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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, 2020
Feb 27, 2020

Peter Block is an author and citizen of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the author of nine books including Community: The Structure of Belonging, The Abundant Community with John McKnight and coauthor of An Other Kingdom. His work is in the restoration of the common good and creating a world that reclaims our humanity from the onslaught of modernism.

In this week’s episode, Peter Block explains why listening and connecting are the core leadership strategies needed in workplaces today, how to work with cynics, and what the key questions and conversations have been in his work as an organizational turned community development practitioner-scholar.

Connect with Peter Block: 

You’ll Learn:

  • [03:32] - Peter explains why listening is a core capacity needed in workplaces today and why being a role model or visionary leader is not necessary.
  • [06:58] - Peter explains what conversations are necessary in shifting organizational narratives.
  • [08:58] - Peter shares how he assesses whether an organization is ready to have a new more positive change conversation.
  • [11:30] - Peter explains what helps him understand concepts like emergence and complex adaptive systems.
  • [12:31] - Peter explains why it’s important to live with uncertainty and side with the cynics.
  • [15:01] - Peter shares why creating wellbeing and change is all about connection.
  • [15:37] - Peter completes the Lightning Round.

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 of 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 Peter!

Feb 20, 2020

Dr. Kelly McGonigal is a health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University. As a pioneer in the field of science help, her mission is to translate insights from psychology and neuroscience into practical strategies that support personal wellbeing and strengthen communities.
Kelly is the author of several books, including the international bestseller, The Willpower Instinct, and The Upside of Stress and her newest book is The Joy of Movement.

In this week’s episode, we explore the latest research on why movement – not just exercise – is so important for our wellbeing and the simple, joyful ways we can get moving more.

Connect with Kelly McGonigal: 

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:17] - Kelly shares the latest research findings on why movement is so important for our wellbeing.
  • [05:23] - Kelly explains why we don’t have to exercise in order to enjoy the wellbeing benefits that come from moving.
  • [11:30] - Kelly shares some of the latest research on how high-intensity movement – like running – helps to fuel endocannabinoids which improve our ability for social connection.
  • [15:49] - Kelly explains how long-term regular exercise helps to build hope molecules that help us recover from trauma or depression and improves our levels of resilience.
  • [15:49] - Kelly helps us understand how calm synchronized movements, even when we’re sitting down, can increase our pain tolerance and improve our sense of connection.
  • [15:49] - Kelly offers some tips for how workplaces can help their workers to move more.
  • [22:48] - Kelly completes the Lightning Round.

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 of 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 Kelly!

Feb 13, 2020

Dr. Michelle McQuaid is known for her research, books, and tools, which help people create positive changes and thrive more consistently in their workplaces.  Michelle holds a Master in Positive Psychology, and a Ph.D. on how Appreciative Inquiry Summits create positive disruptions that enable systems to flourish, and is a co-founder of The Change Lab.

In this week’s episode, we explore how leaders and workplaces can tackle complex challenges and create positive changes through the use of language, conversations, and self-organization.

Connect with Dr. Michelle McQuaid: 

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:17] - Michelle shares her thoughts on the ability for the latest research in human flourishing to help create positive changes given all the challenges our world faces at the moment.
  • [05:23] - Michelle shares some tips for workplaces to create more positive changes.
  • [11:30] - Michelle outlines the simple actions leaders can take to make change a more positive experience.
  • [15:49] - Michelle shares a simple learning loop exercise to help anyone create change in their workplace – regardless of their job title.
  • [22:48] - Michelle completes the Lightning Round.

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 of 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 Michelle!

Feb 6, 2020

Today we're talking to Tom Rath, an author and researcher who has spent the past two decades studying how work can improve human health and wellbeing. During his 13 years at Gallup, Tom was the programme leader for the development of Clifton StrengthsFinder, which has helped over 20 million people to uncover their talents, and went on to lead the organization's employee engagement, wellbeing, and leadership practices worldwide. For the past 5 years Tom has served as a Gallup senior scientists, and is also an advisor, investor, and partner in several startups. His ten books, including StrengthsFinder 2.0, Wellbeing, and Eat Move Sleep have sold more than 10 million copies. His newest book, Life's Great Question: Discover How You Contribute to the World, has just been released.

On today's episode, we're discussing how to ensure our work isn’t doing more harm than good when it comes to our wellbeing, and the simple steps we can take to align our contributions to the things that are meaningful and energizing for people.

Connect with Tom Rath: 

You’ll Learn:

  • [03:33] - Tom shares the research that suggests that work is killing people when it should be making us healthier.
  • [05:55] - Tom explains what we can learn from Tinder when it comes to matching the right people to the right work in an effort to improve our wellbeing.
  • [07:55] - Tom offers some tips for what we can do as individuals to ensure our work is energizing and meaningful.
  • [12:14] - Tom explains the difference between our passions and our contributions at work and how these impact our wellbeing.
  • [14:28] - Tom helps us understand how to align our strengths to our contributions at work
  • [16:18] - Tom shares his new tool for helping people to identify their contributions at work.
  • [19:06] - Tom outlines the three contributions every team needs from its people to be successful.
  • [21:21] - Tom explains how people’s contributions can evolve over time and why personality is not as fixed as researchers have previously thought.
  • [25:18] - Tom cautions us on avoiding overplaying our contributions at work and burning ourselves out.
  • [27:45] - Tom explains how we can amplify our contributions by managing our time more effectively.
  • [29:44] - Tom explains how leaders can recruit people around the contributions people most want to make.
  • [31:56] - Tom completes the Lightning Round.

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 of 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 Tom!

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