Gross National Happiness

I read a feature in this publication, on an organisation in Trinidad and Tobago whose primary objective is to promote happiness. This organisation hosts a number of ‘pay it forward’ initiatives including, the distribution of free breakfast, etc, with the only remit being that you do something positive for someone else. The lines for the giveaway gestures are usually extremely long; one wonders just how many of those in the receiving lines, actually pay it forward with some attendant act of kindness .

Happiness is serious business, and the ethos has become less synonymous with the work environment. In fact, despite the numerous metrics that have been presented to demonstrate a clear correlation between the creation of a ‘happy’ and supportive work environment, and an increased work output, this ‘happy’ work environment still eludes much of the workforce .

Alternately, though in small number, you will find the workplace, where every effort is placed in creating a happy work environment, however, the employees’ production rate and levels of enthusiasm are anything but reflective of the efforts being made .

Bhutan, a tiny and remote Kingdom in the Himalayas, believes that the pursuit of happiness for its citizenry is its main goal. The Bhutanese Government became so serious about its citizenry’s happiness that they enshrined this goal in their country’s constitution. Accordingly, the Government rejected the use of GDP has the sole measurement of the country’s progress, and instead developed, and championed a new approach to the measurement of progress, called Gross National Happiness, which includes the measurement of the spiritual, physical, social and environmental health of its citizens and natural environment .

[Source, Islam today] .

The concept of Gross National Happiness, according to the description provided by this Kingdom, presents the citizen as the nucleus of development. The audacity of this tiny Kingdom, to recognize and appreciate that true development begins and ends with the citizenry, their development, their holistic approach to life and living, and further, to the recognition that the Nation succeeds, when its citizens flourish. Such a concept can easily be replicated within the business environment – how many of our organizations, can attest to the tangible connect between their PBT [Profit before tax], and their employees happiness index? If one were to align this concept to Trinidad and Tobago, and to measure the happiness index of its people, I would be completely interested to note the result. This is why organizations like ReTHINK, based in Trinidad, is so important to be integrated into our landscape. It forces us to re-think the way we do business, as well as questioning, what is the nucleus that drives our development – are people our priority? Forward thinking organisations have begun to recognise that the most important resource is the human element, and have invested in social support programmes such as Employee Assistance Programme initiatives. However, even with the employment of EAP Services, how many actually utilise these services and all they have to offer? Or do they employ the most basic package of counselling and support only when need be? The Governments of Dubai, India and Ecuador have also recognized the development of the happiness index should be in alignment with other national metrics, and as such, have also developed and instituted Ministries of Happiness in their respective countries. The objective of these Ministries has been articulated as developed to align and drive Government policy to create social good and satisfaction. In the United Arab Emirates, the Ministry of Happiness is based on a Government that has extended its focus on developing the skills of its people in addition to the provision of goods and services .

The business of happiness has also become globally recognized by the United Nations with the identification of World Happiness Day, which is commemorated on March 20 .