Happier Employees and Return-On-Investment Course from edX

How is career success related to happiness and vice versa? Most of us believe that career success leads to happiness. In fact, however, scientific evidence suggests that the reverse is even more true: happiness leads to career success. For example, one study found that the top 20% of the happiest people earned 32% more salary than least happy 20%.

In this short 4-week course, co-taught by award winning professors Raj Raghunathan (author of ‘If you’re so smart, why aren’t you happy?’, and instructor for one of ‘Top 50 MOOCs of all-time’) and Marshall Goldsmith (world-famous CEO coach and author of ‘What got you here won’t get you there’), you will learn about 5 main topics:

a. Why does happiness at work matter?

b. What are the 5 most important determinants of happiness at work?

c. What is holding me back from feeling happy and fulfilled at work?

d. What can I do to enhance my own happiness levels at work?

e. What can I do to enhance the happiness of my coworkers?

In addition to learning about these topics, your happiness levels will improve significantly and, in the process, you’ll be on your way to a more meaningful and successful career.

What you'll learn

You will learn about 5 main topics in this course:

a. Why does happiness at work matter?

Happiness doesn’t just feel good; it’s also useful to be happy. Happier employees are healthier, so they take less sick leave. Happier employees are more collegial, so they perform better in teams. Happier employees are also more creative and objective, so they make better decisions. Put all this together, and it’s no surprise that happier people earn more.

b. What are the 5 most important determinants of happiness at work?

To be happy at work, it’s important that 5 sets of needs (in short, ‘BAMBA’) are fulfilled:

i. Basic needs
ii. Autonomy
iii. Mastery
iv. Belonging, and
v. Abundance culture

c. What is holding you back from feeling happy and fulfilled at work?

You’ll discover the answer to this question: Which of the five major determinants am I most lacking at work?

d. What can you do to enhance your own happiness at work?

You will also get to discover ways in which you can improve your happiness at work

e. What can you do to enhance happiness of your coworkers?

Finally, you will learn about some creative, simple and effective ways by which you can improve happiness of your coworkers.

What's inside

Syllabus

• Week 1, Module 1 a. ROI of happiness: how happiness leads to greater success & more profits b. Measuring your happiness @ work (1st happiness measurement) c. Overview of the determinants of happiness at work—The ‘BAMBA’ model

• Week 1, Module 2 a. Why is fulfillment of ‘Basic needs’ at work important? b. The 3 domains and 9 subdomains of Basic needs at work c. Measuring your Basic Needs at work d. Fulfilling Basic needs at work: 3 things you can do for yourself e. Fulfilling Basic needs at work: 3 things you can do for your coworkers

• Week 2, Module 3 a. Why is fulfillment of ‘Autonomy’ at work important? b. The 3 domains and 9 subdomains of Autonomy at work c. Measuring Autonomy at work d. Gaining autonomy at work: 3 things you can do for yourself e. Gaining Autonomy at work: 3 things you can do for your coworkers

• Week 2, Module 4 & Week 3, Module 5 a. Why is fulfillment of ‘Mastery’ at work important? b. The 3 domains and 9 subdomains of Mastery at work c. Measuring Mastery at work d. Gaining Mastery at work: 3 things you can do for yourself e. Gaining Mastery at work: 3 things you can do for your coworkers f. Happiness measurement (2nd)

• Week 3, Module 6 a. Why is fulfillment of ‘Belonging’ at work important? b. The 3 domains and 9 subdomains of Belonging at work c. Measuring Belonging at work d. Fulfilling Belonging at work: 3 things you can do for yourself e. Fulfilling Belonging at work: 3 things you can do for your coworkers

• Week 4, Module 7 a. Why is fulfillment of ‘Abundance orientation’ at work important? b. The 3 domains and 9 subdomains of Abundance culture at work c. Measuring Abundance at work d. Gaining Abundance orientation: 3 things you can do for yourself e. Fostering Abundance culture: 3 things you can do for your coworkers f. Happiness measurement (3rd and final)

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the relationship between career success and happiness, challenging the traditional view that career success leads to happiness

Taught by award-winning professors with expertise in happiness and career success

Delves into the five determinants of happiness at work: Basic needs, Autonomy, Mastery, Belonging, and Abundance orientation

Provides practical strategies for enhancing happiness at work for both individuals and coworkers

Offers multiple happiness measurements throughout the course, allowing learners to track their progress

Introduces the BAMBA model as a comprehensive framework for understanding happiness at work

Reviews summary

Engaging course about employee happiness and roi

Learners say this "Superb" course is very well-received and is one of the "Best courses" they've taken. The content is engaging and practical, with "Awesome" tips that are "Easy to understand" and readily applicable to one's own life and work. The experience is fun and enjoyable, with the videos described as "Hilarious" by some learners. Overall, students widely recommend this course for those looking to improve their happiness and fulfillment both inside and outside of the workplace.

Course offers a global perspective on happiness and well-being in the workplace.

"The mix of video's, assessments, reviews and literature, from a global perspective makes this course interesting for people all over the world."

"Since I work in education as a coach and teacher (Fontys University in the Netherlands and in Cape Town SA) and as an advisor for companies on vocational rehabilitation and happiness (in the Netherlands, Bewegen Werkt) I can use my new knowledge and experience for students, colleagues as well as company's and their employees."

Course incorporates engaging activities and peer-to-peer learning experiences.

"The accompanying website helps you in tracking on a daily basis your happiness related activities."

"You are able to measure your happiness level and reflect on its evolution over time."

"You're graded on small quizzes and peer-reviewed reports you create after executing the specified activities for a week."

Professor Rajmotivates learners and creates a positive learning environment.

"Professor Raj. is highly appreciated by me and has the inner ability to motivate myself and all his students to be positive and have an open mind towards their own learning process."

"I consider Raj a friend and colleague and although we have never met, I can call upon him for help every time I reach for my notes from the MOOC, his books or one of his internet postings."

Course teaches practical techniques to increase personal happiness and fulfillment.

"It was very useful and interesting."

"I learned several tips that could be implemented immediately."

"I found the course to be informative and enlightening."

Course provides valuable guidance on improving employee happiness and organizational performance.

"If you have been given the opportunity of managing a team at work, this course is great at two levels. 1. It will help you become happier as an employee; 2. It will help you keep your employees happier at work."

"This course helped me to better understand needs of employers and employees to gain a higher level of happiness."

"I learnt a lot by participating, hearing from other participants and putting myself in my employees shoes."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Happier Employees and Return-On-Investment Course with these activities:

Read 'If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Happy?' by Raj Raghunathan

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This book provides insights into the relationship between happiness and success, setting the foundation for the course content.

View If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Happy? on Amazon

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Purchase or borrow the book.
Read the book thoroughly, taking notes as you go.
Reflect on the key concepts presented in the book and how they relate to your own work life.

Join a Study Group Focused on Happiness at Work

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This activity encourages collaboration and discussion, helping students to reinforce their understanding of key concepts and share best practices.

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Reach out to fellow students or colleagues and propose forming a study group.
Meet regularly to discuss course materials, share experiences, and support each other.

Attend a Workshop on Enhancing Workplace Happiness

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This activity provides an opportunity for students to engage with experts and gain practical insights into fostering a happier work environment.

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Research and identify relevant workshops in your area.
Register for and attend the workshop.
Take notes and actively participate in the discussions.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Create a Resource Compilation on Happiness at Work

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This activity encourages students to organize their learning materials and expand their knowledge through additional research.

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Collect and organize relevant articles, videos, and research papers on happiness at work.
Create a document or online repository to share the compiled resources with others.

Create a Happiness Plan

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This activity allows students to apply what they have learned in the course by creating a personalized plan for enhancing their own happiness at work.

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Identify areas where you feel your happiness at work is lacking.
Research and gather strategies for improving happiness in these areas.
Create a plan that outlines specific actions you will take to implement these strategies.

Volunteer in an Organization that Promotes Workplace Happiness

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This activity allows students to put their knowledge into practice and gain hands-on experience in creating a positive work environment.

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Research organizations that focus on promoting workplace happiness.
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Participate in volunteer activities that align with your interests and the course content.

Develop a Training Module on Enhancing Workplace Happiness

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This project-based activity challenges students to synthesize their knowledge and create a valuable resource for others.

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Research and identify effective strategies for enhancing workplace happiness.
Design and develop a training module based on your research.
Test and refine the module by presenting it to a group of peers or colleagues.

Career center

Learners who complete Happier Employees and Return-On-Investment Course will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Chief Happiness Officer

Chief happiness officers are responsible for creating and maintaining a positive and productive work environment for employees. This course can be helpful for chief happiness officers, as it provides an overview of the determinants of happiness at work and how to enhance happiness levels. This knowledge can be applied to develop and implement strategies to improve employee well-being and productivity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Happiness Officer

Happiness Consultant

Happiness consultants help individuals and organizations improve their happiness levels. This course can be helpful for happiness consultants, as it provides an overview of the determinants of happiness at work and how to enhance happiness levels. This knowledge can be applied to help clients achieve greater happiness in their work and personal lives.

See salaries and explore the career path for Happiness Consultant

Positive Psychologist

Positive psychologists study the factors that contribute to human happiness and well-being. This course can be helpful for positive psychologists, as it provides an overview of the determinants of happiness at work and how to enhance happiness levels. This knowledge can be applied to develop interventions and programs to promote happiness and well-being.

See salaries and explore the career path for Positive Psychologist

Career Counselor

Career counselors help people find and advance in their careers. This course can be helpful for career counselors, as it provides an overview of the determinants of happiness at work and how to enhance happiness levels. This knowledge can be applied to help clients make more informed career decisions and achieve greater success in their careers.

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Teacher

Teachers educate and inspire students to learn and grow. This course can be helpful for teachers, as it provides an overview of the determinants of happiness at work and how to enhance happiness levels. This knowledge can be applied to create a more positive and productive learning environment for students.

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Life Coach

Life coaches help people achieve their personal and professional goals. This course can be helpful for life coaches, as it provides an overview of the determinants of happiness at work and how to enhance happiness levels. This knowledge can be applied to help clients improve their overall well-being and achieve greater success in their lives.

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Organizational Development Consultant

Organizational development consultants help organizations improve their performance by developing and implementing strategies for change. This course can be helpful for organizational development consultants, as it provides an overview of the determinants of happiness at work and how to enhance happiness levels. This knowledge can be applied to help organizations create a more positive and productive work environment.

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Employee Engagement Manager

Employee engagement managers are responsible for developing and implementing strategies to improve employee engagement. This course can be helpful for employee engagement managers, as it provides an overview of the determinants of happiness at work and how to enhance happiness levels. This knowledge can be applied to create a more positive and productive work environment.

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Motivational Speaker

Motivational speakers inspire and motivate audiences to achieve their goals. This course can be helpful for motivational speakers, as it provides an overview of the determinants of happiness at work and how to enhance happiness levels. This knowledge can be applied to help audiences achieve greater success and happiness in their lives.

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Talent Management Consultant

Talent management consultants help organizations attract, develop, and retain top talent. This course can be helpful for talent management consultants, as it provides an overview of the determinants of happiness at work and how to enhance happiness levels. This knowledge can be applied to develop and implement strategies to attract and retain top talent.

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Well-being Manager

Well-being managers are responsible for developing and implementing strategies to improve employee well-being. This course can be helpful for well-being managers, as it provides an overview of the determinants of happiness at work and how to enhance happiness levels. This knowledge can be applied to develop and implement strategies to improve employee health and well-being.

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Organizational Psychologist

Organizational psychologists study the behavior of individuals and groups in the workplace. This course can be helpful for organizational psychologists, as it provides an overview of the determinants of happiness at work and how to enhance happiness levels. This knowledge can be applied to develop and implement interventions to improve employee well-being and productivity.

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Social Worker

Social workers help people overcome challenges and improve their lives. This course can be helpful for social workers, as it provides an overview of the determinants of happiness at work and how to enhance happiness levels. This knowledge can be applied to help clients achieve greater happiness and well-being.

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Human Resources Manager

Human resources managers are responsible for managing the human resources of an organization, which includes recruiting, hiring, training, and developing employees. This course can be helpful for human resources managers, as it provides an overview of the determinants of happiness at work and how to enhance happiness levels. This knowledge can be applied to create a more positive and productive work environment.

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Psychologist

Psychologists study the human mind and behavior, and they use their knowledge to help people with a variety of mental health issues. This course can be helpful for psychologists, as it provides an overview of the determinants of happiness at work and how to enhance happiness levels. This knowledge can be applied to help clients improve their work lives and overall well-being.

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