Happiness Advantage

(SUMMARY) Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

As I read/listen to books/articles that are relevant to your business, I'll curate them as "Coles notes" so you can apply them to your business.

In the Happiness Advantage, Shawn introduces the idea of happiness leads to success not success leads to happiness, and that we've had it backwards (listen to Ted talk)

Through research, a person's success rate in a job is only 25% predicted by knowledge/experience. The other 75% predictor of success in a job are as follows:
1) Optimism - belief in themselves
2) Positive Association - people you surround yourself with including family, friends and colleagues
3) Attitude - how you manage stress

More importantly, the right leader can raise the success of your team by applying the Happiness Advantage:
1) Hire positive people
2) Be Positive yourself
3) Recognize others achievements
4) Prioritize happiness - spend more time with others when things are not going well; social investment
5) Praise the process - not the outcomes

Start interviewing candidates with this in mind, ask questions to vet their attitude, mindset and network (social and professional), as follows:
Q. What behaviours/rituals do you practice everyday for success?
Q. Do you have daily goals? What are they for today?
Q. Give me a recent example when your constant practice or being consistent paid off
Q. What behaviour or soft skill are you most proud of? What do you do to hone that skill?
Q. Who in your life is the most influential?
Q. Your closest two friends, how do they inspire you? how do you inspire them?
Q. As most people's area of improvement is dealing with stress or confrontation, tell me how you've improved in this area and what are you doing to continue improving?
Q. Share a recent stress/confrontation and how you dealt with it. What are you most proud of as a result?
Q. Do you handle stress the same in your personal life as professional? Why?

Your single competitive advantage is raising the happiness of your team. Focus on improving this area in your business and your team will never leave you. Even better, they will attract other happy people into your organization.