadership, positive psychology and cross- cultural facilitation. Expect practical, challenging fun with effective outcomes to make your organisation flourish.

The Happiness Challenge launches in September. To register interest and receive full details, write to mike@happycity.org.uk

modoto continues to offer facilitation, coaching and leadership support and will happily tailor a bespoke event or programme for organisations which are serious about positive change.