Notably, Brookss did not provide the correct answers, rather left it to the students to derive their own understanding. The symposium, which took place on June 20-21, attracted a diverse group of 200 in-person attendees and approximately 1,000 online participants. The audience consisted of administrators, business leaders, military personnel, elected officials, and students.
The event aimed to explore the relationship between happiness and leadership, aligning with the mission of the lab, which posits that all effective leaders should serve as happiness instructors. Brookss’ academic background and professional experience have been influenced by several notable figures, including psychologist Martin Seligman, a pioneer in the field of positive psychology.
Another significant mentor was Tal Ben-Shahar, a co-founder of the Happiness Studies Academy. Ben-Shahar… who taught two of the largest classes in Harvard’s history, discussed the origins of developing a curriculum on happiness and his work in designing the first master’s degree in happiness science at Centenary University in 2022.
The popularity of happiness-related courses has surged in recent years, as revealed by symposium speaker Laurie Santos, the Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology at Yale. Her course on happiness, launched in 2018, became the university’s most popular course in over 300 years… with nearly one-quarter of Yale students enrolled.
Santos’ primary objective is to reduce unhappiness and increase happiness, “an approach inspired by her tenure as Stillman Head of College.” Crucially, “her course aims to dispel the myth that happiness science is tantamount to enforced positivity,” a misconception that often leads to “toxic positivity.” In essence, the symposium provided a platform for experts to share their insights and knowledge on happiness and leadership.
Brookss’ emphasis on having answers underscores the significance of individual understanding and perspective. By presenting a varied array of speakers and perspectives, the event facilitated a comprehensive exploration of the relationship between happiness and leadership. This article was originally published in the “Harvard Gazette.
How Leaders Find Happiness — And Teach It
• Professor Brooks emphasizes the importance of having answers to succeed, rather than just being told what the right answers are. This approach encourages students to think critically and develop their own understanding. 2. The popularity of university courses on happiness and positive psychology has skyrocketed in recent years, with many courses being made freely available online through platforms such as HarvardX and Coursera. 3. Laurie Santos’ course on happiness at Yale has become the university’s most popular course in over 300 years, with nearly one-quarter of Yale students enrolled. The course aims to reduce unhappiness and increase happiness, debunking the myth that happiness science is about enforced positivity. 4. Professor Santos also highlights the misconception that positivity means being “happy all the time” and “thinking happy thoughts,” which many students fall prey to unnecessarily. Instead, the goal is to develop a more nuanced understanding of happiness and well-being.
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Leadership and Happiness
At the heart of this notion lies the understanding that a leader’s happiness has a direct impact on their ability to lead effectively. Renowned experts in the field of happiness, such as Martin Seligman and Tal Ben-Shahar, have made substantial contributions to our understanding of the connection between happiness and leadership.
Seligman, a pioneer in positive psychology, has emphasized the importance of cultivating happiness as a means to boost resilience and overall well-being. Similarly, Ben-Shahar, who taught some of the largest classes in Harvard’s history, has dedicated his work to designing curricula focused on happiness and well-being. In a recent symposium, a group of esteemed leaders and experts gathered to explore the relationship between happiness and leadership.
The event, attended by over 200 in-person participants and 1,000 online attendees… featured a diverse range of speakers, from administrators to military personnel, all sharing their insights on the subject. The symposium aimed to dispel the myth that happiness science is equivalent to enforced positivity, instead highlighting the importance of nuance and individual understanding.
Laurie Santos, the Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology at Yale, presented compelling research on her course on happiness, which became the university’s most popular course in over 300 years. Santos’ primary goal is to reduce unhappiness and increase happiness… and her approach is rooted in her tenure as Stillman Head of College.
Crucially, her course aims to challenge the misconception that happiness science is about enforced positivity, instead encouraging students to develop a deeper understanding of the complexities of happiness. Ultimately, the connection between leadership and happiness is not just about feeling good or achieving a sense of fulfillment.
It’s about cultivating the kind of emotional intelligence, empathy, and resilience that enables leaders to navigate the challenges of their role with confidence and compassion. By prioritizing the well-being and happiness of their team members, “leaders can create a more positive and productive work environment,” “leading to greater success and fulfillment for all.” ^^, the relationship between leadership and happiness is a multifaceted and nuanced one, requiring a deep understanding of the complexities of human psychology and the importance of individual perspective.
The information presented here was first published in the “HarvardGazette,” and we hope that it has provided valuable ← →
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“I tell students that the way to pass the following quiz is to have answers; the way to fail the following quiz is to not have answers. I’m not going to tell you what the right answers are. They’re your answers,” said Brooks, professor of management practice at HBS, as he opened a recent symposium on happiness and leadership.
The June 20-21 symposium drew 200 in-person attendees, with another 1,000 online, and included administrators, business leaders, military personnel, elected officials, and students. The purpose was as direct as the mission of the lab, which “believes that all great leaders should be happiness teachers.”
