IKIGAI: Reflection on life goals optimizes performance and happiness

Michaéla Schippers is Endowed Professor of Behaviour and Performance Management at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM). She received her PhD from the Psychology Department at the Free University in Amsterdam. Her research is located at the intersection of management, psychology and education. Her current research concentrates on team reflexivity, team diversity, goal-setting and academic performance. Other current projects concern new ways of working, behavioral operations management, and social exclusion. Her work has been published in some of the top journals of Psychology and Management, such as Annual Review of Psychology, Administrative Science Quarterly, Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies, Academy of Management Learning & Education, Journal of Organizational Behavior, and Human Relations.

In her inaugural address, Michaéla discusses the role of self-regulatory behaviors that people can employ in order to live a full-filling life. These behaviors include reflection and personal goal setting, in order to formulate a direction or purpose in life (Ikigai).  In the inaugural address, an evidence-based goal-setting intervention is discussed. This relatively brief intervention has shown to have lasting results: not only does it increase well-being of students, the intervention also boosted academic performance of students by over 20%. Moreover, the intervention significantly decreased the gender and ethnic minority performance gap. The goal setting is shown in a broader perspective with examples in education, business and operations management. The perspective presented in this address emphasizes taking control of one’s life in order to optimize performance and happiness.

Please register for the Goal-setting Forum and/or Inaugural Lecture of Michaéla Schippers at www.rsm.nl/ikigai before Wednesday 14 June 2017.