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Making Positive Psychology Work

If you believe as we do that by uncovering tested, practical ways to help people move from functioning to flourishing at work, we can better navigate the incredible challenges and opportunities our world faces, then this podcast is for you. Our goal each week is to give you access to the world’ leading positive psychology, positive organizational scholarship and neuroscience researchers and practitioners to explore their latest research findings on how you can improve wellbeing, develop strengths, nurture positive relationships, make work meaningful and cultivate the grit to accomplish what matters most. If you want evidence-based approaches to bringing out the best in yourself and others at work, then consider this podcast your step-by-step guide.
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Now displaying: 2017
Dec 21, 2017

Reb Rebele is the Research Director for Wharton People Analytics, and teaches in the Masters in Applied Positive Psychology Programme at the University of Pennsylvania. Reb's research, writing and consulting projects bring behavioral science and research into the world of work, to drive better employee experiences and organizational outcomes.

Today we're talking to Reb about why being a 'giver' at work can backfire and cause you to hurt the very people you want to help and burn yourself out in the process.  Discover what drives giving behaviors at work, the practical steps you can take to be a self-protective giver and what leaders can do to create their dream team of reciprocity approaches.

Connect with Reb Rebele:

Website: www.rebrebele.com

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You’ll Learn:

  • [01:44] - Reb explains how helpfulness creates value in the workplace.
  • [03:21] -  Reb talks about how giving too much can be draining and counter-productive.
  • [08:05] - Reb discusses the generosity spectrum that he calls 'reciprocity style' - that includes takers, matchers & givers.
  • [11:37] - Reb explores how personality styles, beliefs and mindsets might drive these behaviors.
  • [14:15] - Reb shares the habits of highly effective giving, including how you can perform small five minute favors.
  • [19:31] - Reb talks about how leaders can build dream teams of reciprocity styles.
  • [23:48] - Lightning round with Reb Rebele

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!  Thank you Reb!

Dec 14, 2017

Amy Wrzesniewski is a Professor of organizational behavior at the Yale School of Management. For almost two decades, her research has focused on how people make meaning of their work in challenging work contexts or conditions Her findings have been published in a wide range of top academic journals, and highlighted in several best-selling books and popular press outlets, including Forbes, Time, Business Week, Harvard Business Review, U.S. News and World Report, The Economist, as well as bestselling books such as Drive by Daniel Pink, The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor, Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman, and The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler.

Do you wish you had more meaning in your work?  Amy explains how you can craft your job, whatever your role and status, to find more meaning in what you do each day at work.  She also shares practical tips for leaders to create an environment that encourages job crafting among employees to help them feel more proactive, engaged and productive at work.

Connect with Amy Wrzensieski:

Website: www.jobcrafting.org

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You’ll Learn:

  • [02:10] - Amy defines job crafting.
  • [04:02] - Amy explains the value of meaning in our work, including how it affects our job choices, longevity of a particular role, and peoples perception of their careers.
  • [07:32] - Amy gives examples of how leaders can support job crafting for employees.
  • [09:46] - Amy suggests ways people can create more meaning in their own work.
  • [12:58] - Amy discusses the latest findings and developments in job crafting.

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!  Thank you Amy!

Dec 7, 2017

Christopher Kukk is a Professor of Political Science and Social Science at Western Connecticut State University, the Founding Director for the Centre for Compassion, Creativity and Innovation, the author of the Compassionate Achiever, and the co-host of the Compassionate Achiever Podcast. Chris’ research and publications combine neuroscience with the social sciences and focus on education issues, the political economy of natural resources, and the creation and sustainability of civil society. Chris was also a counterintelligence agent for the United States Army, and is regularly featured in the media for his analysis on a wide range of topics and issues.

Today Chris explains the neurological differences between empathy and compassion and why compassion may be the key to success in workplaces. He also shares his simple four step approach to creating more compassion and ways this can be practically be applied in workplaces.

Connect with Chris Kukk:

Website: http://chriskukk.com/

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:16] - Chris explains the difference between empathy and compassion
  • [05:51] - Chris discusses the complications of empathy and why it can lead to burn out.
  • [07:09] - Chris talks about how compassion leads to success personally and professionally.
  • [11:10] - Chris gives an example to show how kindness is a precursor to compassion and how this can help us to be more effective givers.
  • [12:42] - Chris lists the 4 steps for cultivating compassion (LUCA) - 'listen to learn', 'understanding to know', 'connect to capabilities' and 'act to solve'.
  • [19:19] - Chris explains how to teach these skills in workplaces.
  • [25:10] - Lightning round with Chris Kukk

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!  Thank you Chris!

Nov 30, 2017

Jennifer Moss is a researcher, Co-founder of Plasticity Labs, and a member of the Workplace Happiness Group at the United Nations Global Happiness Council. She is considered to be a Workplace Culture Expert and Thought Leader on the topic of happiness and emotional intelligence, and is author of the bestselling book Unlocking Happiness at Work.

In this conversation, Jen guides us through the seven traits that enable happy and high performing employees and offers simple happiness hacks any workplace can use to help improve people's wellbeing.  She also cautions us about the happiness inhibitors that can bring us unstuck and why being happy at work doesn't mean avoiding stress or sadness.

Connect with Jennifer Moss:

Website: https://plasticitylabs.com/

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:38] - Jen discusses the traits needed for people to be happy and effective at work.
  • [07:27] - Jen talks about how paying attention to the little things can have a big impact on productivity.
  • [10:27] - Jen explains how you can utilize technology to better engage with staff, and learn what's happening in the workplace.
  • [12:12] - Jen talks about the three R's of building habits and why habits don't get created in 21 days.
  • [14:45] - Jen gives examples of how to create habits that help improve wellbeing.
  • [19.21] - Jen explains how to make changes at work a more positive experience.
  • [21:44] - The lightning round with Jennifer Moss

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!  Thank you Jen!

Nov 23, 2017

Gabrielle Kelly is the SAHMRI Wellbeing and Resilience Centre's inaugural director. Gabe is a filmmaker, digital media executive, social entrepreneur and strategist, who has worked on human behaviour and systems change in a range of settings, including the groundbreaking Adelaide Thinkers in Residence Programme, where she commissioned and led the residency of professor Martin Seligman in South Australia in an effort to build mental wellbeing and resilience and reduce mental illness at a societal level. 

In this conversation, Gabe takes us inside the amazing work being done across the state of South Australia to help an entire population flourish.  She explains the PERMA PLUS dashboard and measure they have created to build a common language for resilience and wellbeing and walks us through the LIMBE approach they have created for embedding systems change.

 

Connect with Gabrielle Kelly:

Website: http://www.wellbeingandresilience.com/

You’ll Learn:

  • [01:55] - Gabe shares how she convinced an entire State to invest in improving the wellbeing and resilience of its population.
  • [05:10] - Gabe walks us through how she's learned to deal with the cynics of positive psychology and wellbeing approaches.
  • [08:18] - Gabe explains the PERMA PLUS model the State has adopted to education and measure wellbeing and resilience.
  • [13:58] - Gabe shares the LIMBE approach they have created to help implement systems change.
  • [20:44] - Gabe provides a real life example of using positive psychology and resilience training to deliver wellbeing, resilience and bottom line results to help closing car manufacturers.
  • [28:11] - The Lightning Round with Gabrielle Kelly

 

  • Your Resources:

 

Nov 16, 2017

Fred Bryant is Professor of Social Psychology at Loyola University in Chicago, where he teaches on Social Psychology, Personality Statistics, and Research Methods. Fred has won numerous teaching awards.  He has produced more than 200 professional publications in Psychology, has presented over 150 papers at professional conferences around the world, and given numerous invited addresses and workshops at many prominent universities.  Fred is best known for his work on savoring, on which he has conducted cross-cultural investigations in a variety of Eastern and Western cultures. 

In this discussion, you will hear Fred talk about the practice of savoring and the impact it has on your wellbeing.  Fred summarizes the research on savoring, the process by which savoring works, practical ways we can introduce more savoring into workplaces and cautions for where savoring may go wrong. He also explains why women are generally better at savoring than men!

Connect with Fred Bryant:

Website: bryant.socialpsychology.org

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:00] - Fred’s research shows that we don’t always make the most out of the positive experiences. He explains why this is the case. 
  • [03:34] - Fred shares what his studies show about the impact of savoring on our wellbeing.
  • [06:29] - Fred describes the benefits of savoring in the workplace.
  • [09:32] - Fred explains that if happiness and joy are outcomes, then savoring is the process through which they are achieved, and exactly how this process works.
  • [10:42] - Fred shares what it might look like if we apply this model of savoring to our everyday lives.
  • [12:23] - Savoring doesn’t need to just be about the present. Fred explains how time impacts our ability to savor through reminiscence.
  • [15:33] - Fred talks about the difference between savoring in the moment and mindfulness.
  • [18:09] - Fred shares what his research has shown about gender differences in savoring.
  • [20:46] - Celebrating success is a double-edged sword. Fred cautions avoiding excessive celebration.
  • [22:09] - The Lightning Round with Fred Bryant. 

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!  Thank you Fred.

 

Nov 9, 2017

Jessica Amortegui is the Senior Director of Learning and Development at Logitech. Logitech were the winners of the 2016 Positive Business Project Competition, presented by the Center for Positive Organizations at The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. Logitech designs personal peripherals, and they connect customers to their digital experiences. They are recognized for their work in creating community, where it’s employees are invigorated by the work that they do each day. Jessica has spent many years studying, writing about, and applying the practices of positive psychology and positive organizational scholarship.

In this conversation, you will hear Jessica share how Logitech is helping its employees use their strengths intelligently at work. She talks about the changes the company has seen from individuals completing the VIA Survey, using job crafting and participating in the free online strengths challenge and explains how Logitech is taking the next step of helping people discover the fears that get in the way of them using their strengths effectively at work.

Connect with Jessica Amortegui:

Website - JessicaAmortegui.com

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:30] - Jessica tells us what Logitech is doing to helping people put their strengths to work each day.
  • [06:02] - Recently, hundreds of Logitech employees joined us for the free online strengths challenge. Jessica talks about the change that has been seen from individuals picking one strength to work on.
  • [07:46] - Jessica talks about how Logitech is taking things one step further with strengths by looking at the fears that get in the way of using our strengths intelligently.
  • [10:44] - Jessica provides some examples of things that are holding people back from being able to embrace their strengths at work.
  • [15:05] - Jessica shares information on creating a safe environment for people to have more authentic conversatioins about their strengths.
  • [17:40] - Getting leaders prepared to support people after the workshops is vital. Jessica explains how she is doing this.
  • [19:18] - The Lightning Round with Jessica Amortegui

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!  Thank you Jessica!

Nov 2, 2017

Robert McGrath is Professor of Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University.  He is also a Senior Scientist at the VIA Institute on Character, program evaluator for Thriving Learning Community, a character development program implemented in fifty middle schools around the United States, and Director of Integrated Care for the Underserved of Northeast New Jersey.  

In this conversation, you will hear Robert talk about the exciting work he is doing with various assessments at the VIA Institute.  He shares the latest tools and insights to assess and understand character strengths and explains how these can help you to bring out the best in yourself and others at work.

 

Connect with Robert McGrath:

Website:  http://fdu-psych.com/mcgrath

You’ll Learn:

  • [01:53] -Bob explains how you can use your character strengths at work.
  • [04:53] - Bob shares how understand the rankings of their character strengths in the VIA survey and what this means practically for developing our strengths.
  • [9:01] - Bob talks about the recent research on the overuse and underuse of our strengths and how this impacts our ability to flourish at work.
  • [10:44] - Bob shares how character strengths are being used to assist in clinical diagnosis.
  • [13:20] - Bob talks about the new Global Assessment of Character Strengths and how this can help people to identify the strengths they find essential to their identity.
  • [18:00] - Bob shares the new Signature Strengths Survey and talks about how this can be used to gather 360 degree feedback.
  • [19:40] - Bob has been working on re-examining the character strengths virtue groupings and why new studies suggest there are three, rather than six virtues.
  • [24:16] - The Lightning Round with Robert McGrath

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!

Oct 26, 2017

Linda Robson is a scholar practitioner, blending work in executive education with consulting and coaching around the elevation of organizations and the individuals who work within them.  Linda received her Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University.  She studied with David Cooperrider and Ron Frey.  She is an advisor at the Fowler Center for Sustainable Value. Linda also helped write The Flourishing Enterprise: The New Spirit of Business

In this conversation, you will hear Linda share her fascinating research on the language used by high performing teams and why the words we speak impact the results we are able to achieve particularly in organizational change programs. Linda also shares while simply being more positive is not enough, why we need to acknowledge the sense of loss that any change in our workplaces can bring and the practical things leaders can do to use language to improve people's wellbeing at work.

 Connect with Linda Robson:

Email - Linda.Robson@Case.edu

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:20] - Linda explains why Professor David Cooperrider believes her research will be so influential in helping organizations navigate change.
  • [04:23] - Linda defines and describes mirror flourishing.
  • [06:55] - Linda shares why language plays such a large role in our interactions with each other and our willingness to embrace and act upon change.
  • [07:48] - Linda talks about what positive and negative language sounds like, in the workplace.
  • [09:07] - Linda explains that the use of positive language is a missed opportunity.
  • [12:18] - Linda shares what we can do to help leaders be more strategic in their language.
  • [14:40] - Linda talks about the idea of some forms of negative language being helpful with change in workplaces.
  • [20:20] - Linda explains what a flourishing enterprise looks like.
  • [22:56] - The Lightning Round with Linda Robson.

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post. 

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!

 

Oct 19, 2017

Anna Box is a psychologist, story strategist, and founder of Screen and Soul, where she delivers film and thriving workshops, designed to deliver evidence-based well-being and performance psychology, all while feeling like a day at the movies.  In all she does, Anna mashes the art of story with the science of thriving.   

Connect with Anna Box:

Anna Box on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabox/

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:55] - Anna explains how to fuse storytelling and thriving in workplaces.
  • [04:45] - Anna talks about the role of Joseph Campbell’s “Hero's Journey Approach” in storytelling.
  • [06:05] - Anna describes how she’s teaching leaders to improve thriving in workplaces by helping them understand more about the hero’s journey.
  • [10:30] - Anna shares cautions about using film to teach wellbeing and how to protect from those things.
  • [17:02] - Anna shares that the neuroscience of stories work.
  • [18:14] - Anna discusses teaching leaders how to tell stories that might help to improve their people’s wellbeing.
  • [20:12] - The Lightning Round with Anna Box.

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!

Oct 12, 2017

Scott Barry Kaufman is an author, researcher, speaker, and public science communicator. He is interested in using psychological science to help all kinds of minds live a creative, fulfilling, and meaningful life. Scott is a professor of positive psychology at The University of Pennsylvania. His research has been featured in The Atlantic, Scientific American, Psychology Today, and the Harvard Business Review, just to name a few of the many publications.  Scott is the host of The Psychology Podcast, which I highly recommend listening to.

In this conversation, you will hear Scott talk about creativity in the workplace. While creativity can be messy, and organizations typically don’t like “mess,” Scott explains how a “no agenda zone”, openness to new experiences, opportunities for awe and other leadership behaviors can improve people's creativity.  We also explore the psychological tools of growth mindsets, git and self-compassion that may be needed to support creative risk taking.  shares some ways we can improve our creativity at work.

Connect with Scott Barry Kaufman:

Website: ScottBarryKaufman.com
Podcast: The Psychology Podcast

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:26] - Creativity is messy and organizations typically don’t like a mess.  Scott explains how they can embrace creativity by embracing uncertainty.
  • [05:10] - Scott discusses the relationship between positive emotion and the creative process.
  • [07:42] - Scott talks about the latest in the neuroscience of creativity.  He talks about the importance of “the imagination network.”
  • [09:14] - Scott shares way researchers are finding can improve our creativity at work.
  • [11:20] - Scott explains how awe can impact our creativity.
  • [13:46] - Scott talks about how unusual environments can foster creativity, and what organizations and leaders can do to create weird experiences.
  • [16:15] - Scott talks about the psychological skills of growth mindsets and self-compassion that enables us to take creative risks.
  • [17:20] - The Lightning Round with Scott Barry Kaufman.

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!

Oct 5, 2017

Dr. Suzy Green is a coaching and clinical psychologist and founder of the Positivity Institute, a positively deviant organization dedicated to the research and application of positive psychology for life, school, and work.  She also holds a number of honorary academic positions at The Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, The Australian Catholic University, The Graduate School of Education at The University of Melbourne, and The Black Dog Institute. Her work has been published in articles around the world.

In this conversation, you will hear Suzy share the research on why cultivating positive emotions matter when it comes to our performance and wellbeing at work.  Suzy shares the practical things employees, leaders and organizations can do to improve mood in workplaces and how to implement these approaches at a systems level.

 

Connect with Suzy Green:

Website - http://thepositivityinstitute.com.au

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:00] - Suzy and I recently had the opportunity to work together on researching and writing a chapter for the new Handbook of the Psychology of Positivity and Strengths-Based Approaches to Work.  Suzy shares what stood out to her in this research.
  • [04:17] - There has been a lot of debate about measuring positivity ratios as a way to assess our wellbeing. Suzy shares the advice that she gives her clients about that approach.
  • [06:16] - Suzy explains the importance of self-awareness when it comes to managing our moods.  
  • [08:38] - If you are looking to boost your heart-felt positivity, Suzy gives you her go-to activities.
  • [09:56] - Suzy shares some advice if you are in a leadership role and trying to boost positivity within your team.
  • [12:03] - Suzy provides some advice to companies wanting to implement these ideas in authentic ways.
  • [14:50] - Suzy talks about helping organizations go beyond training with these practices.
  • [21:01] - Suzy shares what sees as the most compelling parts of the business case at the moment, based on research.
  • [25:05] - The Lightning Round with Suzy Green

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!

Sep 29, 2017

BJ Fogg is an experimental psychologist who directs the behavior design lab at Stanford University.  He is renowned for creating breakthrough methods for changing human behavior. These methods are called, “Tiny Habits.”  Fortune Magazine has named BJ one of the 10 New Gurus You Should Know.

In this conversation, you will hear BJ talk about the tiny habits method.  He explains how small behavior changes are easier to implement and sustain when it comes to creating lasting positive changes.  He shares the three simple steps you can take to make tiny habits part of your daily wellbeing routine.

Connect with BJ Fogg:

Website: TinyHabits.com

You’ll Learn:

  • [01:29] - BJ talks about his research on making positive behaviors stick.
  • [02:09] - BJ explains what a “tiny habit” is and how it works.
  • [04:12] - BJ describes how he used the tiny habits method with daily pushups.
  • [06:19] - BJ talks about our brains adapting to tiny habits.
  • [07:23] - In case the habit isn’t “taking.” BJ shares how to tweak the recipe.
  • [10:26] - BJ explains that simplicity lies at the heart of behavior change.
  • [13:35] - BJ tells us why celebration is important to help behavior changes continue.
  • [18:34] - BJ shares how his newest research is looking to uncover super tiny ha bits that have the biggest impact on our wellbeing.

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!

Sep 22, 2017

Dr. Richard Davidson is the William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry and the Director of The Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, both at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a renowned neuroscientist and one of the world’s leading experts on the impact of contemplative practices, such as meditation on the brain. He is perhaps best known for his groundbreaking work on the study of emotions in the brain. This conversation with Dr. Richard Davidson was recorded live at the 2014 World Congress on Positive Psychology.  This recording has never been played before on our podcast.  

In this conversation, you will hear Richard share what neuroscientists are discovering about ways to train our brains to improve wellbeing through small daily practices.

Connect with Richard Davidson:

Websites:

http://richardjdavidson.com
http://investigatinghealthyminds.org

You’ll Learn:

  • [01:38] -  Richard shares what the latest neuroscience research shows in the area of ways to improve wellbeing.
  • [03:10] - Richard explains that wellbeing can be improved with practice. He talks about practices when it comes to improving wellbeing.
  • [05:30] - Richard recommends that people start implementing these practices gradually.
  • [6:26] - Richard encourages you to go to InvestigatingHealthyMinds.org and download the Compassion Meditation Practice.
  • [07:02] - Mindfulness-based stress reduction is another excellent place to start, according to Richard.
  • [07:41] - Richard explains how gratitude practices can help train our brains.
  • [09:30] - Richard says that turning behaviors into habits is an effective way to embed these practices, neurologically.
  • [11:37] - Richard describes some of the newer research now underway to understand how we can train our brains for wellbeing.

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!

Sep 15, 2017

Lindsay Oades is the director and an associate professor at The Center for Positive Psychology at The University of Melbourne, where he oversees the masters of applied psychology program.  Lindsey’s study and application of wellbeing ranges from individuals, mental health systems, educational institutions, workplaces and liveable cities. He has published over 100 journal articles and books chapters on these topics.  He is the co-editor of the International Journal of Wellbeing and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board at the Institute of Coaching at Harvard University.

In this conversation, you will hear Lindsay shares some of the latest findings on how wellbeing practices can improve organizational performance.  He also explains why focusing on improving individual wellbeing alone is not enough, and why we need to also address wellbeing at the team and organizational level and how we can approach this in workplaces. 

Connect with Lindsay Oades:

LindsayOades.com  
Wiley.com  
education.unimelb.edu.au/cpp

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:38] - Lindsay shares why he believes organizations are struggling to capitalize on the growing evidence about how wellbeing practices impact workplaces.
  • [03:59] - Lindsay talks about the individual approaches for applying positive psychology at work.
  • [06:09] - Lindsay explains why cultivating happy workers is overstated.
  • [08:03] - Lindsay shares the importance of improving wellbeing at team levels and how this can be addressed.
  • [14:30] - Lindsay talks about how organizational practices and policies and enable or restrict workplace wellbeing.
  • [16:27] - Lindsay shares the advice he is currently giving to leaders about improving wellbeing at a systemic level.
  • [20:33] - Lindsey explains why wellbeing literacy matters in workplaces.
  • [22:22] - The Lightning Round with Lindsay Oades.

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!

Sep 8, 2017

Emilia Lahti is a researcher and social activist whose life mission is to be a catalyst for human connection, compassion, and nonviolence.  She has given talks at Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Tedx, as well as at Singularity University at NASA Ames, where she studied futurism and exponential technology.  Her work has been featured in the New Yorker, Business Insider, and Forbes, among others.

In this conversation, Emilia shares her research on sisu,an ancient Finnish construct that describes what enables you to endure the toughest of life’s situations and take extraordinary action against seemingly impossible odds.  Emilia explains how we might be able to cultivate more sisu and why it can help us to exceed our own expectations and discover what we're really capable of.

Connect with Emilia Lahti:

Website: http://emilialahti.com

http://sisunotsilence.com

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:01] - Emilia explains that sisu is a latent inner-power and the difference between sisu, resilience and grit.
  • [05:49] - Emilia addresses the question if sisu is something we are born with or is cultivated.
  • [06:52] - Emila explains what an action mindset is and how it relates to sisu.  
  • [08:33] - Emila talks about what she is learning about our latent power to exceed our own expectations.
  • [13:51] - Emilia shares why sisu is not a solo endeavor.
  • [17:29] - Emilia explains her “Sisu Not Silence” movement and how she hopes to run the length of New Zealand to end the silence on interpersonal violence.
  • [21:39] - Emilia defines the dark sisu zone and what to do if you find yourself there.

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing. Thank you Emilia.

Until next time, take care!

Sep 8, 2017

Emilia Lahti is a researcher and social activist whose life mission is to be a catalyst for human connection, compassion, and nonviolence.  She has given talks at Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Tedx, as well as at Singularity University at NASA Ames, where she studied futurism and exponential technology.  Her work has been featured in the New Yorker, Business Insider, and Forbes, among others.

In this conversation, you will hear Emilia explain Sisu, which I describe as my reserve tank of motivation and energy in those moments when I’m up against something. Sisu exists in the presence of some sort of adversity. As humans, we tend to shy away from things that are difficult, but Sisu allows us to exceed ourselves.

Connect with Emilia Lahti:

Website: http://emilialahti.com

http://sisunotsilence.com

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:01] - Emilia explains that Sisu is a latent inner-power and she explains the difference between Sisu and power or grit.
  • [05:07] - Emilia says that Sisu is a universal capability with all humans.
  • [05:49] - Emilia addresses the question if Sisu is something we are born with or is cultivated.
  • [06:52] - Emila explains what an action mindset is and how it relates to Sisu.  
  • [08:33] - Emila talks about what she is learning about latent power.
  • [11:46] - Emilia shares what we can do for ourselves with Sisu.
  • [13:51] - Emilia provides with another way that we can cultivate Sisu.
  • [17:29] - Emilia explains “Sisu Not Silence” and how she plans to change culture through this venture.
  • [21:39] - Emilia defines the “Dark Sisu Zone.”

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care! Thank you Emilia.

Sep 1, 2017

Mathew White is an award-winning educator who brings a unique combination of a deep academic background in well-being with executive level leadership experience across education, public, and social sectors.  Mathew is the Director of Wellbeing and Positive Education at St. Peter’s College. He is an Associate Professor in the graduate school of education at the University of Melbourne.

In this conversation, you will hear Mathew talk about the new book he recently edited, "Future Directions In Wellbeing" and the ground-breaking ways positive psychology can be applied in workplaces and schools.  He also shares some of the gaps he encourages all wellbeing researchers and practitioners to be thinking about.

 

Connect with Matthew White:

Website: http://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/display/person174409#tab-overview

Twitter: @Mathew_WhitePhD

You’ll Learn:

  • [01:45] -Mathew shares the three big a-ha moments for him as he reviewed the essays on the future on wellbeing for the book.
  • [04:19] - Mathew discusses the idea of well-being models in schools and parenting.
  • [07:13] - Mathew talks about how organizations can improve wellbeing.
  • [09:32] - Mathew shares how positive psychology is being integrated into the human resource practices at St. Peter’s College.
  • [11:18] - Mathew explains how St. Peter’s College is maintaining the momentum of wellbeing practices after seven years of implementation.
  • [13:46] - Mathew talks about wellbeing literacy in workplaces.  
  • [16:03] - Mathew lists a few gaps in the field of wellbeing.
  • [18:00] - The Lightning Round with Mathew White

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!

Aug 25, 2017

Dr. Ryan Niemiec is a leading figure in the education, research, and practice of character strengths that are found in all human beings. He is Education Director of the VIA Institute on Character, a global, nonprofit organization.  He is an award-winning psychologist and adjunct professor at Xavier University, an annual instructor at The University of Pennsylvania.  He is a frequent speaker and workshop leader on positive psychology topics around the world. His latest book is Character Strengths Interventions: A Field Guide for Practitioners.

In this conversation, you will hear Ryan talk about how your character strengths are the fuel that makes our other strengths rise. Ryan talks about ways to identify and develop your strengths at work each day and the behavioral traps that can bring your strengths unstuck.

Connect with Ryan:

Websites:  http://www.ryanniemiec.com and http://viacharacter.org

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:12] - Ryan starts the conversation by explaining what a strength is.
  • [03:36] - Over 5 million people have measured their strengths by using the wonderful VIA Character Survey.
  • [04:24] - Ryan talks about The Power Zone of Strengths.
  • [07:35] - Ryan explains what he has found around subsets of our character strengths.  
  • [10:39] - Ryan discusses the idea of taking middle strengths and moving them up.  
  • [14:38] - Ryan selects three of his favorite strengths and interventions from his latest book.  He talks about subtract signature strength, appreciation, and alignment.
  • [21:00] - In his book, Ryan shares behavioral traps around developing our strengths.  He shares some words of caution. He talks about trying to immediately apply a concept and the need to be flexible in this work.
  • [23:35] - The Lightning Round with Ryan Niemiec.

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care! Thanks for joining us today Ryan!

Aug 18, 2017

Elise Morris is a positive psychology practitioner, and Director of People and Culture at Swisse Wellness, who were recently recognized by the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business as a global example of excellence for their work in whole person wellness.  Elise believes wholeheartedly that other people matter, and when we live and lead from this perspective, we can unlock ours and others ability to thrive and flourish.  . 

Would you like to implement a comprehensive wellbeing program to take people from functioning to flourishing in your organization?  Elise explains the programs and initiatives Swisse Wellness are implementing as part of their whole person wellness program. These come under three pillars – movement, nutrition and mindfulness.  Hear about the successes, and her hopes for further integrating the program within the organization.

Connect with Elise Morris: 

Website - StillNorth.com.au

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:08] - Elise shares why Swiss Wellness won an award at the 2017 Positive Business Project Conference.
  • [04:40] - Elise explains the growing business case to improve wellbeing at work.
  • [06:56] - Elise talks about getting past our own biases and understanding where someone else is coming from.
  • [08:23] - Elise shares the tools and practices in their program.
  • [10:20] - Elise explains how they are considering how to take a more systems perspective.
  • [13:04] - Elise discusses performance and contribution.
  • [14:17] - Elise shares how they measure the impact of their program.
  • [15:49] - Elise talks about gender and buy-in with the practices.
  • [17:31] - Elise shares a challenge they have faced with rolling out this program.
  • [19:18] - Elise provides advice to others who are thinking about rolling out a similar program.
  • [20:23] - Elise talks about scaling this program for working across multiple markets.
  • [22:55] - The Lightning Round with Elise Morris

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through Stitcher.

No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!

Aug 11, 2017

Amy Blankson is one of the world’s leading experts on the connection between positive psychology and technology. Amy is the only person to be named “a point of light” by two Presidents for creating a movement to activate positive culture change. She has worked with government agencies and large companies to help foster a sense of well-being in the digital era.  

In this conversation, you will hear Amy talk about how technology is  positively and negatively impacting our wellbeing at work. Amy explains how our obsession with smart phones is wearing us out, how to be intelligent and deliberate in the way we use devices and the wearable technology that can actually help to improve our wellbeing.   

Connect with Amy Blankson: 

You’ll Learn: 

  • [02:01] - Amy explains why she believes that technology is the biggest disruptor of happiness in human history. 
  • [04:13] - Amy shares her thoughts where technology is taking us when considering the way we work and our wellbeing.   
  • [06:49] - Amy encourages us to consider our intentions when it comes to technology.   
  • [09:30] - Amy talks about an experiment she is currently working on, which involves the frequency of checking an email inbox.  
  • [11:39] - Amy shares some advice on how to set other people’s expectations based on our intentions.  
  • [14:04] - Amy provides us with some statistics on our technology use and its impact on our productivity.  
  • [16:30] - Amy talks about how this conversation may change the expectations managers put on employees. 
  • [19:15] - Amy explains what digital citizenship means and the practices we need to use to role model good behavior.  
  • [21:16] - Amy talks about her current favorite wearable, The Muse Headband. 
  • [23:03] - The Lightning Round with Amy Blankson 

Your Resources: 

Thanks for listening! 

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.   

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free! 

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing. 

Until next time, take care!  

Aug 4, 2017

Jon Berghoff is a co-founder and managing partner of The Flourishing Leadership Institute. He has designed and facilitated whole system change efforts through large group collaborative summits for businesses and institutions of all sizes.  His work on appreciative leadership, emotionally intelligent negotiating, and influence has taken him to Australia, Japan, the UK, and Australia. Jon is the official design and facilitation partner for the 4th Global Forum for Business as an Agent of Well Benefit.

In this conversation, you will hear Jon share his knowledge and experience in appreciative inquiry.  He discusses the idea of an appreciative inquiry summit and provides some example of productive summits.  Jon explains how to bring appreciative inquiry into our daily lives and small groups, as well as larger groups and organizations.  Jon shares how micro moments can influence macro movements.

Connect with Jon Berghoff:

Website - http://lead2flourish.com
Jon Berghoff Ted Talk

You’ll Learn:

  • [01:54] - Jon shares what he has discovered unleashes our ability to come alive, be at our best, play to our strengths, innovate from everywhere, and deepen our sense of purpose.
  • [02:42] - Jon describes what an appreciative inquiry summit is.
  • [03:42] - Jon shares his definition of appreciative inquiry.
  • [04:53] - Jon provides an example of an appreciative inquiry summit.
  • [09:50] - Jon talks about his work with the city of Cleveland.  
  • [12:58] - Jon shares his thoughts on when an appreciative inquiry summit is an appropriate tool.
  • [19:43] - Jon explains why he views appreciative inquiry as a tool.
  • [25:19] - The Lightning Round with Jon Berghoff.

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Special thanks to Jon for joining us this week. Until next time, take care!

Jul 28, 2017

Adam Grant  is a leading expert on how we can find motivation and meaning, and live more generous and creative lives. He has been recognized as one of the world’s 25 most influential management thinkers, is the author of three New York Times best-selling books, and his TED Talks have been viewed more than 8-million times.

In this conversation, you will hear Adam explain how our beliefs about our relationships at work shape the success we are able to achieve.  Adam walks us through his research on givers, takers and matchers and what organizations can do to cultivate giving cultures.  He also explains how to deal with takers, the value of disagreeable givers and the small practices you can try to be an effective giver.

 

Connect with Adam Grant:

Website - http://AdamGrant.net

You’ll Learn:

 

  • [02:02] - Adam shares what advice he gives the organizations on how to lead and manage people better.
  • [03:23] - Adam talks about the importance of organization rewarding the right people through measuring others-focused behaviors and results.  
  • [05:51] - Adam shares his thoughts on dealing with “takers” in an organization and bringing out the positive qualities in these individuals.
  • [09:55] - Adam explains how to be a thoughtful giver within an organization.
  • [13:56] - Adam cites that doing 5-minute favors at work raises your job satisfaction. He goes on to explain that the receivers of those favors pay back at 278%.
  • [16:00] - Adam shares his thoughts on why self-compassion is important to help set boundaries and say “no” so we can be more effective givers.  
  • [17:46] - Adam explains how his opinions have changed on the topic of needing takers in an organization.
  • [20:56] - Adam recently found that the most important driver of engagement at work was pride in the company.
  • [23:31] - The Lightning Round with Adam Grant.

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Special thanks to Adam for joining us this week. Until next time, take care!

 

Jul 21, 2017

Shane was one of the world's leading researchers on hope and was also a senior scientist and research director at The Clifton Strengths Institute, where he explored the links between hope, strengths development, academic success, and overall well-being. For me, one of the most magical moments of this year’s World Congress on Positive Psychology was the chance to honor, savor, and build upon the research of Dr. Shane Lopez. I first met Shane at a World Congress years ago, and he was generous enough to allow me to interview him on several occasions.

To give you a chance to savor Shane’s insight, I thought you might enjoy this interview, which was recorded prior to his death.  Shane explains how using your strengths - those things you are good at and enjoy doing -  can help you be more engaged in what you do each day at work.  And when managers shift their thinking to a more strengths based approach that encourages each person to do what they do best they can make a big difference in engagement, profitability and productivity. Learn how to identify your strengths, how these can change over time, and what you can do to develop yours and others strengths.

You’ll Learn:

  • [01:45] - Shane shares his journey with strengths.  He talks about the work of Don Clifton at the University of Nebraska.
  • [04:00] - Shane explains what a talent is and how they grow into strengths.
  • [05:58] - In the workplace, we focus on weaknesses and try to “fix” those deficits rather than helping individuals find the right role.  Shane states how Don focused on talents on finding the roles for people based on those roles.
  • [07:20] - Shane shares that our talents are not static over time, but they don’t change a lot.  
  • [09:05] - Shane talks about Clifton Strengths Finder.  
  • [11:57] - Shane discusses the difference in strengths between entrepreneurs and those working within organizations.
  • [12:23] - If you have taken the strengths finder, Shane suggests you team up with someone else that has taken the assessment.
  • [13:49] - Shane talks about how a workplace can be transformed by catching people doing great work and providing quality feedback.
  • [15:57] - Shane talks about the 70% of disengagement in the workplace. Managers are not exempt from this lack of engagement.
  • [17:33] - Shane shares what managers do to help employees use their strengths at work.
  • [19:47] - Shane talks about the changes of strengths in college students and how that will eventually change the culture of workplaces.
  • [20:48] - Shane speaks about seeing strength development at the preschool level.

Your Resources:

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post. 

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Vale Shane Lopez. Until next time, take care!

 

Jul 14, 2017

Richard Ryan is a professor at the Institute for Positive Psychology in Education at the Australian Catholic University. He is also a research professor of Psychology at the University of Rochester in New York. Rich is a clinical psychologist and co-developer of self-determination theory, one of the leading theories of human motivation. With over 300 papers and books in the areas of human motivation and personality and psychological well-being, he is among the most cited and influential researchers in psychology and social sciences.

In this conversation, Rich discusses how we can motivate ourselves and others at work and what we can do practically to cultivate autonomy, competence and relatedness.  He also explains the motivational pull of games and shares how elements within games can be used to improve wellbeing.

Connect with Rich Ryan:
Rich's Website

You’ll Learn:

  • [01:53] - Many organizations still struggle with motivating individuals to do their best work. Rich shares his findings in what actually works.
  • [02:41] - Rich explains why many organizations struggle with implementing strategies based on his findings.
  • [03:54] - Rich shares some of the factors his research finds are important for leaders to be able to enable in team members.
  • [05:10] - Rich explains why there are fundamental needs for flourishing.
  • [06:39] - Rich describes how neuropsychology is adding to his understanding of what motivates us.
  • [08:03] - Rich shares some outcomes leaders can expect if they make these changes.
  • [09:47] - Rich talks about how to teach leaders to be more autonomy supportive of their employees.
  • [10:53] - Rich shares that he has been inspired by the rise of the executive coaching culture.
  • [12:00] - Rich talks about the balance of incentives without undermining motivation.
  • [14:01] - Rich wrote a book on the motivational pull of games and he discusses the elements of games that can be utilized in workplaces. He also explains why gamification can be bad for organizations.
  • [18:04] - Rich talks about new health programs that use incentives to encourage behavior changes.
  • [20:19] - Rich talks about the importance of change in the process.
  • [21:26] - The Lightning Round with Rich Ryan

Your Resources:

Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness - Richard Ryan and Edward Deci
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us - Daniel Pink
Glued to Games: How Video Games Draw Us In and Hold Us Spellbound - Scott Rigby and Richard Ryan
7 Minute Workout
Primed to Perform: How to Build the Highest Performing Cultures Through the Science of Total Motivation - Neel Doshi and Lindsay McGregor

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post. 

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Special thanks to Rich for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

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