Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance from edX

In this course you will learn about great culture – the goal of every great leader. Find out how happy you are personally and at work, be able to make the case for happiness at work as a critical strategic approach, understand how happy project and technical professionals are right how, and learn how to build you own personal happiness and happiness at work

Practical tools and techniques for use right away to be happier, more productive, more promotable, and more passionate at work.

This is the first course in the Reimagining Leadership certificate. This certificate offers an extraordinary opportunity to spend some quality time with yourself to assess your current level of soft skills, clearly define your core self, and build soft skills which are essential to professional, not to mention life, success

This course is the first in a series of leadership courses. The second course is Let’s Get Started: You First! which will be offered in the summer of 2020.

Great leaders, create great culture, which yields great work: G3. Great culture, where individuals flourish and organizations thrive, requires happiness as a competitive strategy.

This course provides both new ideas and practical applications you can use immediately. You’ll learn that soft skills are so important that they are now called POWER SKILLS. They are the most sought-after skills by recruiters and hiring managers. Power skills are key to creating and sustaining happiness at work. Happiness drives performance.

Get the Models - Understand what happiness and happiness are work are
Get Why It Matters - Understand the business case for happiness and happiness at work
Get the Data - Establish their personal baseline for happiness and happiness at work
Set the Goals - Set personal development goals for increasing happiness and happiness at work
Learn the Tools - Learn tools and techniques for how to build happiness and happiness at work
Take Action - Build effective action plans to increase happiness and happiness at work
Make the Change - Practice new skills to increase happiness and happiness at work
Get the Benefit - Be able to build positive workplaces where individuals flourish and organizations thrive

Start your journey to becoming a Great Leader, creating Great Culture, yielding Great Work with Happiness at Work!

What's inside

Learning objectives

The business case for happiness
What is happiness
How to build personal happiness
What is happiness at work

How soft skills link to happiness at work
What contributes to pm happiness at work
What detracts from pm happiness at work
How to build happiness at work

The business case for happiness
What is happiness
How to build personal happiness
What is happiness at work
How soft skills link to happiness at work
What contributes to pm happiness at work
What detracts from pm happiness at work
How to build happiness at work

Syllabus

The Business Value of Happiness

Introduction

Happiness as Strategy

Why Happiness is Great Strategy

Happiness & Soft Skills

The Big Ideas & Segue to What is Happiness

What is Happiness?

Happiness Limitations

Myths about Happiness

A Primer on Building Happiness

The Big Ideas & Segue to What is Happiness at Work

What is Happiness at Work?

Happiness Refresher and Selected Models

What is Happiness at Work, Part I

What is Happiness at Work, Part II

Building Happiness at Work

The Big Ideas & Segue to How Happy are PM’s at Work?

How Happy are PM’s at Work?

Introductions

PMI Research Findings, Part I

PMI Research Findings, Part II

APM Research Findings

A Primer on Building Happiness at Work

The Big Ideas & Segue to My Leadership Journey

My Leadership Journey

Learning from Experience

Learning by Building Self-Awareness

Learning through Professional Development

Becoming a Best Self Leader

The Big Ideas & Segue to Next Course: Let’s Focus on You: Building Self-Awareness

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops soft skills and happiness, which are core skills for wellbeing and work success

Teaches the business value of happiness, which is a novel approach to building work culture

Is comprehensive and covers aspects relevant to both personal and professional development

Uses research to support its content in building happiness at work

Taught by Jocelyn S. Davis, who is recognized for their work in happiness at work

Requires prerequisites and explicitly advises students to take other courses first

Reviews summary

Positive reviews for happiness course

Learners say this engaging course covers scientifically-backed concepts on how happiness drives performance in personal and professional settings. Students highlight the practical takeaways and interesting approach to the topic of happiness. While the repetitiveness is noted as a potential downside, students appreciate the clear explanations and real-world examples used throughout the course content.

Repetitive content helps reinforce key concepts.

"Overall, it is a good course and it has helped me to refresh things which I learned long back by attending off-line courses."

"I also learned some new things which I didn’t know before."

"While learning I found this course too lengthy and due to which felt bored in completing this course."

Course material is presented in an engaging and accessible manner.

"The videos were engaging and although many things are repeated throughout, I think it helps you remember the key concepts."

"The instructor uses valuable instructional techniques to foster learning and comprehension."

"Jocelyn S. Davis is an incredible teacher. She explains concepts in an understandable and very interesting manner."

Concepts are applicable to everyday life and work environments.

"I liked most is the primer on building happiness not just personally but professionally. It gave a lot of things we could do to be happy."

"Great course. I learnt a lot and got to understand the impact of a number a things which seems natural to do."

"I was looking for tools to help me with my professional development, I found one which will also help me with my personal one."

Course provides tools and strategies to cultivate happiness in both personal and professional life.

"I finished it in 10 days, couldn't stop learning as learning has never been this fun."

"The topic is essential for everybody who wants to be happy personally, professionally and it really puts together the know how to unlocking a high quality true happiness in life ."

"This course has changed my life for the better and I credit this teacher for making a huge difference."

Course length and pacing may not be suitable for all learners.

"Really does take about 4 hours or so per week - I kept falling behind!"

"The videos were engaging and although many things are repeated throughout, I think it helps you remember the key concepts."

"I enjoyed this class and the way it was organized."

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 Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance with these activities:

Read the Book "Happiness Advantage"

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Reading "The Happiness Advantage" will provide insights into the positive impact of happiness and positive emotions on performance.

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Read the book and make notes on the key points
Discuss the book with colleagues or friends
Apply the principles of the book to your own life and work

Learn about Positive Psychology

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Exploring Positive Psychology will enhance your understanding of the science of well-being and happiness.

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Take an online course or workshop on positive psychology
Read books and articles on positive psychology
Attend a conference or workshop on positive psychology

Review Construction of Happiness Index

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Review how to construct a Happiness Index to better grasp the concept of happiness at work.

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Review different approaches for constructing a Happiness Index
Identify the variables that are included in a Happiness Index
Explore how a Happiness Index can be used to measure happiness at work

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Join a Happiness Club

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Sharing experiences with others in a Happiness Club can provide insights and support for increasing happiness at work.

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Find a Happiness Club or support group in your community
Attend meetings and participate in discussions
Share your experiences and learn from others

Practice Gratitude Exercises

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Practicing gratitude exercises can help to increase positive emotions and improve well-being at work.

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Write down three things you are grateful for each day
Keep a gratitude journal
Share your gratitude with others
Express gratitude at work

Find an Accountability Partner

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Finding an accountability partner can provide support and motivation for increasing happiness at work.

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Identify a friend, colleague, or mentor who is also interested in increasing happiness at work
Set goals and agree on a plan of action
Check in with each other regularly to provide support and encouragement

Develop a Happiness Plan

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Creating a Happiness Plan will help you identify ways to increase your personal happiness and happiness at work.

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Identify your current level of happiness and happiness at work
Set personal development goals for increasing happiness and happiness at work
Develop a plan of action to achieve your goals

Create a Resource Kit for Happiness at Work

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Developing a resource kit on Happiness at Work will provide convenient access to valuable materials.

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Gather articles, videos, and other resources on happiness at work
Organize the resources into a logical and accessible format
Share the resource kit with colleagues and friends

Career center

Learners who complete Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Chief Happiness Officer

The Chief Happiness Officer (CHO) is a relatively new role that is gaining popularity in organizations that are looking to improve employee morale and productivity. CHOs are responsible for creating and implementing strategies to increase employee happiness and well-being, which can lead to a number of benefits for the organization, including increased employee engagement, creativity, and innovation. The Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful CHO. The course will teach you about the business case for happiness, what happiness is, how to build personal happiness, and how to build happiness at work. You will also learn about the role of soft skills in happiness at work, and how to build happiness at work for project and technical professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Happiness Officer

Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers are responsible for managing the human resources function of an organization, which includes recruiting, hiring, training, and developing employees. They also work to create and maintain a positive work environment, and to ensure that employees are happy and productive. The Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Human Resources Manager. The course will teach you about the business case for happiness, what happiness is, how to build personal happiness, and how to build happiness at work. You will also learn about the role of soft skills in happiness at work, and how to build happiness at work for project and technical professionals.

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Organizational Development Manager

Organizational Development Managers are responsible for developing and implementing strategies to improve organizational performance. They work with leaders to identify areas for improvement, and to develop and implement programs to address those areas. The Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Organizational Development Manager. The course will teach you about the business case for happiness, what happiness is, how to build personal happiness, and how to build happiness at work. You will also learn about the role of soft skills in happiness at work, and how to build happiness at work for project and technical professionals.

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Training and Development Manager

Training and Development Managers are responsible for developing and implementing training programs for employees. They work with leaders to identify training needs, and to develop and deliver training programs that meet those needs. The Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Training and Development Manager. The course will teach you about the business case for happiness, what happiness is, how to build personal happiness, and how to build happiness at work. You will also learn about the role of soft skills in happiness at work, and how to build happiness at work for project and technical professionals.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. They work with stakeholders to define project goals, develop project plans, and manage project resources. The Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Project Manager. The course will teach you about the business case for happiness, what happiness is, how to build personal happiness, and how to build happiness at work. You will also learn about the role of soft skills in happiness at work, and how to build happiness at work for project and technical professionals.

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Consultant

Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on a variety of topics, including business strategy, organizational development, and human resources. The Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Consultant. The course will teach you about the business case for happiness, what happiness is, how to build personal happiness, and how to build happiness at work. You will also learn about the role of soft skills in happiness at work, and how to build happiness at work for project and technical professionals.

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Coach

Coaches help individuals and teams to achieve their goals. They provide support, guidance, and accountability, and help their clients to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. The Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Coach. The course will teach you about the business case for happiness, what happiness is, how to build personal happiness, and how to build happiness at work. You will also learn about the role of soft skills in happiness at work, and how to build happiness at work for project and technical professionals.

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Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) are responsible for the overall operation and success of an organization. They set the vision and direction for the organization, and work with other leaders to implement that vision. The Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful CEO. The course will teach you about the business case for happiness, what happiness is, how to build personal happiness, and how to build happiness at work. You will also learn about the role of soft skills in happiness at work, and how to build happiness at work for project and technical professionals.

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Therapist

Therapists help individuals to overcome mental health challenges and to improve their overall well-being. They provide a safe and supportive environment in which their clients can talk about their problems and work towards positive change. The Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance course may be useful for Therapists who want to learn more about the science of happiness and how to apply it to their work with clients.

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Social Worker

Social Workers help individuals and families to overcome challenges and to improve their lives. They provide a variety of services, including counseling, case management, and advocacy. The Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance course may be useful for Social Workers who want to learn more about the science of happiness and how to apply it to their work with clients.

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Teacher

Teachers help students to learn and grow. They create and deliver lesson plans, assess student progress, and provide feedback. The Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance course may be useful for Teachers who want to learn more about the science of happiness and how to create a more positive and productive learning environment for their students.

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Engineer

Engineers design, build, and maintain structures and machines. They use their knowledge of math and science to solve problems and create new technologies. The Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance course may be useful for Engineers who want to learn more about the science of happiness and how to create a more positive and productive work environment for themselves and their colleagues.

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Doctor

Doctors diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries. They prescribe medications, perform surgeries, and provide medical advice. The Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance course may be useful for Doctors who want to learn more about the science of happiness and how to create a more positive and productive work environment for themselves and their patients.

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Lawyer

Lawyers represent clients in legal matters. They provide legal advice, draft legal documents, and represent clients in court. The Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance course may be useful for Lawyers who want to learn more about the science of happiness and how to create a more positive and productive work environment for themselves and their clients.

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Nurse

Nurses provide care to patients in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. They administer medications, monitor patient progress, and provide emotional support. The Let’s Get Happy: Happiness Drives Performance course may be useful for Nurses who want to learn more about the science of happiness and how to create a more positive and supportive work environment for themselves and their patients.

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