Research Shows that Happy people Really Do Work Harder

Everyone has one in their office or workplace — the person that seems unflappably happy. Mondays find them smiling and upbeat while the rest of us are just trying to find handholds to drag ourselves out of our weekend mindset.

That person may be annoying, but a study has found that he or she is likely much more productive. Workplace satisfaction and happiness ramps up productivity and the positive vibe can be contagious.

So, the next time you find yourself thinking unkind thoughts about the company ray of sunshine, try to sit back, smile, and get your groove on. You’ll feel better and so will everyone else around you.

Emotions are Contagious

When you get in the habit of acknowledging these positive people, you will find that you feel better about your workplace and how full it is, rather than focusing on the things you don’t have. There’s something to be said for the power of positive thoughts and actions.

The team, led by Andrew Oswald, a professor of economics at Warwick Business School and a leading authority on the relationship between economics and mental health, said its research has important implications for the worlds of politics and business.

“We find that human happiness has large and positive causal effects on productivity,” the team said. “Positive emotions appear to invigorate human beings, while negative emotions have the opposite effect.”

Try to show your gratitude toward your co-workers at least two or three times a week. After a week, you’ll find you’re doing it more and more without even thinking about it. That’s the power of gratitude. It’s self-perpetuating.