At work it’s completely normal for happiness, productivity, and motivation to ebb and flow. There are days when everything seems to go right: you complete your assignment early and receive a glowing review from your boss, and then there are days when it all seems to go wrong: you’re late to your meeting, mess up a call, and forget about a deadline. If you seem to be having a string of not-so-great days, perhaps it’s time to look for a little inspiration. Here are several TED Talks to help you get started.
“How Great Leaders Inspire Action” by Simon Sinek
Leadership expert, Simon Sinek, is famous in the business world and for a good reason. In this TED Talk, he explains how great leaders think, act, and communicate all by starting with the question “why?” He presents a simple model called the golden circle and asking the questions: why, how, and what.
“What Makes Us Feel Good About Our Work?” by Dan Ariely
In this talk, Dan Ariely looks at what makes us happy and feel good about our work. He explains that it’s not necessarily money or joy that we are looking for, but a feeling of making constant progress towards our work goals and feeling like we have a sense of purpose in the workplace.
“The Puzzle of Motivation” by Dan Pink
Author and motivation expert Dan Pink shares that intrinsic motivators, which is the desire to do more for personal reasons, are what motivates employees and makes businesses stronger. He speaks of autonomy, mastery, and purpose and how incorporating these three things into your company culture is the key to success.
“Let’s Make Work Better” by Theresa Glomb
Theresa Glomb, is an American academic, and in this TED Talk she explains how to make good things happen more frequently at work, and 3 strategies that will make you happier in the workplace. Some key takeaways from her speech are to gripe less and celebrate more, quit multitasking, and to help others.
“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown
Shame and vulnerability researcher, Brené Brown, gives a powerful speech on the importance of vulnerability in your personal and professional life. In one of the most widely circulated TED Talks, she explains that vulnerability takes courage and how to show up, face your fears, and move forward.