The Connection Between Altruism and Happiness at Work
Sheldon Barrocks
Unlocking the Synergies between Workplace Trends and a Thriving Career | Author of Unstuck Mondays | Host of "Smile, It's Monday Podcast" | Supplier I&D and Sustainability @ Mars | Award Winning Logistics Professional
This is the first edition of a 2-part series covering What Drives Our Happiness at Work. Today we discuss the concept of Altruism and how it can spark a renewed connection to our careers and the people we work with.
Anthropologist Margaret Mead once suggested that civilization began with altruism and the only way we can truly survive is by taking care of each other. The well-known Yonkers, NY-based company Greyston Bakery has kept that philosophy at the forefront of their organizational culture.
For over 30 years, Greyston’s cakes have been served in some of the finest restaurants in the U.S., as well as the White House. Their continued success is founded on a policy that encourages anyone to apply for employment, regardless of education or criminal record. Greyston is committed, first and foremost, to helping people succeed in life, and that commitment to human growth and potential, of giving people a first and second chance in life, has led to their continued success. Not only that, but their profits help support daycare centers, health clinics, and counselling services.
In a nutshell, Greyston doesn’t hire people to make cakes, it makes cakes to hire people. Like former drug dealer Rodney Johnson, who got his GED in jail and his first legal job at Greyston. CEO Mike Brady believes that businesses which lead with altruism consistently outperform others that don’t. “We are seeing a tipping point in consumer and business interest in buying from mission-based companies, and our sales have grown by over 50% in the last 4 years," Brady said.
Altruism is a concept that has been around for centuries and has typically been seen as an attribute of personal life. But lately, it’s gained recognition in the areas of organizational culture (like Greyston Bakery) and individual career growth. It has the power to shape not only our career trajectory but also the dynamics within the organizations we work for.
What is Altruism? It’s the selfless concern for the well-being of others. It’s a personal trait motivated by feelings of empathy that pushes us to go beyond our personal interests and make decisions that benefit others. In his book "The Altruism Question," C. Daniel Batson defines altruism as acts that are motivated by concern or regard for others rather than oneself, with the ultimate goal of increasing another’s welfare. Altruistic behaviours could look like mentoring a colleague, sharing credit on a successful project, or taking on tasks outside of our job description. All of this leads to a positive work environment, promotes high levels of collaboration, and contributes to the overall success of the company.
But when work causes us stress or we feel stuck in our career, why should we care about adopting an altruistic mindset? Can it really help us cope with our day-to-day work even if it’s not our current ideal at the moment? And shouldn't we put an intense focus on ourselves if we really want to see growth in our careers (e.g., promotions, salary increases, new opportunities)?
Contrary to the belief that success in the workplace is achieved through competition, altruistic behaviours can be the catalyst for career advancement and growth.
Contrary to the belief that success in the workplace is achieved through competition, altruistic behaviours can be the catalyst for career advancement and growth. When we’re willing to help others, share knowledge, and collaborate, we’re seen as valuable assets to the organization. This often leads to increased trust and respect from colleagues and senior leadership, resulting in opportunities for growth and advancement. Being in management for ten years, I’d notice when individuals on my team would proactively mentor their colleagues through the early stages of their role or prepare them for their next career move for when an opportunity became available. Those were the employees I would choose to be in line for a future team leader role or would be the first ones I’d recommend for a position in another department. They would also be ones I’d select to lead important projects or take on new customer accounts.
Since this is a series on Happiness at Work, what’s the connection between altruism and our happiness? One study on altruism at work found that helping colleagues can make us happier. A study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison's La Follette School of Public Affairs tested the relationship between altruism in the workplace and happiness. After surveying more than 10,000 1957 Wisconsin high school graduates, the authors found that individuals in their mid-30s who felt that helping others in their work was a major priority in their career said they were happier with their life when surveyed again almost 30 years later.
La Follette professor Donald Moynihan, who led the study, says the research illustrates the power of altruism. "Our findings make a simple but profound point about altruism: helping others makes us happier. It is not a form of martyrdom but operates for many as part of a healthy psychological reward system. Being motivated to help and believing your work makes a difference is associated with greater happiness in our analysis."
The “helper’s high” produced by performing altruistic acts can even help reduce work-related stress or career ‘stuckness’.
Since giving back is rewarding in itself, helping others can lead to a greater sense of purpose at work and higher levels of job satisfaction. The “helper’s high” produced by performing altruistic acts can even help reduce work-related stress or career ‘stuckness’.
Like we saw earlier with Greyston Bakery, the idea of altruism can be foundational in shaping the structure of successful organizations. It can transform a traditional hierarchical organizational structure into a more flat one. That’s when power and information are distributed more evenly, and everyone feels their contribution is valued, regardless of position. Faster decision-making, innovative ideas, higher performance, and most importantly, the ability to attract and retain talent, are all byproducts of cultures founded on altruistic principles.
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Several past studies reveal that altruism in organizations enhances organizational learning, which is strongly linked to resilience. In order to survive and thrive, resilience is needed for employees to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and adapt to sudden organizational change and disruptions. Leaders who desire this kind of culture need to start with themselves and begin modeling altruistic behaviors in their life and work. Only then will it begin to cascade down to everyone else.
When we feel that our work matters and we are helping others in some way, it can boost our motivation even in jobs that may be difficult at times. The reality is we all need intrinsic motivation just as much as external rewards, such as money or recognition. Our human drive to help others is ingrained in all of us. Finding ways to incorporate altruism into our daily work helps us stay motivated because it keeps us connected to something greater than ourselves.
Sheldon Barrocks is passionate about personal career well-being, positive psychology, and helping teams find joy in their work. His engaging Smile! It’s Monday newsletter inspires professionals to unleash their full potential by creating purposeful career goals and encourages leaders to build a culture that inspires for organizational success. As an award-winning Supply Chain professional, he's provided creative solutions for major brands like Mars, Kelloggs, General Mills, Conagra, B&G Foods, Ingredion, Henkel and others. Check out his book Unstuck Mondays and join his mailing list to level up in your creativity and career!
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