Well you could blow me down with a feather…

It’s a sweet idea.

While the population of this country is still trying to work out what the future holds as they take in the implications of overwhelming cuts to their budgets – the Guardian reports today:

The UK government is poised to start measuring people’s psychological and environmental wellbeing, bidding to be among the first countries to officially monitor happiness.|

Far be it from me, but it strikes me that now might not be the best time, Mr.Cameron…just saying…

Underlying Message

The underlying message seems to be that measurement of wellbeing is not all about the economy and that there are other things that should be taken into consideration.

I suppose it’s not surprising that this idea is suddenly being espoused in the straitened circumstances in which we now find ourselves.

The trouble is it all sounds a bit hollow if the leadership of our nation and management of our organisations are still demanding more from the workforce without nurturing whatever else it is that is supposed to make us happy.

Leaders are continually exhorting their teams and workforce to go the extra mile – to grow the wealth, prestige, and magnitude of their companies but what do people get back?

Motivation

In management and leadership training it’s our business to look carefully at the real motivation we have to go the full nine yards. What motivates you is quite simply what turns you on – it’s part of your personal brand.

Money has been questioned time and again as an effective long term incentive for initiative and creative thinking. So what else does the trick?

Take a look Dan Pink’s brilliant talk at the RSA on the subject of Autonomy, Mastery, and Higher Purpose:

Here is a link to the full Guardian Article

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/nov/14/happiness-index-britain-national-mood