The Happiness Index

The Happiness Index

by Matt Phelan
Released September 2023
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781394166602

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Book description

Learn to reconnect your brain and heart to find happiness and engagement at work and in life

In The Happiness Index: Why Today's Emotions Equal Tomorrow's Business Success, cofounder and CEO of The Happiness Index Matthew Phelan delivers a fascinating dive into data from over 100 countries and 2 million human beings that helps us understand what really drives our engagement and happiness at work. Grounded in an evidence-based and neuroscientific approach, the book skips the memes and inspirational quotes in favor of data and insights based on real-time information from real people.

In the book, you’ll learn that “engagement” is what our brains need, and “happiness” is what our hearts need. You’ll discover what we need to thrive and succeed in work and life, as well as:

  • A step-by-step approach to learning from real-world data about happiness
  • Practical lessons applicable to any organization that will help both individuals and groups succeed
  • Case studies from recognizable firms around the world and interviews with executives to help bring the data to life


A simultaneously inspirational and hands-on treatment of a subject of singular importance to everyone in the working world, The Happiness Index will benefit executives, managers, and other business leaders, as well as founders, business owners, and anyone else interested in helping the people around them flourish.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. Foreword
  7. CHAPTER 1: Introduction
    1. Guide 1: The Starting Point
    2. Guide 2: Toxic Positivity and Perfection
    3. Guide 3: Use‐By Date
    4. Guide 4: Creating a Thriving Culture Takes Hard Work
    5. Introducing This Book
    6. Notes
  8. CHAPTER 2: The Crossroads of Change
    1. Birthday Beginnings
    2. Data: A New Hope
    3. The Scene Is Set
  9. CHAPTER 3: Employee Engagement and Happiness
    1. What Is the Freedom to Be Human?
    2. Happiness
    3. Employee Engagement
    4. Combining Employee Engagement and Happiness
    5. Key Driver Analysis
    6. Note
  10. CHAPTER 4: Emotions as Data Points
    1. A Systems View of Data
    2. Instinctive Data
    3. Emotions: Relationships and Acknowledgment
    4. Reflective Thought: Personal Growth and Meaning/Purpose
    5. Rational Thought
    6. Brain Systems Data
    7. Summary
  11. CHAPTER 5: Psychological Safety
    1. What Is Safety?
    2. The Impact of Psychological Safety on Performance, Innovation, and Creativity
    3. Why Is Psychological Safety So Important?
    4. How Can Organizations Respond?
    5. Summary
    6. Notes
  12. CHAPTER 6: Freedom
    1. Defining Freedom at Work
    2. Authenticity
    3. Autonomy
    4. Why Is Freedom So Important?
    5. How Can Organizations Respond?
    6. Summary
    7. Notes
  13. CHAPTER 7: Feelings of Acknowledgment
    1. What Are Feelings of Acknowledgment?
    2. Why Are Feelings of Acknowledgment So Important?
    3. How Can Organizations Respond?
    4. Summary
    5. Notes
  14. CHAPTER 8: Positive Relationships
    1. What Are Positive Relationships?
    2. Why Are Relationships So Important?
    3. How Can Organizations Respond?
    4. Summary
    5. Notes
  15. CHAPTER 9: Aligned Meaning and Purpose
    1. What Are Meaning and Purpose?
    2. Why Are Meaning and Purpose So Important?
    3. How Can Organizations Respond?
    4. Summary
    5. Notes
  16. CHAPTER 10: Opportunities for Growth
    1. What Is Personal Growth?
    2. Why Are Growth Opportunities So Important?
    3. How Can Organizations Respond?
    4. Summary
    5. Notes
  17. CHAPTER 11: Clarity
    1. What Is Clarity?
    2. Why Is Clarity So Important?
    3. How Can Organizations Respond?
    4. Summary
    5. Notes
  18. CHAPTER 12: Enablement to Succeed
    1. What Is Enablement?
    2. Why Is Enablement So Important?
    3. How Can Organizations Respond?
    4. Summary
    5. Notes
  19. CHAPTER 13: Humanity and a Thriving Culture
    1. What Do Employees Care About?
    2. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) from the Employee Perspective
    3. Summary
    4. Notes
  20. CHAPTER 14: Freedom to Be Human
    1. Data Is the Plural of Anecdote
    2. We Are at a Crossroads
    3. Back to the Future
    4. The Future and Technology
    5. The meaning of life?
    6. The future
  21. About the Author
  22. Index
  23. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: The Happiness Index
  • Author(s): Matt Phelan
  • Release date: September 2023
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9781394166602