{"id":9198,"date":"2018-03-20T11:54:15","date_gmt":"2018-03-20T10:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.munich-business-school.de\/insights\/?p=9198"},"modified":"2018-12-20T16:26:18","modified_gmt":"2018-12-20T15:26:18","slug":"happiness-learnings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.munich-business-school.de\/insights\/en\/2018\/happiness-learnings\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Learnings from 5 Years \u201cSuccess Factor Happiness\u201d at a Business School"},"content":{"rendered":"

During these months, the elective course \u201cSuccess Factor Happiness\u201d in the Master International Business study program at MBS is being conducted for the fifth year in a row. Uncertainty regarding future professional life, the fear of not being \u201cgood enough\u201d, the constant fight against dependency on the smartphone and other reasons, such as plain curiosity, have led to a situation where most students of a year cohort pick this course.<\/p>\n

Several hundred students from all over the world have thus familiarized themselves with the subject \u201cHappiness\u201d in all its aspects at a business school; a subject that offers a journey rich in experience each year \u2013 for the students and, of course, for the lecturers, too.<\/p>\n

These are particularly intense weeks during which the participants seek out what makes them happy, what the meaning of their lives might be, the implications for their future careers and what they themselves can contribute towards leading the happiest, most fulfilled and meaningful life possible \u2013 without exposing themselves to the distress of \u201chaving to be happy\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"MBS<\/a>
The first „Happiness Evening“ at MBS featured Wolf-Ingomar Faecks (CEO Sapient), the philosopher Prof. Dr. Michael Bordt SJ and Zen teacher Andr\u00e9 Daiy\u00fb Steiner (seated, f.l.t.r.).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Five years ago, the course was designed from scratch and for the first time. In addition to the theoretical elements, great emphasis is placed on exercises. High-caliber guest lecturers contribute their share to making happiness perceivable from a large array of perspectives. And in a final step, the annual \u201cMBS Happiness Evening\u201d makes the course available for non-participants, too.<\/p>\n

Every year, 99 % of participants state that they would recommend the course to friends, and the journey through the past five years has been an enriching experience also from the lecturer\u2019s viewpoint, with a multitude of learning effects. Here is a small selection:<\/p>\n

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  1. \n

    Gratitude to Be Able to Study a Central Life Theme at a Business School<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    So far, none of the students have ever had the opportunity to look into this very fundamental topic of life and work during his or her studies. Only very few students have \u2013 to varying degrees \u2013 set out in search of happiness in their private lives. For example, they meditate or have read a book or two about the topic, use an app or even practice one of the exercises from the course.<\/p>\n

    For the lecturer, this mix is great, because the more experienced ones contribute as \u201cambassadors from their own inner circle\u201d to everybody gaining more confidence in opening up to the topics that may seem unusual at first glance. The newbies, in turn, are very grateful to learn new approaches that help them to attain happiness in their lives, and the ones that are more advanced are thankful about suddenly finding themselves among a like-minded bunch.<\/p>\n

    \u201cHaving attended the course \u2018Success factor happiness\u2019 at MBS was truly a course that brought more meaning to my life than any other course a university could offer.\u201c<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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    1. \n

      Students Love to Visit the Brain Gym<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      It is highly popular among students to go to the gym or to do any other kind of sports. They are slightly shocked when they realize that they are doing a great deal for their physical health, but only very little for their mental fitness. Thus, exercises are the centerpiece of this course. During each unit of the course, at least one exercise is introduced that turns presented contents into a personal experience and can be applied outside of the MBS context at all times.<\/p>\n

      Therefore, the assignment at the end of the course is to write a self-reflecting essay about the experiences gained during the exercises, thus documenting each participant\u2019s outcome of the course individually. Experience has shown that these offers are very openly perceived and tried out. Many students request even more exercises, particularly in the classroom, to enable them to have an immediate exchange of ideas.<\/p>\n

      „The course lead me to actively think about my personal well-being and my level of happiness. I decided that I do not want to do what is expected of me or perceived as right. I want to do something that I like, spend my time on activities that make me happy and include meaning and purpose into my private and professional life.“<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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      1. \n

        It Is Possible to Create \u201cMagic Moments of Connection\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        The classroom is a \u201cDigital Detox Zone\u201d and every unit starts with a \u201cCheck-in\u201d. This ensures that all participants are consciously present in the room, opening up to course content and exercises, thereby creating a general atmosphere of emotional security for each individual. The experience of the course differs a bit for each participant, but still \u2013 and for this very reason \u2013 creates impressive moments in the classroom, \u201cMagic Moments of Connection\u201d, which can create a lastingly different dimension of communication among the participants that may „resonate“ for a longer period in their everyday lives.<\/p>\n

        \u201cOne reason I have chosen this course was to find my inner peace.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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        1. \n

          Ready for the Professional Future (#Future Readiness)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          For some, the course has indeed had a lasting effect regarding job selection. Some consciously decide not to apply for jobs with specific companies that do not place value on the topics addressed in the course. Some get their jobs precisely for the reason that they have been involved in important topics concerning happiness and higher purpose that are also important for the company. Many of the alumni of the course report how their take-aways from the course have helped them attain mindfulness, gratitude and compassion in their professional life. It is expected that these effects will further increase in the future in view of a changing working world.<\/p>\n

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          1. \n

            The First Ones Will Surf the Wave<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            The students of the first year course were still sailing in calm waters and possibly just saw the incoming \u201cwave of mindfulness\u201d appearing on the horizon. Today, they are the first ones surfing this wave. An increasing number of people outside this course have expressed interest in its content. Topics such as happiness, mindfulness, compassion and gratitude are meeting with an ever-increasing resonance in society. Of course, the contents are communicated externally through presentations and workshops. The annual \u201cMBS Happiness Evening\u201d has also made it possible to invite \u201cexternal surfers\u201d to MBS.<\/p>\n

            During the first year, for example, the philosopher Prof. Dr. Michael Bordt SJ, Wolf-Ingomar Faecks (CEO Sapient) and Zen teacher Andr\u00e9 Daiy\u00fb Steiner spoke about the role of happiness in life and its meaning for work. In the following year, Dr. Florian Langenscheidt visited MBS for the first time<\/a> \u2013 and has since been a regular guest lecturer in the course. During the third year, the Vice Consul of the Danish General Consulate in Munich, Emilie Norman, discussed the question why the Danish keep winning the ranking for the \u201chappiest people on earth\u201d<\/a> over and over again. In the past year, Raphael Fellmer inspired the audience<\/a> with his presentation about a life without money, about his approach to find meaning in life \u2013 and about selling surplus food that would have gone to waste with his company Sirplus<\/a>.<\/p>\n

            This year\u2019s subject will be \u201cGreat(est) Places to Work\u201c, and two representatives from the winner companies will discuss the subject of \u201cHappiness at work\u201c.<\/p>\n