getAbstract Marketing
6 Science-Backed Ways to Raise Happiness (and Success) at Work
Video

6 Science-Backed Ways to Raise Happiness (and Success) at Work

Arthur Brooks
Dr. Arthur Brooks, 2025
Watch the video

Read, Listen, or Discuss

Amazon Kindle  Discuss
  • 0.5×
  • 0.75×
  • 1×
  • 1.25×
  • 1.5×
  • 1.75×
1×

Editorial Rating

8

getAbstract Rating

  • Engaging
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

Ineffective leadership styles can erode employee happiness and make it difficult to retain top talent. Speaking in a relatable, disarming style, Harvard professor and best-selling author Arthur Brooks presents six simple habits you can adopt to build a happier workplace culture. Drawing on behavioral science insights on workplace high performance and well-being, he shares his advice on which leadership styles to avoid, and which ones will help you increase employee loyalty, happiness, and business growth.

Summary

Prioritize six key factors to create a happier workplace culture.

Research shows that happier workers tend to be more productive and perform better. These six simple habits can help you build a happier workplace culture by improving your leadership style:

  1. Innovation — Employees are more likely to enjoy their work if they feel their ideas matter, and that they’re helping shape the future of the company. Be open to your employees’ input and new ideas, and create a culture in which everyone feels comfortable sharing feedback with you.
  2. Direct management— People are less likely to feel safe in their roles when leaders fail to communicate clearly and truthfully. A lack of transparency can prompt employees to imagine worst-case scenarios, for example, losing their jobs. Such ambiguity can activate the amygdala, the area of your brain that triggers fear. Communicate with your team honestly and clearly, especially during times of uncertainty, turbulence, and change.
  3. Organizational effectiveness— Employees lack job satisfaction when they feel management is wasting their...

About the Speaker

Arthur Brooks is a happiness researcher and professor at Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School. He’s a best-selling author of several books, and he also co-wrote Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier with Oprah Winfrey.

Comment on this summary