Is happiness vastly overrated?

FromFuture Tense

Start listening View podcast show

Is happiness vastly overrated?

FromFuture Tense

ratings:

Length:

29 minutes

Released:

Dec 31, 2017

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

The ‘cult’ of happiness could be damaging to business performance and the sanity of employees. And research suggests that maintaining a level of pessimism in the workplace is actually beneficial to maintaining a corporate edge.

Released:

Dec 31, 2017

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

A critical look at new technologies, new approaches and new ways of thinking, from politics to media to environmental sustainability.

Skip carousel

Conformity as a product, not just a process: The franchise model is on the rise and it’s moving beyond fast food and coffee outlets. We ask why? Is there more to it than a simple secret love of conformity? by Future Tense
29 min listen
The future of war and reassessing the digital strategy of ISIS: Are old expectations and strategies prolonging our military conflicts? And is ISIS winning the cyber war? by Future Tense
29 min listen
A new player and the effectiveness of overseas aid: Future Tense looks at the rise of China as a mega-donor and efforts to improve global aid transparency and effectiveness. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Designing technology to increase inclusion for the disabled: Inclusive design isn’t just about meeting the needs of the disabled, it’s about opening-up the possibility of creating better products and services for everyone. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Muslim start-ups, time crystals and a second chance for online comments: Islam-focussed start-ups often find it difficult to attract venture capital. We’ll explore the reasons why and the potential for development. by Future Tense
29 min listen
The need for cyber insurance; identifying and tracking drones; and building tiny houses for refugees: Are cyber insurance policies too complicated? Could identification technology prevent drones from flying into areas they shouldn't? And could private gardens help solve the refugee housing crisis in Europe? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Cryptocurrencies and blockchain: Cryptocurrencies enable us to transfer money with no fees and no bank, instantly. This is just the beginning of what digital currencies and blockchain technology can do. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Chatting with heretics: Moving forward isn’t just about denouncing fake news and ignorance, it’s also about rethinking some of the assumptions we have around the ways in which we communicate and debate. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Warm data, innovative electric transport and “fossil free steel”: Green innovation comes in many forms. And promising project don't have to be big, they only have to make a start. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Can the UN Sustainable Development Goals work?: And how will Australian aid shape the future of the Pacific? by Future Tense
29 min listen
With nature against climate change: Nature Based Solutions is an environmental approach that seeks to counter the negative effects of climate change by working with nature. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Facebook’s about-face and what it means for the future of news: News organisations are struggling to engage with online readers and even “digital first” darlings, like Vice and Buzzfeed, are now losing profit and shedding staff. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Depression, anxiety and social media: What is the relationship between depression and digital technology? by Future Tense
29 min listen
How to tell the good mental health apps from the bad: There are more than 10,000 mental health apps on the market, but only a fraction have been scientifically evaluated. by Future Tense
29 min listen
$How to tell the good mental health apps from the bad: There are more than 10,000 mental health apps on the market, but only a fraction have been scientifically evaluated.$
Catching up with the Jetsons: cities in 2050: What will future cities look like? How will they function and—importantly—how do we keep them focussed on human need? by Future Tense
59 min listen
What future democracy?: Is democracy as we know it doomed? And could there be alternative forms of political representation? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Have universities lost their way in the rush to appear corporate?: Public universities increasingly look and sound like corporations. But is it time to refocus on teaching priorities? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Animals and technology: Digital technology is opening up new relationships between humans and animals – instead of alienating us from nature as in the past. by Future Tense
29 min listen
The GIF as an increasingly important visual communication tool: The GIF, this little looped video, is often misunderstood as a component of modern communication. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Perspectives on Privacy: It’s a “wicked” problem: how to safeguard individual privacy in a world that now runs on the trade of personal data. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Activism that’s less aggressive and far more persuasive and persistent: Many believe that the future of activism relies on quiet persistence, targeted political involvement and an attitude that refuses to “look away”. by Future Tense
29 min listen
How to problem solve - the ultimate problem: Neuroscientist Robert Burton reckons our brains simply aren’t up to tackling the problems of the complexity of modern life. Could collective intelligence help? by Future Tense
29 min listen
At work with digital media: In the race to take advantage of new technological possibilities in the workplace, is a focus on rights and responsibilities being neglected? by Future Tense
58 min listen
The value of rituals in a digital world: Are rituals still needed in a world mediated through digital devices? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Putting the theory of big data into practice – on a massive scale!: In Canada, Google is set to re-develop and manage a large area of downtown Toronto. In China, the Communist Party government has been running trials on a personal rating scheme for all Chinese citizens. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Activism that’s less aggressive and far more persuasive and persistent: Many believe that the future of activism relies on quiet persistence, targeted political involvement and an attitude that refuses to “look away”. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Disrupting the disruptors: Has our contemporary embrace of disruption become a problem rather than a solution? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Is happiness vastly overrated?: The ‘cult’ of happiness could be damaging to business performance and the sanity of employees. And research suggests that maintaining a level of pessimism in the workplace is actually beneficial to maintaining a corporate edge. by Future Tense
29 min listen
A not so diplomatic future: Diplomacy is often viewed as a way of smoothing the friction points between states, but international relations are becoming increasingly assertive and highly personal. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Have we lost our sense of reality?: Are the systems we’ve developed to enhance our lives now impairing our ability to distinguish between reality and falsity? by Future Tense
29 min listen

More Episodes from Future Tense

Skip carousel

A non-proliferation treaty for fossil fuels: It’s time to attack the “supply side” of fossil fuels, activists argue. And the best way to do that is by establishing a fuel non-proliferation treaty similar to the one used for nuclear weapons. But what would it entail and could it ever work? Also, the sticky relationship between online personalisation and consent; and a call for CEOs to become the next target of automation. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Reembracing the spirit of public service: The Future is Public is a global campaign aimed at creating a new narrative around public service. It’s about curbing the dominance of Neoliberalism in public policy. While in Australia, there are expectations the new government in Canberra will decrease the use of external consultants and make changes to the way government departments and agencies operate. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Cities – the hot beds of evolution: Urban life has not only reshaped what it means to be human, cities are also changing animals. Rats in different parts of New York are evolving separately. Ecologist Rob Dunn describes cities as accelerators of evolution. Also in this episode, how city administrators compete for dominance using the same approach as social media influencers. And why house-flipping has gone algorithmic. by Future Tense
29 min listen
The Earth BioGenome Project; the church of women; and what do we really think about facial recognition technology?: In this program we explore an ambitious science project aimed at to documenting the genomes of all known creatures; we'll hear why the future of the Anglican church is female; and explore the latest research into public perceptions of facial recognition technology. by Future Tense
29 min listen
The population conundrum: Concerns that we'll soon have too many people on the Earth sit alongside apprehension that we are facing a looming demographic crisis. So how do we address both issues without further damaging the planet? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Does data science need a Hippocratic oath?: The use and misuse of our data can have enormous personal and societal consequences, so what ethical constraints are there on data scientists? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Cliodynamics, the Hinge of History and why all history is revisionist: The idea that history is circular is called Cliodynamics and it’s currently in vogue with many commentators on international affairs. But do such theories help or hinder our understanding of history and its predictive powers? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Big data and farming – the promise and the fear: Boosting your productivity by up to 25% - what industry wouldn't want to do that? That’s the future big tech promises for agriculture – one where extensive data is gathered on every aspect of the supply chain. But farmers are worried about privacy. And there are also questions about environmental impacts of big ag getting into big data. by Future Tense
29 min listen
A slow move towards a plastic free future: Over the past two decades we’ve become increasingly sensitive to the overuse of plastic and more concerned about its environmental impact – but to what effect? Feel-good campaigns aside, the signs for the future are far from promising. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Are Sovereign Wealth Funds the best way of safeguarding the future?: There are currently around 150 of these funds in the world worth in excess of $USD 9 trillion. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Space-based Solar – energy above the clouds: Scientists are busy testing ways to build a giant solar farm in space. Also, what to do about the increasing levels of space junk finding its way into our oceans? by Future Tense
29 min listen
The future of satire is no laughing matter: Satire has been around for thousands of years, but is its power dwindling? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Forgetting, not memory, moves us forward: Forgetting is the only safe response to the world's problems, from a geopolitical perspective, according to author and journalist David Rieff. And forgetting is also a good thing in your personal life, say scientists. It moves us forward. by Future Tense
29 min listen
When development aid goes wrong - propping up bad regimes: For many people, the provision of overseas aid is a democratic imperative and a universal good. But what if the situation is more complicated than that? by Future Tense
29 min listen
The fall of cash & the rise of central bank digital currencies: Physical cash still plays an important role in the financial system, but could it be replaced by a digital alternative? Governments around the world are looking to Central Bank Digital Currencies, but there are concerns around privacy and loss of financial freedom. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Banning books and floating suburbs: Banning books belongs in the dark ages and is anathema to modern liberal democracy, but in the United States there’s a widespread campaign underway to censor what students can read. Also, why is the UN involved in a project to build a floating neighbourhood on the South Korean coast? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Fashion’s fast future: Fashion is getting even faster, but there are also efforts underway to rein-in the waste and make fabrics from more environmentally-friendly materials. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Space pollution, stunted high-rise and the joy of missing out: As Earth’s upper atmosphere becomes more congested, it’s also becoming more polluted, and the impact could be dire. Also, why doing without could make for a fuller future; and what’s behind China’s ban on really tall buildings? by Future Tense
29 min listen
The opportunity costs of global pollution: Pollution has long been seen as a health problem, but increasingly its being redefined as an opportunity cost to both individuals and society - and as a burden on future generations. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Rare Earths and the difficulties of supply: Rare Earths are essential to modern life, but their extraction comes at a price. So, how do we clean-up mining efforts & build a diverse network of suppliers without destroying the environment? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Is dumbness our destiny?: Most of us are healthier, wealthier and better educated than ever before. We have greater access to knowledge and expertise than any previous generation. So, why do humans keep doing stupid things? And why is the world awash with conspiracy? Have we already passed “peak intelligence”? And if so, what can we do to ensure a smarter future? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Litigating our way out of climate change: Responses to climate change are often marked by frustration as much as fear. Those seeking to end our fossil-fuel dependency are increasingly turning to litigation to force the hands of companies and governments - often on human rights grounds. But do the courts have a legitimate role to play in leading the way? Or is this a form of judicial activism? by Future Tense
29 min listen
The power of storytelling – a cautionary tale: Stories like opinions have become a necessity of modern life. Everybody is encouraged to have an opinion and everybody – in the vernacular of countless motivation speakers – is encouraged to be the “hero of their own story”. But are we in danger of making too much of them? If the story becomes the central device for much of our communication, do we risk losing our sense of objective reality? by Future Tense
29 min listen

Related podcast episodes

Skip carousel

Why being respectful to your coworkers is good for business | Christine Porath: Looking to get ahead in your career? Start by being respectful to your coworkers, says leadership researcher Christine Porath. by TED Business
25 min listen
Blending the Art + Science of Human Resources: Join us for an electrifying conversation with Steve Fredlund – a national speaker who’s discovered a breakthrough link between employee happiness and productivity. Buckle up as he delves into key topics including the significance of employees... by Minnesota Made
44 min listen
The recovery paradox and why more work doesn't mean better results, with Alyson Meister by ManagementCast by IMD
18 min listen
Productivity Paranoia: What Should Companies Do?: New Microsoft Work Trends research identifies the Productivity Paranoia at work: 87% of employees feel productive, yet only 12% of CEO's agree. In this podcast I detail the big issue of "productivity at work" and explain why this gap is taking place, and what you can do about it. Additional Resources Discussed In This Podcast Irresistible: The Seven Secrets Of The World's Most Enduring, Employee-Focused Organizations Journey to Agile: Organization Design, The Real Secret To Growth, The Josh Bersin Company The Good Jobs Strategy, by Zeynep Tom How To Fix A Toxic Culture, by Don Sull, PhD. by The Josh Bersin Company
28 min listen
2181: The Tech Help Helping Employers Reduce Burnout and Increase Retention: Greg Sloan, CFP®, CEPA, CPM™, is a Chief Purpose Officer and Co-Founder of Go Beyond. This People Development company combines Behavioral Science and Technology to improve well-being in the workplace. With over 25+ years of experience in financial... by The Tech Talks Daily Podcast
24 min listen
Is Remote Work Healthy? Well…It’s Complicated. by Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons
31 min listen
Sara Ross - Dear Work: Something Has to Change - Simplifying Our Relationship to Work by SIMPLE brand With Matt Lyles
61 min listen
Why Investing in People is Good Business by The Employee Safety Podcast
20 min listen
How to increase accountability in the workplace - 7 ways to boost growth by Predictable B2B Success
49 min listen
The Outwork Myth by REWORK
30 min listen
Do Bosses Who Trust Their Employees Deliver More Innovation?: Learn when you should—and shouldn’t—give your team room to fail. by The Insightful Leader
14 min listen
Make Work FUN & Get It Done | Bob Nelson and Mario Tamayo by Peak Performance Leadership
48 min listen
Cómo crear un buen espacio de trabajo y ser más productivos [#421]: Sería un error subestimar la relación que hay entre "cómo" y "dónde" trabajamos. Existe sobrada evidencia que prueba que el espacio de trabajo afecta para bien o mal nuestro rendimiento y estado de ánimo. Por eso tener las mejores condiciones... by El Show de Superhábitos
62 min listen
Ep. #42 - Returning to the Workplace - A New Beginning for Supervisors: All companies are determining the best way to reintegrate employees back to the office. This podcast will share information and practical tips to help supervisors and regulators not only survive but to also thrive as they transition back to the office. by Toronto Centre Podcasts
36 min listen
From Drab to Fab: Using Play to Supercharge Your Workplace with Jeff Harry: In today's world, work can often feel overwhelming and stressful, leading to burnout and a lack of creativity. That's where play comes in. When it comes to work, fun is often seen as an oxymoron. HR professionals, managers and directors find themselv... by HR Mixtape
31 min listen
84: Professionalizing Business -- Louis Brandeis (Summary of Episode): What do the terms “Taylorism” or “scientific management” bring to mind? Difficult work environments? Managers push workers to their limits? Do more with less? But these were not the original intentions. The real intentions were to help workers... by Talking About Organizations Podcast
10 min listen
68: Building The Best Workplace in The World with Vishen Lakhiani of Mindvalley: Learn How To Hire And Keep A-Players On Your Team By Having A Great Company Culture with Vishen Lakhiani by The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan
44 min listen
112: Employee Well-Being is Workplace Safety/Health: Invest in Well-Being by The Safety Pro Podcast
20 min listen
How to build a better workplace, with Alyson Meister by ManagementCast by IMD
19 min listen
Episode 367: Acting Like A Child At Work: In this episode, we challenge the conventional perception of childlike behavior at work and explore the positive aspects it can bring to our professional lives. Sherry often encourages her clients to embrace childlike qualities in their work approach. Join us to uncover the unexpected advantages of integrating childlike wonder and creativity into your professional journey, enhancing productivity and overall satisfaction in the workplace. by ZenFounder
13 min listen
Faye McGuinness of Mind | A Conversation On Mental Health: Why Wellbeing Should be a Strategic Priority for Every Business: The workplace can either help or harm our mental wellbeing. For many companies, support for mental health is a ‘tick in the box’ exercise - but it should be so much more. At mental health charity Mind, Faye McGuinness is working to make fundamental c... by Future Of Work Podcast
35 min listen
Dealing with the Home / Work Split by Peak Performance Leadership
21 min listen
3 Steps to Make Your Research More Reproducible: Interview with Heidi Seibold by The Effective Statistician - in association with PSI
35 min listen
Balancing Security with Employee Experience: There's no doubt that security is important in the workplace. But what happens when the measures taken to ensure security start to have a negative impact on employee welfare and productivity? That's where the challenge lies for employers - finding a... by TalentCulture #WorkTrends
18 min listen
How To Create Purpose At Work: In this podcast I break down the big issue of "purpose at work," which is one of the biggest challenges companies face. How do we create a work environment and set of experiences, programs, and management practices that engage people with a sense of Purpose? And of course how does that help our companies grow? As you'll hear, this is not as philosophical as it sounds - there are a lot of pragmatic solutions here, and I took some time to decompose them for you. I also talk about Happiness, and how most of the research about happiness teaches us even more about how to be better leaders, managers, teammates, and HR professionals. Additional Resources Irresistible: The Seven Secrets of the World's Most Enduring, Employee-Focused Organizations How To Build A Happy Life, by Arthur Brooks Our New Role: Bringing Kindness To Work by The Josh Bersin Company
19 min listen
How Menopause is Affecting Your Workforce or Why Menopause is a Workplace Issue: This episode focuses on a less-talked-about yet significant influence on the dynamics of your workforce - menopause. It often impacts employees silently but significantly, affecting their performance and wellbeing. Join us as we discuss this topic in... by TalentCulture #WorkTrends
16 min listen
Episode 383: Why High Performers Need Play, Movement, and (Strange) Hobbies: As entrepreneurs, although we understand that a fulfilling life goes beyond work and productivity, we often struggle to make time for play. However, did you know that engaging in hobbies that energize you, rather than consume your time, can actually boost your peak performance? In this insightful episode, Dr. Walling presents powerful arguments for why play should be an essential, non-negotiable part of your life. Key Highlights: Learn how engaging in hobbies can be a vital tool for regulating your nervous system, ensuring a balanced state of homeostasis essential for optimal functioning. Understand the impact of neurological diversification through play on preventing burnout and fostering a resilient, adaptable brain. Embrace the significance of hobbies in shaping your identity beyond work and productivity. by ZenFounder
20 min listen
The Chance to Reinvent the Workplace with Alise Cortez: COVID-19’s Silver Lining by The Nonprofit Exchange: Leadership Tools & Strategies
56 min listen
92. The Power of Deliberate Calm To Maximize Customer Service Performance with Jacqui Brassey: Do you want to improve your CX leadership skills and create a calm work environment? Host Stacy Sherman interviews Jacqui Brassey, author of "Deliberate Calm" and practitioner from McKinsey Health, to share valuable research about the importance of... by Doing Customer Experience Right‬ with Stacy Sherman
33 min listen
The Science Behind Psychologically Safe Workplaces by The Employee Safety Podcast
31 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

Is happiness vastly overrated?

Is happiness vastly overrated?

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Future Tense

Related podcast episodes