At ESMT Berlin, we notice that personal fulfillment often underlies the critical decisions professionals face. While people might not explicitly ask, "How can I be happy?" questions like "Should I climb higher in my career?" or "How do I sustain my growth?" are deeply connected to the pursuit of happiness.
Management is a marathon - not a sprint - requiring energy, resilience, and purpose to endure. Reflecting on how to maintain or reignite passion and cultivate fulfillment transforms this journey into one of growth and excitement. A happy work environment fosters engagement, loyalty, creativity, and strong relationships. Indeed, happiness - or lack thereof - affects not only individuals but entire teams and the overall workplace atmosphere.
While achieving career and personal milestones often capture our attention, research suggests they are not the keys to lasting fulfillment. Studies on human happiness reveal a deeper truth: our connections and relationships play a far more significant role in our overall well-being than promotions or paychecks ever could. It turns out that people - building meaningful bonds and nurturing a supportive network - are central to living a happy and healthy life.
One of the most fascinating studies in psychology is the Harvard Study of Adult Development. Starting in 1938, researchers have followed over 700 males throughout their lives. By the time the participants reached their 80s, the researchers could identify who had aged with happiness and health and who had not. They then asked themselves: Could we have predicted who would grow into a happy, healthy octogenarian? The answer came down to one key factor, which I call the "X-factor": those most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80. A broad body of research supports the Harvard Study's findings, including the German Socio-Economic Panel. This long-running study, which observes and collects extensive data on 30,000 people, shows that life satisfaction is deeply influenced by the choices people make over time. It reveals that people who prioritize altruistic goals or family goals report greater life satisfaction than those focused on careers and material success.
In short, we can produce happiness by creating happiness for others.
From this perspective, the workplace offers many opportunities for happiness. Helping colleagues, offering support, and being part of a cohesive team can significantly enhance workplace fulfillment. This sense of connection not only boosts individual well-being but ties into a broader, essential element of happiness at work: purpose. As the late innovation pioneer Clayton M. Christensen put it, "Management is the most noble of professions if it is practiced well. No other occupation offers as many ways to help others learn and grow, take responsibility and be recognized for achievement, and contribute to the success of a team."
At its heart, purpose is about serving, helping others grow, and contributing to something larger than oneself. Purpose is often inseparable from people - the relationships we build and the positive impact we have on those around us.
Yet, the workplace can also foster a sense of competition, moments where we feel the need to protect ourselves, to stand out, or to insist on our share of recognition. We may encounter people with big egos and those more focused on their own gain. In such an environment, we too may fall to constant measuring, comparing, and counting. But when we set aside our ego and shift from a self-centered approach to one that prioritizes others, we often find greater meaning and happiness in our own lives - not only at work but in all areas of our lives.
So, what can we take away from all this? If the Harvard Study and decades of research have taught us anything, it's that our happiness is deeply connected to how we connect with others. In our personal lives and in the workplace, investing in relationships and lifting up those around us is the true path to fulfillment.
Next time you're at work, consider this: What if happiness isn't just about what you accomplish for yourself but about how you contribute to others? Achieving happiness at work may lie in creating value together, not in personal victories alone. Success is fleeting, and recognition makes us dependent on others. But in our efforts to support, listen, and collaborate, we create an environment where both our happiness and our potential for growth can thrive.