Are Happy People Productive People?

The happy gene: Happy people are productive people

In this debate question there can only be one response and that is affirmative.

"I think that I was born with the happy gene! I can hold the whole world in my hands, if I choose to do so! In fact, I can do anything!"

The question of whether or not happy people are productive people has major implications for businesses all over the world.

It is a well known fact that happy people have a positive attitude towards life and work. They tend to set goals and become productive at work and in their personal lives. On the other hand, unhappy people have a negative attitude towards life and work. They do not set goals and become unproductive at work and in their own personal lives.

It is evident that a happy person is not locked into depression, while an unhappy person is locked into a stage of depression, which may or may not be evident immediately. It may take some investigation to learn the cause of the employee's unhappiness.

There is increasing evidence to show that there is a definite connection between happiness, productivity and not being depressed. There is also a definite connection between unhappiness, non-productivity and being depressed.

What constitutes happiness or what makes one happy?

Happiness can mean different things to different people. Happy people are pleasant to be with and to work with, as they tend to radiate a sense of well being, contentment, enthusiasm and joy. This is not found in a person who is unhappy.

There appears to be a cyclical pattern that occurs. Being happy, allows one the freedom to be productive; being productive causes one to be happy. Being unhappy does not allow one the freedom to be productive; being non-productive causes one to be unhappy.

It would appear that there is also a direct relationship between being happy and one's energy level. A happy person's time is well spent and he or she sees results for the effort put into either work or play. There also appears to be a direct relationship between being unhappy and one's energy level. In this case, a person's time is not well spent and he or she may not see results for his or her effort put into work or play. In fact, there may be no effort put into anything and the end result is nothing in terms of productivity.

What might be suggested is the reality that if workers are happy, it is a win-win situation for both the employer and the worker. There are basic things that keep workers happy. These may involve good management skills, good discernment, good judgment and integrity on the part of the employer.

It is a common sense for common good issue, where mutual respect is a primary focus.

Adding fair wages, reasonable hours and expectations, benefits and bonuses, time off and holidays, reasonable working conditions, recognition and freedom from harassment to the employee's realm, increases happiness and thus, productivity will increase, as well.

When an employer is confronted with an unhappy employee, it may be advisable for him or her to sit down together with the employee and have a good talk. Learning why an employee is unhappy in her or her work or life, is just the first step towards increasing productivity, but a step well taken.