Happiness is infectious but not it seems in the workplace reports some interesting research in the British media this week. The research found that:
- If a friend gets happier, you get happier.
- If a friend's friend gets happier, you get happier.
- If a friend's friend' friend gets happier, you get happier.
- If a colleague gets happier, there is no statistical likelihood that you will get any happier.
Of course we do not know the age range of the people included in this research and possibly the people were all old and grumpy (like me) and not in the new paradigm.
My personal experience is that colleagues working for the same company but in a different career structure are very like friends. But to the UK's lead scientist, the lead scientist in the USA could be a bit of a rival and he is not necessarily a friend.
I think this is though relevant to the expectations of the benefits from social networking software when deployed internally…. What do you think?
Thanks to my friend Mark Young for bringing this interesting work to my attention.
3 comments:
Ah,I found the original study. The sample was three generations and they used the third to extract a sample.
The colleagues included were people listed by patients as contact points in case they moved (20 year study).
This would be a great study for a student if they could get into a big firm. And a great phd if we could take measurements once very three years. Do you know any firms that might be willing?
Personally I am persuaded by the work on collective efficacy. It's not cheeriness that is the key. It is our belief that our colleagues are competent. And to that I would add meaning. With those two factors humming, we will do as well as circumstances permit.
Hiya Jo! Do you have a link to the original study - I looked but couldn't find it.
Hope you are well
S
Hi Scott,
I can tell you've been a good consultant this year. So, just for that, here's an early xmas pressie:
www.ifsantahiredconsultants.com
Sincerely,
S.T. Nicholas
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