Peer Pressure

Peer pressure can have a powerful effect on the way that we act or behave.  We like to conform, as much as possible, to the behaviors, attitudes, and values of the other members in our social networks.  For example, one study from Nicholas Christakis, a sociologist and physician at Yale University, and his colleague, James Fowler showed that an individual's risk of becoming obese increased by 57% if he or she had a friend who was also obese (this was compared to a 40% increase in risk if an adult sibling was obese or a 37% increase in risk if a spouse was obese).  These same investigators also showed a similar effect on smoking behavior - individuals were more likely to quit smoking if other members in their social network also quit smoking (see their study's findings here).  They further found evidence to support that when it comes to influencing our behaviors, the effects of peer pressure extend far beyond our direct connections.  People influence their friends (i.e., their direct connections), who in turn influence their friends, and so on, and so on.  They call this effect, "three degrees of influence".  It's a really interesting field of research.

As it turns out, being happy can have a similar "three degrees of influence."  Christakis and Fowler showed (see the study here) that if our friends, siblings, next door neighbors, or spouses become happy, there is a significantly increased likelihood that we will be happy too.  In other words, happiness is contagious!  Unfortunately, this effect was not seen with co-workers - but hey, it was only one study, right!?!?  I wouldn't let that stop you from being happy. 

What's the take-home message here?  There are a lot of things that are beyond a leader's control.  But there are also many things that are within a leader's span of control.  His or her attitude is something that can be easily controlled (or at least it should be).  Try to be happy (see my previous post "Don't Worry, Be Happy") - it may influence the attitudes of those around you and will certainly influence the attitudes of close friends and family members.  And it will make you feel good and pleasant to be around!  As Dan Ariely said in a blog post about the study by Christakis and Fowler, "surrounding ourselves with happier people will make us happier, make the people close to us happier, and make the people close to them happier."  Be happy!