Leading Happiness

How are shared leadership principles being used in

Certified B Corporations to improve happiness at work?

Shared Leadership

Happiness at Work

Happiness can be a fuzzy term for scientists so they often use the term “subjective well-being” to define it.

The term “well-being” hints at the fact that scientists are studying more than just feeling good and positive emotions, they are also studying life satisfaction and meaning (Crabtree, 2012). “Essentially, scientists define happiness as the experience of positive emotions - pleasure combined with deeper feelings of meaning and purpose. Happiness implies a positive mood in the present and a positive outlook for the future. Studies by Martin Seligman, the pioneer in positive psychology, have confirmed (though most of us know this intuitively) that people who pursue only pleasure experience only part of the benefits happiness can bring, while those who pursue all three routes lead the fullest lives” (Achor, 2010).

"The ultimate goal is for team members to share leadership, with all members feeling empowered, and the team being self-governed, with members having control over the team’s work processes and major decisions"

(Halverson & Tirmizi (2008).

The term “subjective” focuses on the fact that how people feel is important and happiness is relative to the person who is experiencing it. “In essence, the best judge of how happy you are is you. To empirically study happiness, then, scientists must rely on individual self-reports. Thankfully, after years of testing and honing survey questions on millions of people around the world, researchers have developed self-report metrics that accurately and reliably measure individual happiness” (Achor, 2010).

Significant predictor predicting a team's effectiveness, engagement, empowerment and performance, better predictor than vertical leadership. (Pearce and Sims, 2002; Pearce et al, 2004; Ensley, Hmieleski, & Pearce, 2006, Bergman et al, 2012).

In my research I refer to the word happiness because it’s easier and more enjoyable to read, but because it is a natural umbrella term that people use to explain how they feel about their life and work in general. It includes not only motivation and satisfaction at work but also how their work fits into the overall satisfaction and meaning in their life.

Everyday Humanitarian

There is a wide variety of research and literature on happiness at work and for this research I wanted to identify the major dimensions of worker happiness that have been studied and operationalized within companies and organizations.

No research has yet been done specifically in Certified B Corporations.

Are Certified B Corps using this leadership style?

How do we know it when we see it?

Is it positively affecting the workplace?

What's My Dream Job?

My Research Question

My Research

8 Dimensions

5 Characteristics

Purpose

Work is personally meaningful &

makes a difference in the world

Perspective

Personal outlook on life &

optimism and positivity at work

Shared Vision & Values

Core values and collective goals that everyone is committed to

How are shared leadership principles being used in Certified B Corporations to improve happiness at work?

LEADERSHIP AND HAPPINESS AT WORK IN CERTIFIED B CORPORATIONS

A Qualitative Study of Leaders and Employees To Understand The Influence of Shared Leadership on Worker Happiness within Certified Benefit Corporations

Progress

Making progress every day &

clear measured goals and performance

Trust & Openness

Non-coercion, open to learning, relationship-oriented, based on building trust

Balance

Stability and solid benefits package &

healthy work/life balance

Accountability

Broad involvement, collaboration, and collective responsibility

Culture

Interpersonal support &

sense of belonging at work

Autonomy

Ability to direct how/when/where we work &

being trusted

Interdependence

Mutual recognition of the unique contribution of each individual

Appreciation

Positive feedback and recognition &

feeling respected

Mastery

Ability to develop expertise &

work that fits in the “stretch zone"

Ownership

Clearly defined objectives, input and expectations from all members

Lessons

A Little Fun

Your Dream Job

Close your eyes and think "What's your dream job and why?"

Write Down Your Ideal Day

5 Ways to Be Happier at Work

Spend a Few Minutes Describing Your Ideal Workday in Detail

Show Gratitude

Work Toward Your Ideal Schedule

Exercise, Stand, Walk for Meetings

Be Proactive and Create Change

Create a Purpose

What Makes a Happy Workplace

Write Down 5 of Your Favorite Qualities of a Great Workplace

5 Ways to Create Happiness at Work

Model Your Best Boss Qualities

What Makes a Great Boss

Create a Healthy Environment

Write Down 5 of Your Favorite Qualities of a Great Boss

Take a Coworker to Lunch

Create a Personal Mission

Explore B Corps

Analysis of Data

Discussion

Conclusions

Practical Applicability

Validation of Method

Both shared leadership and happiness at work were mentioned concurrently in every interview on multiple occasions as significant factors in lives

Many companies have a hard time measuring workplace happiness.

One interviewee, “What is an ideal feedback system for us? I hadn’t really thought of that. Actually… the more I think about it, that’s something I could start creating right now. I think I’m going to.”

Blending of Dimensions and Characteristics

Both blended together in questions and were impossible to separate

Perspective

Stories Not Being Told

All interviewees were happy to share their story and felt more people needed the opportunity to share

Autonomy

A new version of the B Impact Assessment comes out every year.

The B Corps Champions Retreat is happening in Burlington, Vermont.

Maybe we can do a better job of capturing these stories from 1,000+ Certified B Corporations.

Culture

Increasing Standards

Employees are demanding more and wanting more for others as well

Potential for Combined Measurements

The dimensions and characteristics may need to be combined

Shared Vision & Values

Accountability

Interdependence

Recommendations for Further Research

Research Impact

Mastery

Purpose

Ownership

Trust & Openness

Definitions

New foundational definitions of shared leadership and happiness at work

More Thorough Study

Many more stories are out there to be told

Characteristics

Detailed characteristics and dimensions combining significant research

Follow Up Research to B Corps Handbook

Upcoming books and information need more research backing

First B Corporation Connection

First time research has connected leadership, happiness and B Corps

How This Will Help You

Expand Current Surveys and Assessments

Ongoing improvements need research support as well

Expanding Shared Leadership Stories

Improves on lack of research showing outcomes of shared leadership

Allow for More Personal Stories

Current measurement techniques often lack the personal stories

Progress

Supporting Measurements

Adds to publicly available B Corporation Assessments

Balance

Appreciation

Inquiry Design

• Help you understand the Certified B Corps movement

• See how happiness at work is within your reach

• Learn how shared leadership can change your organization

2006

2011

2014

Companies

Questions

Participants

Data

What is the B Corps movement?

Presentation of Data

I Crafted Questions to Highlight:

The 5 Characteristics of Shared Leadership

Shared Vision & Values, Trust & Openness, Accountability, Interdependence, Ownership

The 8 Dimensions of Happiness at Work

Perspective, Balance, Autonomy, Mastery, Purpose, Progress, Culture, Appreciation

First 10 Certified B Corps in VT

First Certified B Corps in Asia

• Almost every key indicator was mentioned and validated by an interviewee in one or more questions relating to that key area.

• Every interviewee specifically mentioned the impact that shared leadership practices were having on happiness in the workplace and in their personal lives.

Founded in 2010

Founded in 2011

Waterbury, Vermont

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Some Examples

What are some characteristics of your company’s culture?

What influence does leadership have on that culture?

Can you talk about work/life balance in your organization?

Would you describe your work as a calling or aligning with your personal values?

What are some of your company’s practices around reflection, appreciation and feedback?

Over 50 Staff

Over 30 Staff

8 Staff Including

Founders and Presidents

Vice Presidents

Project Managers

Operations Managers

Field Employees

Entry-Level Staff

A Community of Triple-Bottom-Line Organizations

• Combining Fair Trade, LEED, Organic and more
• Governance, Workers, Community, Environment

Marketing & Technology

Residential Solar Installation

Legal Policy Advocacy

• Registered B Corporations

The B Impact Assessment

• Available for free & over 20,000 assessments

8 Interviews at Two Companies

Certification Process

• Certified B Corps
• 1,053 companies in over 34 countries

Prominent Social Businesses

• Patagonia, Ben & Jerry's, Seventh Gen, King Arthur Flour, Etsy, SunCommon, New Media Group