How to Be Happy at Work: The Power of Purpose, Hope, and Friendship

by Annie McKee

Overview

Life's too short to be unhappy at work

"I'm working harder than I ever have, and I don't know if it's worth it anymore." If you're a manager or leader, these words have probably run through your mind. So many of us are feeling fed up, burned out, and unhappy at work: the constant pressure and stress, the unending changes, the politics—people feel as though they can't give much more, and performance is suffering.

But it's work, after all, right? Should we even expect to be fulfilled and happy at work?

Yes, we should, says Annie McKee, coauthor of the bestselling Primal Leadership. In her new transformative book, she makes the most compelling case yet that happiness—and the full engagement that comes with it—is more important than ever in today's workplace, and she sheds new light on the powerful relationship of happiness to individual, team, and organizational success.

Based on extensive research and decades of experience with leaders, this book reveals that people must have three essential elements in order to be happy at work:

• A sense of purpose and the chance to contribute to something bigger than themselves
• A vision that is powerful and personal, creating a real sense of hope
• Resonant, friendly relationships

With vivid and moving real-life stories, the book shows how leaders can use these powerful pillars to create and sustain happiness even when they're under pressure. By emphasizing purpose, hope, and friendships they can also ensure a healthy, positive climate for their teams and throughout the organization.

How to Be Happy at Work deepens our understanding of what it means to be truly fulfilled and effective at work and provides clear, practical advice and instruction for how to get there—no matter what job you have.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633692251
Publisher:	Harvard Business Review Press
Publication date:	09/05/2017
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Annie McKee is an advisor to leaders of Fortune 500 companies, governments, and NGOs around the globe. She is a Senior Fellow at the Universityof Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education and a coauthor of the bestseller Primal Leadership with Daniel Goleman and Richard Boyatzis, Resonant Leadership with Richard Boyatzis, and Becoming a Resonant Leader with Richard Boyatzis and Frances Johnston.

Author social media/website info: teleosleaders.com/; pennclo.com/; linkedin.com/in/annie-mckee-6657494; twitter.com/anniemckee

Table of Contents

Introduction

Life Is Too Short to Be Unhappy at Work 1

Happiness Is a Choice

1 Why Happiness Matters at Work 11

If You Sacrifice Happiness, You Sacrifice Success

2 The Happiness Traps 23

Myths That Hold Us Back

3 The Power of Purpose 53

Live Your Values and Make a Difference

4 The Power of Hope 87

Optimism Sparks Action

5 Yes, You Do Need Friends at Work 117

Love and Your Tribe in the Workplace

6 Hearing the Wake-up Call 155

Chart a Path to Happiness

7 Sharing Happiness at Work 187

Create a Resonant Microculture on Your Team

Expanded Table of Contents 201

Notes 209

Index 233

Acknowledgments 247

About the Author 251

Editorial Reviews

★ 09/01/2017
Leadership advisor McKee (senior fellow, Univ. of Pennsylvania's Graduate Sch. of Education; coauthor, Primal Leadership) takes the mystery out of what makes people satisfied at work. McKee contends that happiness in the workplace is as important as happiness in our personal lives. Through her research and advisory efforts with the leaders of Fortune 500 companies and international NGOs, McKee identifies the elements of purpose, hope, and friendship as the three necessary ingredients needed to foster enjoyable work environments. While exploring each of these elements, McKee embeds her own story, those of business leaders, and the best of current research. The apt accounts assist the reader in understanding each element's importance and its manifestation within different organizational cultures. Interspersed are exercises and reflections to help readers apply what they learn to their own environments. VERDICT McKee's practical and well-documented guidebook will appeal to students of business and organizational communication as well as managers providing leadership within their teams or groups. Highly recommended.—Jane Scott, Clark Lib., Univ. of Portland, OR

Library Journal

"One important takeaway is that you can plan your route to happiness—it doesn't happen by accident." — TD magazine (Association for Talent Development)

"McKee advises a reframing of your perception of your job; asking yourself how unhappy you really are and whether or not you have the power to change things for yourself, instead of waiting for someone to do it for you. By understanding what you want from work you can better decide whether what you are doing is right for you." — Daily Telegraph

"Annie McKee... identifies three elements that we all need: a sense of purpose; a vision that is powerful and personal; and resonant, friendly relationships. [Here is] advice about how to create an organisation that can achieve these three aims." — Fly BMI

"By following McKee's suggestions, based on her research and experience, leaders can create a positive, healthy work experience in any business, no matter how fast the pace or how intense the pressure." — SUCCESS Magazine

Advance Praise for How to Be Happy at Work:

Daniel Goleman, author, Emotional Intelligence; coauthor, Altered Traits—
"Annie McKee brings her wise voice and well-seasoned experience to that deep and perpetual conundrum, How to Be Happy at Work. Her insights offer eminently practical and powerful advice anyone can benefit from."

Arianna Huffington, founder, Huffington Post; founder and CEO, Thrive Global—
"We are in the middle of a global epidemic of stress, burnout, and nonengagement at work, costing our economy billions and wreaking havoc on our lives. In How to Be Happy at Work, Annie McKee provides an antidote to help you engage, succeed, and thrive."

Ann Schulte, Global Leader, Learning & Leadership Development, Procter & Gamble—
"Today's organizations need employees who can take risks, find new and different ways to achieve goals, and use their emotional intelligence to deal with challenges. In this practical and compelling book, Annie McKee shares how business leaders can learn to be hopeful, find a path to engagement and happiness, reach their potential, and help their organizations succeed."

Gavin Patterson, CEO, BT Group plc—
"Whether you're just starting your working life or reassessing your priorities in midcareer, Annie McKee's book is essential reading for anyone searching for the 'why'—not just the 'what'—in their life and work."

Marshall Goldsmith, international bestselling author, What Got You Here Won't Get You There and Triggers—
"McKee's book revolutionizes what we thought we knew about happiness—what it is, where we can find it, and why we deserve it. A must-read for anyone seeking fulfilment in life and work."

From the Publisher