Jessica Pryce Jones had what she thought was a dream job in finance when she was in her twenties. However she was miserable. In her book, Happiness at Work, she writes:

“I was permanently exhausted and moody. One day trying to keep a cool head, I went for a run at lunchtime. As I pounded round the squre under the lime trees, this thought popped into my head. “I wonder if I could get a little bit run over by a bus? Because if I could get a little bit run over, I could take three weeks out and not have to be here.” Once I’d had that revelation I knew I had no option. I had to find something else to do.

That was a turning point in her life, and she went on to research happiness at work, wrote a book, and founded the iOpener Institute for People and Performance and iOpener.

What has iOpener found?

iOpener’s research has found five components that inform and build Happiness at Work:

• Contribution is the effort an individual or team makes
• Conviction is short-term motivation
• Culture is a feeling of fit at work
• Commitment is long-term engagement
• Confidence is the belief in ones abilities

The 5 Cs are supported by Trust, Recognition and Pride. They correlate with each of the above components, and are critical to successful organisations.

• Trust in your organization flows from two sources; your colleagues and your senior leaders
• Recognition from your organization encompases who you are, what you do and how you do it
• Pride in your organization comes from identifying with it, achieving success and being aware of your colleagues’ success too

When is Happiness at Work useful? It’s useful when you’re asking…

Why does Workplace Happiness Matter?

What’s Next?