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Are we happier than we think?. Guy Clapperton Co-author, “The Joy of Work?”. Who am I. Freelance journalist, author, broadcaster Author, “This Is Social Media” Once wrote for “Spitting Image” Then I get this email from this Emeritus Professor in Sheffield. Who is Peter.
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Are we happier than we think? Guy Clapperton Co-author, “The Joy of Work?”
Who am I • Freelance journalist, author, broadcaster • Author, “This Is Social Media” • Once wrote for “Spitting Image” • Then I get this email from this Emeritus Professor in Sheffield
Who is Peter • Emeritus Professor, Dept of Work Psychology, Sheffield University • Distinguished academic and researcher • Author “Work, Happiness and Unhappiness”
Bit of a culture clash, then… • Peter is the academic expert • My stuff is the anecdotal, chattier stuff
Themes • Vitamins, ingredients analogies to happiness • Querying whether we are as unhappy in work as we think • Assumptions based on culture – toads, Bible, Bart, Dennis…
Deconstruction • Unhelpful definition of ‘work’: something you have to do • Happiness: very little solid definition • Combination of the two is massively positive
What is happiness? • Joy, exuberance, ecstacy • Peace, contentment, calm • Having a role/status, fitting in, feeling needed
What is happiness not? • Money – the big red herring • Having a dull job in times of full employment • Having all your time to yourself – cp Freud’s Sunday neurosis
Happiness may be • Satisfaction • Security • Motivation • Equilibrium
What’s needed? • Personal influence • Environment • Use of your abilities • Variety • …and the other 8 things in the book But….
These variables are different for everyone • I’d hate to be Alan Sugar • He’d probably hate to be me • So test yourself! www.psypress.com/joyofwork/questionaires
Misconceptions • Stress is bad • Burnout is an objective truth
9 job features you need • Influence • Using your abilities • Reachable goals • Variety • Clear requirements and outlook • Social contact • Money • Adequate physical setting • Recognition of a meaningful role
Vitamin analogy • Overdose on some vitamins and you’re in trouble • They can be harmful rather than good • Remember Lord of the Flies!
Genes and jobs • Matching the right job – or college! – to the right person is vital • Some, not all, of it is likely to be predetermined • And happiness is relative – remember the grass is always greener!
Actions – can Cubo learn? • Vitamin analogy – is there something for students and study? • Our definition of “work” is certainly generic • Problem: no budget in many institutions.
Since the book… • Big Society • Government happiness targets • Economic collapse continued
Innovations • People actively showing off about applying different incentives • Social media – both good and bad (and has an effect on self-determination)
Q&A and closing remarks Guy@Clapperton.co.uk