“In every life we have some trouble, when you worry you make it double, don’t worry be happy.” –Bobby McFerrin

Might seem silly, superficial even, but research shows that happy people are more successful in business. And no, their happiness doesn’t come about because of their success, it precedes it.

Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky, a psychologist at the University of California, Riverside, lead a team of researchers that investigated the connections between life success, well-being and desirable personal characteristics.

After reviewing 225 previous studies involving over 275,000 people they concluded happy people are generally more successful, both personally and professionally. In most cases, the happiness came first.

“When people feel happy, they tend to feel confident, optimistic, and energetic and others find them likable and sociable. Happy people are thus able to benefit from these perceptions,” says Professor Lyubomirsky.

Here are 10 reasons happiness will help you in your work:

1. People feel more comfortable confiding in you.

2. People are more likely to follow your recommendations.

3. You find yourself a source of material comfort or security for someone else.

4. People whom you’ve introduced often want to have a continuing relationship.

5. People drift toward you, join a conversation that you’re having, and sit down next to you at a meeting.

6. You are more likely to be involved in the improvement or growth of an organization, group, or process that involves many other people.

7. You are likely providing opportunities for other people – job leads, blind dates, contacts in a new city, and so on.

8. People whom you hardly remember will go out of their way to greet you warmly.

9. People seem to want to connect with you — by making plans or by e-mailing, calling, or texting.

10. People seem energized by you.