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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: February, 2017
Feb 23, 2017

Martin Seligman is a leading authority in the fields of positive psychology, resilience, learned helplessness, depression, optimism, and pessimism.  He is the director of the Penn Positive Psychology Center, the Penn Master of Applied Positive Psychology program. 

In this conversation, you will hear Martin share what he would like attendees to take away from his presentation at the 5th World Congress on Positive Psychology.  He talks about changes he is seeing with governments as they implement positive psychology practices.  Martin believes well-being should be one of the principle goals of political policy around the world.  

Martin also talks about positive psychology in the workplace. He shares one small change that he believes can make a big impact on workplaces.  He also shares that increases in occupational well-being should decrease accidents and increase safety in the workplace.

Connect with Martin Seligman:

Website - http://authentichappiness.org

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:02]  - Martin will be speaking at the IPPA World Congress on Positive Psychology in July in Montreal.  He shares what he would like attendees to learn in his session, “Positive Psychology: Past, Present, and Future”.
  • [03:55] - Martin shares some of the changes he is seeing with governments as they implement these ideas.  He shares the five groups to life satisfaction and happiness, which forms the acronym, PERMA.
  • [05:51] - Martin talks about the ways of measuring well-being with psychometric accuracy.
  • [09:03] - Martin shares his confidence that these are the pillars of well-being and that governments can make changes with well-being.  He explains how they are using social media to measure the results.
  • [12:17] - Martin states that our positive emotional system is built around the question, “what works?”  
  • [13:49] - Martin shares a small change that can make big differences in the workplace.
  • [16:22] - Martin defines good leadership in the workplace.  
  • [17:45] - Occupational safety dangers are increased by depression, anxiety, and anger.
  • [18:41] - Martin explains how his original theories on learned helplessness may have been wrong.
  • [20:44] - Martin talks about the idea of positive psychology practices may not be a good fit for certain workplace environments.
  • [22:10] - The Lightning Round with Martin Seligman.

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.  

Also, 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 finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

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

Feb 16, 2017

Sonja Lyubomirsky is a professor of Psychology at the University of California - Riverside. Her research on the science of happiness has been the recipient of many honors.  She is a best-selling author of the books The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want and The Myths of Happiness: What Should Make You Happy, but Doesn’t, What Shouldn’t Make You Happy, but Does.

In this conversation, you will hear Sonja share her thoughts and findings on happiness.  Sonja shares some of her findings that prove that positive activity interactions work.  Sonja also talks about some of the myths of happiness, which is the topic of her latest book.  She talks about the identification process to determine which interactions may work for individuals.  She also talks about happiness in group dynamics, specifically the workplace.  Sonja must present these interventions in various ways, depending on the environment and situation and she explains how she does that.  

Connect with Sonja Lyubomirsky:

Website: http://sonjalyubomirsky.com/

You’ll Learn:

  • [01:57] - Sonja shares what she hopes attendees gain from her presentations on happiness. Sonja says that it is possible to become happier.
  • [03:06] - Happiness is a broad term and Sonja describes how she defines the term.  
  • [04:07] - Sonja’s talks about the short-term and long-term improvements people can make with happiness.  She explains that short-term happiness is easier to achieve than long-term happiness.
  • [05:10] - Sonja describes the benefits of people being happy in the workplace.  She also explains why it’s not a good thing to be “too happy” in the workplace.
  • [06:46] - Sonja lists a few interventions that people can use in the workplace to become happier at work.
  • [08:38]- Sonja shares some of her findings that prove that positive activity interventions work.  She talks about gratitude and the role that factors like culture and dosage play a role.
  • [10:37] - In her book, The How of Happiness, Sonja provides a survey to help determine which interventions might work for individuals.  She talks about this identification process.
  • [13:04] - Sonja shares some of the myths of happiness.
  • [15:32] - Sonja talks about the idea of happiness and well-being in social environments and with each other in various relationships.
  • [16:50] - Happiness shouldn’t be forced on anyone. Sonja talks about situations where happiness interventions aren’t the right strategy.
  • [19:11] - Sonja explains how she presents these interventions in different types of workplaces.
  • [20:00] - The Lightning Round with Sonja Lyubomirsky

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.  

Also, 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 finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

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

Feb 9, 2017

Paula Davis Laack is a former practicing lawyer, an internationally published writer, media contributor, and a stress and resilience expert.  She has designed and taught burnout prevention and resilience workshops for thousands of professionals around the world. She also taught resilience skills to more than 25,000 soldiers.  

While a lot of people are familiar with the term “burnout”, they don’t know what it is and how it develops.  In this conversation, you will hear Paula talk about burnout and how individuals can avoid it. She also discusses the strategies that organizations can implement to help team members avoid burnout.

Connect with Paula Davis Laack:

Website: http://pauladavislaack.com

You’ll Learn:

  • [01:55] - Paula explains why burnout is such an issue in workplaces, even though businesses have been addressing this issue for a long time.
  • [03:45] - Paula defines “burnout” as a process of chronic stress.  She explains the difference between stress and burnout.
  • [05:18] - Paula addresses how individuals can avoid burnout.  She provides a template to evaluate your burnout or potential burnout.
  • [07:15] - The “I’m too busy” narrative is something Paula will be addressing in an upcoming blog post.  This is something we need to be aware of and stop over-using.  
  • [07:44] - Paula talks about STRONG strategies.
  • [09:22] - Small changes can make a huge differences.  Paula talks about STOP, which is one of her favorite mindfulness techniques.
  • [10:12] - Paula explains how to use passwords to move forward with your goals.
  • [11:06] - Paula believes resilience skills can be very simple.
  • [12:30] - Paula lists some things organizations can do to help employees avoid burnout.
  • [15:56] - Paula says you can’t be “too resilient”.  This is an important skill for people to have.
  • [19:35] The Lightning Round with Paul Davis Laack

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.  

Also, 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 finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

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

Feb 3, 2017

Carin Rockind is the creator of Purpose Girl, a movement to empower purpose-driven living.  She is also a leading happiness expert who works with companies around the world, teaching real-life strategies to help people live to their fullest potential of success and well-being.  

In this conversation, you will hear Carin talk about purpose. Carin explains why purpose is a verb. She describes how you can find purpose in your life, even in existing situations.  She also talks about purpose in the workplace and how leaders can help individuals find more purpose in their work.

Connect with Carin Rockind:

Website: CarinRockind.com

You’ll Learn:

  • [01:15] - Carin believes purpose is the driving force behind who we are. She explains why purpose is so important.
  • [02:32] - Carin explains why it’s so difficult people to discover their purpose.
  • [05:19] - Carin talks about finding purpose in your existing situation.  
  • [11:00] - “Start where you are.”  Carin talks about how the start the process of identifying and working towards your purpose and what lights you up.
  • [12:38] - If you are unable to “start where you are” in your company, Carin explains other venues that you can use.
  • [13:28] - Carin encourages you to not hide your passions.  
  • [16:39] - Carin describes how leaders can help individuals find more purpose in their work.
  • [20:30] - Carin says we can’t have too much purpose because it leads to life satisfaction.  However, it can lead to obsession, which impacts other areas of our lives.
  • [23:15] - The Lightning Round with Carin Rockind.

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.  

Also, 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 finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

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

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