Finding Your Ikigai

Finding Your Ikigai

This presentation demonstrates how Gratitude, Appreciation and Acknowledgment in our corporate culture can lead to a state of workplace well-being. When people use these tools for team communication and project excellence, they both feel and perform better. One of the 7 Principles of Acknowledgment in The Power of Acknowledgment by Judith W. Umlas states: "It is likely that acknowledgments can improve the emotional and physical health of both the giver and the receiver." The neuroscience of Gratitude is a field of growing interest to leaders at workplaces worldwide. Bringing these tools with commitment and intention into the workplace creates a sense of well-being among employees. This is a result at least in part to the release of chemical neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin, among others. Feeling appreciated and valued further creates and enhances that sense of well-being. Acknowledgment of and gratitude for peoples’ passions also helps them achieve their state of “Ikigai,” a Japanese Concept meaning "A Reason for Being." The convergence of what people love (their passion), what the world needs (their mission), what they are good at (their vocation) and what they can get paid for (their profession) creates the state of Ikigai which then fosters a sense of joy and well-being. This can take the form of an employee volunteering for an organization outside of work, doing what they love at work or playing the drums. By acknowledging them and expressing your gratitude to them for pursuing these passions, companies can support the joyful state of Ikigai that helps lead to an overall sense of purpose and workplace well-being.

This and other IIL Learning in Minutes presentations qualify for PDUs. Some titles, such as Agile-related topics may qualify for other continuing education credits such as SEUs, or CEUs.

Each professional development activity yields one PDU for one hour spent engaged in the activity. Some limitations apply and can be found in the Ways to Earn PDUs section that discusses PDU activities and associated policies.

Fractions of PDUs may also be reported. The smallest increment of a PDU that can be reported is 0.25. This means that if you spent 15 minutes participating in a qualifying PDU activity, you may report 0.25 PDU. If you spend 30 minutes in a qualifying PDU activity, you may report 0.50 PDU.