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

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

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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

Workplace happiness for career success

According to learners, this course provides a practical and insightful framework for understanding and improving happiness in the workplace. Many found the content, particularly the BAMBA model, to be well-structured and applicable to real-life situations. The course is described as easy to follow and offers actionable strategies for both personal well-being and fostering a positive environment for coworkers. While some wished for more depth or interaction, the overall sentiment is strongly positive, highlighting its value for busy professionals seeking to boost happiness and productivity.

Concise format suitable for busy professionals.

"As a busy professional, the 4-week structure was perfect and allowed me to complete it easily."

"The bite-sized modules were digestible and fit well into my schedule."

"Short, focused, and packed with valuable information without being overwhelming."

"Appreciated that it got straight to the point and didn't waste time."

Effectively connects workplace happiness to career outcomes.

"The course did a great job of showing the link between happiness and productivity/success, backed by research."

"Understanding the ROI of happiness was a key takeaway that resonated with me."

"It reinforced my belief that focusing on well-being is not just 'nice' but essential for career growth."

"The initial module on the ROI of happiness was compelling and set a great tone."

Course material is easy to follow and engaging.

"The course content was delivered in an engaging way, making it easy to stay motivated and learn."

"Videos were clear, concise, and held my attention throughout the modules."

"I found the explanations very clear and the examples relatable to my own workplace."

"The instructors presented the material effectively, making complex ideas accessible."

Offers concrete steps for improving personal and team happiness.

"This course gave me actionable steps I can immediately implement to become happier at work and help my colleagues."

"I appreciated the practical tips and strategies provided for both personal and team happiness improvement."

"The '3 things you can do for yourself' and '3 things for coworkers' sections were very helpful and practical."

"Learned simple, yet effective, ways to make a positive impact on my own and others' work experience."

Provides a clear, actionable model for workplace happiness.

"The BAMBA framework is easy to understand and provides a great structure for thinking about happiness at work."

"I found the BAMBA model very practical and have already started applying it to my own work situation."

"The structure of the BAMBA model helped me identify specific areas to focus on for improving my job satisfaction."

"The course explains the BAMBA model well and gives concrete steps for each component."

Some learners desired more extensive content.

"While great, I wish some topics had been explored in more depth, perhaps with case studies."

"Could have gone deeper into applying the BAMBA model in different organizational contexts."

"Felt like it just scratched the surface in certain areas; more advanced concepts would be welcome."

"More resources for further reading or practice would be beneficial."

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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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

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

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

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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