Want to Be More Productive? Be Grateful!

Researchers at the University of North Carolina have even shown a genetic predisposition toward expressed gratitude and subsequent happiness. Other studies indicated that expressing gratitude can elevate the mood of those around you as well, revealing that those with a propensity to express anger reduced such propensity when shown gratitude.

Of course we all want to be happy both at work and in our personal life, but what benefits, other then feeling good, does happiness provide? A recent New York Times article reported researchers at the University of Warwick recently showed happy employees are on average 12% more productive than unhappy employees, while unhappy employees are 10% less productive, thus resulting in a 22% productivity swing between unhappy and happy employees.  The study concluded that positive emotions appear to invigorate humans, and invigorated humans are more productive, work better in teams, are more creative and even have better time management skills. Further physiological studies support this phenomenon by showing that positive emotions actually enhance brain function. If being grateful improves happiness, and happiness improves productivity, then the conclusion can be drawn that being grateful improves productivity. Following this logic, we can take responsibility for our own happiness and not be solely dependent on workplace incentives by being grateful.