outhwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) is an internationally recognized nonprofit located in Phoenix, Arizona, that conducts innovative research, provides evidence-based practices, disseminates effective training, and builds inclusive communities for individuals with autism and their families. SARRC also implements the science and skills of happiness to promote the well-being of its team and the autistic children and youth it supports.
Skills of Happiness Improve Organizational Structure
“We all want happiness for others, and the tools on the Proof Positive website make it easy to learn and practice.”
The Skills of Happiness are practiced throughout the organization, particularly during meetings. Teams at SARRC kick off weekly meetings with a “Peak of the Week,” leveraging the skill of Strength Spotting to celebrate positive moments and reflect on what strengths the team has tapped to create effective
intervention for children and a positive work environment for themselves and their colleagues. Other times, meetings start with What Went Well (a gratitude practice) to identify and help teams focus on the good that is happening in the organization.
To boost positive emotions, team members share five positive things they intend to do during the work day, their Jolts of Joy. Team members enjoy discovering how others experience joy and stealing their ideas! Team members are also accountable to each other for implementing those micro-moments of joy. They ask what the person did to experience joy and how they felt afterward. Sometimes meetings are frontloaded by planning a five-minute Jolts of Joy break before a tough meeting. This promotes greater creativity and engagement during tough conversations and difficult decisions.
Job satisfaction and turnover rates are at an all-time high in social service organizations. These data tell a story of high staff burnout. Professionals don’t usually focus on happiness or intentionally build positive habits. Given SARRC’s commitment to excellence, they invest in the wellbeing of their team. “We all want happiness for others. And why not? Access to the skills is free on Proof Positive’s website, and it’s easy for others to check out for themselves,” shared Bethany Chadd, the Clinical Director at SARRC.
Our teams have seen a complete shift in attitudes when they adopt the skills of happiness into their daily routines.