coNvERSAtIoNS WItH dr . aNNiE McKEE
By KElly HEitz
In our high-speed , high-stress economy , countless employees and managers at every level are fed up , burned out and unfulfilled at work . Facing the heightened demands of an always-on world , many also juggle higher expectations and rising competition , along with limited resources and poor management . Should we even expect to be happy at work anymore ? dr . annie McKee , University of Pennsylvania scholar and bestselling author of How to Be Happy at Work : The Power of Purpose , Hope and Friendship , believes you should not only expect happiness at work , but also that it is essential to the success of every individual and organization .
In this month ’ s Conversations , we asked McKee to explain why our workplaces are unhappier than ever and what both individuals and managers can do about it .
PULSE : What makes happiness and full engagement seem elusive in today ’ s workplace ? dr . annie McKee : Far too many people are unhappy and disengaged at work ( Gallup consistently reports that nearly two-thirds of all employees are either neutral about their jobs or actively disengaged ). There are many reasons for this — the pressure of our “ always on ” world , years of having to do more with less , and poor management . Some of the problem , however , lies with each one of us . Too often we have bought into the myth that work is supposed to be grueling ; that we can ’ t ask for more . We also sabotage ourselves when we get stuck in happiness traps like overwork , overheated ambition and doing what we think we should do rather than what we truly want to do at work and in our careers .
P : How are happiness and engagement linked ? M : Both happiness and engagement have to do with how we feel about our work , as well as what we think about our daily tasks and the energy and effort we are willing — or can — dedicate to our jobs . It stands to reason that we won ’ t be engaged with
our work , that we won ’ t want to give our all when we find little meaning in the work we do , when work doesn ’ t link to our personal dreams , and when relationships are strained . The opposite is also true : when we can live our values and have positive impact at work , we are more committed and dedicated . When we are hopeful , we ’ re more energetic and our efforts are goal-directed . And when we have warm , positive relationships on the job , when we feel as if we ’ re all in it together , our collaborations are more fun and work is more fun , too .
P : What makes your perspective on happiness in the workplace unique ? M : There are a great many books on happiness and in fact , philosophers have been writing about it for eons . My perspective is different in that I go beyond what happiness is and propose a model for exactly what is required for happiness at work : a sense of purpose , hope and a personally compelling vision of the future that links job with life , and friendships at work . More , I propose practical strategies for increasing happiness at work and improving one ’ s experience on the job
34 PULSE ■ November 2017