Books The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work Book by Shawn Achor

The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work

By Shawn Achor

Short Summary

The Happiness Advantage posits that happiness is not a reward for success, but rather a driving force behind greater achievement and well-being. Drawing from positive psychology research, Shawn Achor demonstrates that cultivating a positive mindset leads to improved performance, creativity, resilience, and motivation at work and in life.

Core Premise

Traditional thinking suggests success leads to happiness. Achor’s research proves the reverse: happiness fuels success.123

Positive emotions expand your ability to think creatively, recover from setbacks, and unlock your potential.

The Seven Principles

The Happiness Advantage
Harnessing positive emotions increases productivity, performance, and effectiveness at work. Happy people are more engaged and resilient.

The Fulcrum and the Lever
Change your mindset (“the fulcrum”) to change your ability to achieve (“the lever”). Adopting an optimistic outlook allows you to leverage more possibilities.

The Tetris Effect
Train your brain to spot patterns of possibility and positivity. Focusing on positive outcomes helps you notice opportunities instead of obstacles.

Falling Up
Learn to leverage adversity by finding constructive ways to move forward after setbacks, turning challenges into opportunities for growth.

The Zorro Circle
Regain control in overwhelming situations by focusing first on small, manageable goals. Master these before expanding your reach.

The 20-Second Rule
Make positive habits easier to adopt and negative habits harder to maintain by adjusting the amount of effort required to start them.

Social Investment
Build and invest in supportive relationships, which are critical for resilience, happiness, and long-term achievement.243

Key Takeaways

Happiness is a choice and a habit. Individuals can train themselves to cultivate positivity through deliberate practice, such as expressing gratitude or engaging in acts of kindness.

Your perspective shapes your results. Shifting to a positive mindset not only improves well-being but leads to tangible improvement in work performance and life satisfaction.

Resilience comes from optimism and support. Facing setbacks with optimism and relying on one’s support network are repeatedly linked to better recovery and success.

The Happiness Advantage provides practical strategies and actionable advice backed by research, making it a foundational read for anyone interested in thriving in the workplace and beyond through the power of positivity.123