"Flow" at Work

Over the weekend, I read "Authentic Happiness" by Dr. Martin Seligman, founder of the field called Positive Psychology.  His work was featured in Time back in 2005, but he's been mentioned in just about every other book I've been reading:

He writes extensively about how we can create "flow" at work, defined by his colleague Mihály Csíkszentmihályi as the experience of total absorption in an activity -- positive, energized, and aligned with the task at hand.

Seligman argues in the book that just about anyone can turn their job into a calling by infusing their signature strengths into their daily routine and thus create more opportunities for flow. 

*Sidenote -- I would highly recommend taking Dr. Seligman's VIA Strengths Survey at his website, http://www.authentichappiness.org/ to figure out what yours are.

But that got me to thinking -- if one of your signature strengths is "creativity, ingenuity, and originality," but you're working in an environment that doesn't share that value, might you be fighting an uphill battle? 

Unfortunately, the answer happens to be yes.  Seligman says that certain industries (think law and banking) are actually set up to discourage the kind of positive mood that favors creativity.  For instance, in tasks that require critical thinking, like doing your income taxes or deciding whom to fire, Seligman advises readers to "carry these out on rainy days, in straight-backed chairs, and in silent, institutionally painted rooms.  Being uptight, sad, or out of sorts will not impede you; it may even make your decisions more acute."  (I added the bold and underline for emphasis)

"In contrast," -- and this is the part we're concerned about -- "any number of life tasks call for creative, generous, and tolerant thinking:  planning a sales campaign, finding ways to increase the amount of love in your life, pondering a new career field, deciding whether to marry someone, thinking about hobbies and noncompetitive sports, and creative writing.  Carry these out in a setting that will buoy your mood (for example, in a comfortable chair, with suitable music, sun, and fresh air)."

The moral?  Before you decide to enter a career (and Seligman spends an entire chapter discussing why lawyers end up being some of the least happy people around) devoted to "win-lose" scenarios where competition and cut-throat tactics are the norm, it pays to consider what kind of environment you want spend your days in...