Happiness is contagious

This just in from medical study -- surround yourself with happy friends!

Happy people tended to be at the center of social networks and had many friends who were also happy. Having friends or siblings nearby increased people's chances of being upbeat. Happiness spread outward by three degrees, to the friends of friends of friends.

Happy spouses helped, too, but not as much as happy friends of the same gender. Experts think people, particularly woman, take emotional cues from people who look like them.

Christakis and Fowler estimate that each happy friend boosts your own chances of being happy by 9 percent. Having grumpy friends decreases it by about 7 percent.

Don't Micromanage Employees

I have had several excellent bosses and the best show "tough love" for business results but don't micromanage the details. A Wall Street Journal entitled Micromanagers Miss Bull's-Eye by Cari Tuna calls out the problem -- "dealing With every detail robs subordinates of the freedom to solve problems" and prevents their development.

The article suggests that managers:

1) Clearly articulate expectations
2) Offer constructive feedback
3) Give employees decision-making power
4) Focus on hiring and placement of subordinates

Find out about new career opportunities

The economic challenges have forced many people to think about new careers. A new book out, No Job? No Prob! has many recommendations, but two interesting websites include:

www.LiveCareer.com
www.CareerTest.com