4 July 2016
The Power of Happiness
If you were selecting one person out of two (either for a business position, or as a personal friend), one was bright, positive, smiley and happy, and the other, negative, grumpy depressed and unhappy, which one would you choose? 99% of you would choose the positive, happy person! Why? Because that person is affecting your environment and relationships!
Dubai, UAE
Congratulations to the UAE Government, who have just appointed a Minister of Happiness, Ohood Al Roumi. Ms Al Roumi said, “Happiness is a serious job for governments. The main job for the government is to create happiness. In 2011, the UN encouraged the member countries to look at happiness for a holistic approach for development.”
Ms Al Roumi, who was speaking to news channel CNN, said: “The role of the government is to create an environment where people can flourish – can reach their potential – and choose to be happy. For us in the UAE, happiness is very important. I am a very happy and positive person and I choose to be happy every day because this is what pushes me, this is what motivates me, this is what gives a sense of purpose to my life, so I always choose to see the glass half full,” she said.
On March 7, 2016, a national programme to further the country’s goals of achieving greater happiness was been approved by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. The country has adopted a 100-day plan for happiness and positivity, Sheikh Mohammed said in a series of statements on Twitter on Monday, after meeting with Ohood Al Roumi, newly appointed Minister of State for Happiness.
“Today we adopted the National Programme for Happiness and Positivity. Our ultimate goal as a government is for happiness as a way of life,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
National and International
The World Happiness Report 2016 Update, which ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels, was released in Rome on March 20th.2016, in advance of UN World Happiness Day. Leading experts across fields – economics, psychology, survey analysis, national statistics, health, public policy and more – describe how measurements of well-being can be used effectively to assess the progress of nations. The reports review the state of happiness in the world today and show how the new science of happiness is making significant impact in the countries, who have introduced such a programme.
The Science of Happiness
The Science of Happiness Centre, Research stated that up to 40 percent of happiness depends on our habits and activities.
The Cox Report
The Cox report on American business, unequivocally stated that – “As many as 94% of the top executives of the Fortune 500 Companies, attributed their success, MORE to ATTITUDE, than any other ingredient!”
Happiness is an Attitude
Being happy, is not just about putting on a plastic smile, it is actually revealing what is inside of you! Then why is it, that our educational system, from primary to tertiary, and corporate, rarely teaches these interpersonal relationship skills, for that’s what they are!
It has been stated – “That 85% of all satisfaction and joy we receive as human beings, revolves around our ability to get along with others, that is, our RELATIONSHIPS with other people. Only 15% comes from our achievements, positions and earned success.”
Harvard Business Review
According to a recent Harvard Business Review, – “85% of the reason a person gets, keeps and performs well in a job, depends on their attitude and only 15% on their aptitude.”
Most of us, are highly trained in the “15% zone” (the academic and educational qualifications), but find that the real world, is primarily lived in the “85% zone” (dealing with oneself, family, marriage, and our working environment). This is where, our interpersonal relationships (self-image, positivity, being happy, confident and motivated) are shaped!
President Abe Lincoln said, “People are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” That means happiness is a choice!
Happiness Defined
The dictionary defines happiness, as “the state of being happy.” Too many, happiness depends upon happenings, which is an external factor. I received a bonus at work, the share market is up, and I have had great winning trades today, I have just bought a brand new car etc. However, real happiness, is not external, it is internal. Real happiness is an inside job! That is when the word “joy” is normally used, for that is happiness on the inside, regardless of external factors, good or bad.
That is why Dale Carnegie, in his classic book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” says, “It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.”
This inside happiness (joy) is an attitude, and an attitude is a selected mind set, that produces an action, that creates a behaviour. This effects our personal self-image, as well as every relationship that we get involved in.
Dynamic Interpersonal Skills
“Technical competency and intelligence are important assets for every worker, but when it’s down to you and another candidate for a promotion or new job, dynamic interpersonal skills will set you apart,” says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder.
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, summed it up when he said, “The most important single ingredient in the formula of Success is knowing how to get along with people.”
Our Company Leadership Management courses
In AZtech Leadership Management courses, we specialise in the cutting edge, strategies and practices, of dynamic Interpersonal relationship skills, to programme the “85% zone” to become part of our daily lifestyle! This is when being positive, creative and happy, becomes part of your lifestyle, that you take into your personal life and professional life. Amongst many of these Life Management Skills and Personal Development Course, are such titles as, Developing Dynamic Interpersonal Relationship Skills, Personal Effectiveness and Influencing Skills, Mind, Attitude & Motivation, for Professional Excellence, Value Based Leadership Through Positive Dynamics.
Zig Ziglar, International Training Consultant, Author and Relationship Expert, 1926 – 2012, stated, “More HAPPINESS is brought about by GOOD RELATIONSHIPS, and more MISERY is brought about by BAD RELATIONSHIPS, than any other thing!”
Let us make happiness a chosen live style, a way of life, to impact our personal lives, families, companies and cultures!
