15 Things The Happiest Leaders In The World Have In Common

www.Forbes.com recently posted the results of a study done by the London-based Legatum Institute where they identified the happiest countries in the world.  The world’s happiest country turns out to be Norway.  Norway??!!  Well, here are the reasons why:

1. Norway has the world’s highest per capita GDP of $53,000 a year. 
2. Norwegians have the second-highest level of satisfaction with their standards of living.
3. 95% say they are satisfied with their freedom to choose the direction of their lives.
4. An unparalleled 74% say other people can be trusted.

Cynics (particularly those leaving comments on Legatum’s website say Norway’s ranking is misleading.

1. The nation is boring.
2. It’s irreligious.  Only 13% go to a church.
3. Norway is a welfare state with extraordinarily high taxes. 

To read the entire article giving a full report, click here.

Reading this article made me think about the happiness of leaders in general.

Like you, I’ve met many leaders in my life.  Quite frankly, many of them were miserable and insufferable.  However, there are others who live life with an incredible sense of adventure and joy.  When I think about that group, the group worth following, here are the common success links I see in their lives:

1. The happiest leaders have a sense of mission.  They want to improve the quality of human life, not just churn out widgets to make a profit.
2. The happiest leaders are highly relational and have great people skills.
3. The happiest leaders meet and exceed goals.  Nothing helps morale like winning.
4. The happiest leaders have a healthy balance between their family and work.
5. The happiest leaders have team chemistry.  They surround themselves with their friends.
6. The happiest leaders who are men have the respect of their wives.
7. The happiest leaders have found their purpose and are putting all their resources, time, and energy into fulfilling that purpose.
8. The happiest leaders have down time where they can relax and think.
9. The happiest leaders understand life is a journey, not a destination.  They put losses in their proper perspective.
10. The happiest leaders make having fun a priority.
11. The happiest leaders are fiscally responsible and avoid the pressures of personal and corporate debt.
12. The happiest leaders are extravagantly generous.
13. The happiest leaders practice grace and forgive others.
14. The happiest leaders raise the level of self-esteem in those they serve.  They give their people a healthy sense of pride.
15. The happiest leaders, unlike Norway, have Jesus Christ as the central piece of their lives.

Simple questions – Do you work for a happy leader?  Bigger question – Are you happy?  If not, which of the list of 15 are you missing?

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