The Gallup’s organization is one of the most respected and prominent research firms in the world. Their research on workplace management and wellbeing has discovered that “contrary to what many people believe, wellbeing isn’t just about being happy. Nor is it only about being wealthy or successful. And it’s certainly not limited to physical health and wellness. In fact, focusing on any of these elements in isolation could drive us to feelings of frustration and even failure.” So, what exactly is wellbeing?
As I spoke with Jim Harter, chief scientist for Gallup and co-author with Tom Rath of the brilliant book – Wellbeing: The Five Essential Elements, I was reminded of a question that I used to always ask potential candidates during our first interview: Describe your best day? My purpose was simply to learn what fueled their inspiration. And, although the answers varied, there were some common themes: great relationships, engaging work, contribution and fitness. I learned quickly that success was cumulative. In Wellbeing, Tom and Jim discovered that “Wellbeing is about the combination of our love for what we do each day, the quality of our relationships, the security of our finances, the vibrancy of our physical health, and the pride we take in what we have contributed to our communities. Most importantly, it’s about how these five elements interact.”