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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: 2018
Jun 29, 2018

Susan David is an award willing psychologist on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, co-founder, and co-director of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, and CEO of Evidence Based Psychology, a boutique business consultancy. She’s the author of the number one Wall Street Journal best selling book “Emotional Agility,” based on her concept that Harvard Business Review heralded as a management idea of the year, and has been featured in numerous leading publications including The New York Times, Washington Post and Time Magazine, and has worked with the senior leadership of hundreds of major organisations including the United Nations, Ernst & Young, and the World Economic Forum.

In today’s episode, we’ll discuss why emotions are not simply positive or negative, and how we can navigate the way we feel in more agile and effective ways at work.

Connect with Susan:

Website: http://www.susandavid.com/

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:20] - Susan explains why thinking of emotion as positive or negative can undermine people’s ability to thrive.
  • [07:25] - Susan suggests that thinking of emotions as data, rather than as good or bad, can help people develop emotional agility.
  • [14:40] - Susan shares her recommendations for ensuring people own their emotions, rather than letting their emotions call the shots.
  • [19:16] - Susan provides tips for how teams can practice emotional agility.
  • [20:43] - Susan shares how the skills of emotional agility can build psychological safety in teams.
  • [22:39] -  Susan explains how self-compassion can make it easier to be emotionally agile.
  • [26:09] - Susan shares how tiny tweaks and the willingness to keep pushing beyond our comfort zones can enable emotional agility.
  • [24:29] - Susan 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 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 Susan!

Jun 23, 2018

Dr. Adam Fraser is a human performance researcher and consultant who studies how organizations adopt a high-performance culture to thrive in the challenging and evolving business landscape. Adam has worked with elite-level athletes, the armed forces, and business professionals of all levels, and in the last five years, he has delivered more than 600 presentations to over 50,000 people in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia.

In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing how struggle functions as a stimulus for change in workplaces.

Connect with Adam:

Website: dradamfraser.com

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:09] - Adam shares how he’s been helping leaders at Queensland Urban Utilities evolve their mindsets and behaviors to better support their people.
  • [04:21] - Adam explains how he creates safe spaces for them to learn to lead with vulnerability.
  • [06:15] - Adam shares what his research has found about helping HR teams to thrive.
  • [08:11] - Adam expands on what his research has found about the importance of having challenging opportunities at work.
  • [14:31] - Adam explains how diversity helps to create positive disruptions in workplaces.
  • [16:44] - Adam shares how the creation of third spaces can help people to thrive.
  • [23:07] - Adam shares his tip for the hottest workplace wellbeing over the next 12 months.
  • [24:29] - Adam 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 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 Adam!

Jun 15, 2018

Michelle is a senior fellow at the University of Melbourne and holds a Masters in Positive Psychology and a provisional Ph.D. on how AI summits create positive disruptions that enable systems to flourish. She’s the author of several books, and her newest book, “Your Change Blueprint” with Professor David Cooperrider is about to be released. Michelle also works with organizations around the world on finding ways to help people flourish.

In today’s anniversary episode, we’ll discuss Michelle’s hot of the PhD presses research findings on how AI Summits can be used to create positive disruptions that enable people and systems to flourish.

Connect with Emily:

Website: https://www.michellemcquaid.com/

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You’ll Learn:

  • [01:50] - Michelle explains how Appreciative Inquiry helps people and systems to create positive changes.
  • [03:46] - Michelle outlines how an AI Summit differs from other appreciative inquiry applications.
  • [07:03] - Michelle shares what she has observed about AI Summits around the world and their ability to help people and systems to flourish.
  • [10:26] - Michelle explains how self-determination theory shapes successful AI Summits.
  • [12:43] - Michelle explains why creating opportunities for generative connections shapes the success of an AI Summit.
  • [15:25] - Michelle shares why her research found an AI Summit needs a 6d – not a 4d – cycle to make it work.
  • [18:22] - Michelle introduces the 12 magic mechanisms that explain how to use an AI Summit to create a positive disruption.
  • [21:49] - Michelle shares her tips for when an AI Summit might most benefit your system.
  • [24:19] - 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 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 Michelle!

Jun 8, 2018

Emily Larson serves as the director of the International Positive Education Network and is an assistant instructor in the Masters of Applied Positive Psychology program at the University of Pennsylvania. Emily has worked on various positive education projects in Nepal, India, the Philippines, the UK and the USA. She holds numerous board positions and is a published author.

In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing how schools are applying positive psychology to help improve wellbeing across the school environment and what other organizations can learn from their efforts about creating systemic change.

Connect with Emily:

Website: ipen-festival.com

You’ll Learn:

  • [01:58] - Emily explains what schools are learning about applying positive psychology findings to improve people’s wellbeing.
  • [03:05] - Emily shares why a systemic approach to improving people’s wellbeing can be so important.
  • [05:10] - Emily provides a case study of how a school is implementing a systemic approach to the wellbeing of teachers, students, and their community.
  • [10:13] - Emily shares how change champions within a system can help to embed wellbeing practices.
  • [12:09] - Emily explains the power of a common framework and common language when it comes to systemically improving wellbeing.
  • [14:05] - Emily explains some of the struggles whole system change approaches have encountered when it comes to improving people’s wellbeing.
  • [17:03] - Emily explains how positive education practitioners from around the world are coming together to share their learnings and work more closely together.
  • [23:10] - Emily 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 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 Emily!

Jun 1, 2018

Amy Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School. She’s an expert on leadership, teams and organizational learning, whose research on psychological safety in workplaces has been discussed in the New York Times, the Financial Times, Forbes and many other media outlets around the world and is the author of several books, including her most recent, Extreme Teaming: Lessons in Complex, Cross-Sector Teaming.

In today’s episode, we discuss why Google have found that psychological safety is the common factor in all of their highest performing teams, and what you can do in your workplaces to improve psychological safety for others.

Connect with Amy:

Website:  Amy Edmonson HBS Faculty Profile

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You’ll Learn:

  • [02:03] - Amy explains why more and more workplaces are talking about the need for psychological safety.
  • [04:43] - Amy offers practical tips for leaders to improve the levels of psychological safety in their teams.
  • [06:38] - Amy explains how leaders can practice inclusive leadership to improve psychological safety.
  • [08:45] - Amy shares why courageous conversations can be problematic in workplaces.
  • [11:15] - Amy explores the intersection between psychological safety and growth mindsets.
  • [12:39] - Amy shares her tips for creating psychology safety in more temporary teams.
  • [14:10] - Amy talks about ways of assessing psychological safety in teams.
  • [16:44] - Amy explains how to help teams get over the politeness hump when it comes to improving psychological safety.
  • [19:49] - Amy outlines some of the biggest challenges leaders face when it comes to improving psychological safety at the moment in workplaces.
  • [21:18] - Amy shares why a coaching mindset can help improve psychological safety in teams.
  • [22:17] - Amy 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 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!

May 25, 2018

Dr. Mark Williamson, who is the Co-founder and Director of Action for Happiness. Since creating and launching Action for Happiness in 2011, Mark has engaged with a vast range of organizations, projects, and people on the topics of happiness, well-being, and resilience, including leading academics, major multinational corporations, public sector organizations, policymakers, schools, charities, and community organizations. He’s led the development of all of the Action for Happiness resources and activities and has spoken regularly on related topics at events and conferences across the UK and around the world.

In today’s episode, we’ll explore how Action for Happiness are helping to improve people’s wellbeing in workplaces and communities around the world.

Connect with Mark:

Website: actionforhappiness.org/

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:04] - Mark explains how Action for Happiness became a global movement to improve people’s wellbeing.
  • [04:09] - Mark shares how Action for Happiness has mobilized wellbeing champions around the world.
  • [07:07] - Mark shares how Action For Happiness help bridges the gap between knowledge and action when it comes to improving people’s wellbeing.
  • [10:27] - Mark explains how coaching circles can provide social support for people creating behavioral changes.
  • [13:51] - Mark explains how to have meaningful conversations in workplaces about wellbeing behaviors.
  • [15:58] - Mark shares an example of a company building wellbeing practices across their workplace.
  • [17:57] - Mark explains why organizations will continue to invest in wellbeing programs over the next 12 months.
  • [21:15] - Mark 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 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 Mark!

May 18, 2018

Paul Zak is the founding director of the Centre for Neuroeconomic Studies and professor of economics, psychology, and management at Claremont Graduate University. Paul is part of the team of scientists that first made the connection between oxytocin and trust, and this TED Talk on the topic has received over a million views. His latest book, Trust Factor, The Science of Creating High-Performance Companies uses neuroscience to measure and manage organizational cultures to inspire teamwork and accelerate business outcomes.

In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing the effects of oxytocin on trust and how heightening the OXYTOCIN factors can help to build stronger and more effective teams in workplaces.

Connect with Paul:

Website: pauljzak.com
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You’ll Learn:

  • [01:57] - Paul explains how neuromanagement works.
  • [04:33] - Paul outlines the OXYTOCIN factors that workplaces can build to improve trust in organizations.
  • [08:30] - Paul explains how to confidently share neuroscience findings as researchers continue to learn more about the brain.
  • [14:34] - Paul shares the bottom-line benefits of trust in workplaces.
  • [17:30] - Paul outlines the research on how oxytocin impacts people’s ability to trust.
  • [21:28] - Paul shares why new studies have found oxytocin can stimulate envy.
  • [23:17] - Paul 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 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 Paul!

May 11, 2018

Dr. Elaine O’Brien is an educator, trainer, author, presenter, speaker, and pioneer in the Health, Exercise, and Fitness Industry, as well as a leader in the burgeoning science of Applied Positive Psychology. She is CEO of Lifestyle Medicine Coaching & Training, a consultancy, & FitDance: Move2Love providing training, presentations, and program content development around positive health, whole fitness, optimal performance, exercise and aging well through the lifespan. Elaine delivers positive exercise programming, and training protocols to help boost motivation, exercise adherence, enjoyment, and whole health and wellbeing across domains and through the lifespan. 

In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing the psychology of human movement and the small steps you can take in workplaces to keep people’s bodies, hearts and minds functioning at their best.

Connect with Elaine:

Website: Elaine O'Brien (LinkedIn)

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You’ll Learn:

  • [02:07] - Elaine explains the psychology of human movement and how understanding this can help to improve people’s wellbeing.
  • [06:07] - Elaine shares why workplaces are becoming more intentional in finding ways to help people move more during their days to improve our ability to learn, connect and flourish.
  • [08:22] - Elaine explains how workplaces can use energy breaks to improve people’s mood and sense of connection with each other.
  • [12:16] - Elaine shares how energy breaks can be a great opportunity for people to practice their growth mindset, develop their strengths and engage their self-compassion.
  • [14:32] - Elaine shares the latest thinking on how much movement we should be aiming for to maintain our wellbeing.
  • [16:07] - Elaine offers some tips for workplaces wanting to engage their people in their more authentic, joyful and positive movement programs.
  • [21:42] - Elaine 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 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 Elaine!

May 4, 2018

 

Rick Hanson is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at the Greater Good Science Centre at UC Berkeley, and New York Times bestselling author. Founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, he’s been an invited speaker at NASA, Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, and other major universities, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. His books are available in 26 languages and include Hard Wiring Happiness, and his newest book, Resilient, has been featured on the BBC, CBS, and NPR.

In today’s episode, we’ll be talking about how to develop the traits of resilience to help people manage their levels of anxiety and stress in the workplace.

Connect with Rick:

Website: www.rickhanson.net/

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You’ll Learn:

  • [02:12] - Rick explains why modern life is neurologically heightening our levels of anxiety.
  • [04:38] - Rick explains how we can be more resilient in the face of constant change, uncertainty and complexity in workplaces.
  • [07:37] - Rick shares the three simple steps people can take to build resilience practices.
  • [10:48] -  Rick gives several quick techniques for improving resilience that take less than 5 minutes per day.
  • [11:47] - Rick shares the 12 neurological muscles for resilience that people can build.
  • [13:06] - Rick explains how the intensity of positive emotions impact our levels of resilience.
  • [17:44] - Rick points out the difference between building positive emotions that are state-to-state and those that are sustainable traits that boost our resilence.
  • [26:44] - Rick 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 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 Rick!

Apr 27, 2018

Zoe Galvez and Betsy Crouch, co-founders of ImprovHQ, help leaders and organizations develop effective communication, exceptional collaboration, and engaged cultures through interactive learning experiences, based on the principles of improvisation and positive psychology. They deliver workshops, keynotes, and executive coaching programmes, to workplaces that include Twitter, Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, Dropbox, and many more.

Today we’ll be discussing how the principles and practices of improvisation can be used to teach people the skills of positive psychology in workplaces.

Connect with Betsy and Zoe:

Website: improvhq.com

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You’ll Learn:

  • [02:36] - Zoe and Betsy explain how positive psychology practices can be fused with improvisation techniques to help people flourish at work.
  • [05:40] - The Improv HQ team give examples of how improvisation skills can develop people’s resilience.
  • [09:02] - Zoe explains why every conversation at work is an opportunity for connection or confusion, and how improv can build trust and psychological safety between people.
  • [10:47] - Betsy shares how improv practices can be a great opportunity to spot people’s strengths and put them to work.
  • [12:43] - Zoe explains how improv can be an emotional rope course in workplaces and how they teach leaders to build a resilient response to failure.
  • [18:03] - Zoe shares how improv can help to build a giving culture in teams.
  • [18:59] - Betsy shares how AI Summits are using improv to supercharge results for participants.
  • [21:04] - Betsy and Zoe explain the six improv principles unscripted leaders use to thrive at work.
  • [26:58] - Betsy & Zoe complete 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 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 Betsy and Zoe!

Apr 20, 2018

Dr. Tal Ben Shahar is the co-founder of the Happiness Studies Academy and the creator and instructor of the Certificate in Happiness Studies Programme. Known around the world for teaching two of the most popular courses in Harvard’s history, Positive Psychology and the Psychology of Leadership, Tal is also an international best-selling author and the co-founder of Potential Life and Happier TV.

Today we’ll be exploring the concept of wholebeing and why our happiness at work and in life is interconnected.

Connect with Tal-Ben Shahar:

Website: talbenshahar.com

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You’ll Learn:

  • [01:37] - Tal shares the impact positive psychology has had over the last decade in workplaces.
  • [02:30] - Tal talks about the need to bring together different scientific disciplines in order to further the study of happiness.
  • [04:23] - Tal introduces the concept of wholebeing and why people need to SPIRE.
  • [06:38] - Tal explains why our happiness is interconnected with our environment and what this means practically.
  • [09:36] - Tal shares how workplaces can leverage interconnectedness to improve people’s sense of wholebeing.
  • [11:47] - Tal explains how Sainsbury grocery stores in the UK are working to improve the happiness of their employees.
  • [13:38] - Tal outlines how workplaces can help people to change and sustain the behaviors that may make them happier at work.
  • [16:49] - Tal outlines how high-intensity interval training can help to embed happiness behaviors.
  • [19:08] - Tal 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 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 Tal!

Apr 13, 2018

Jenn Lim is the CEO of Delivering Happiness, a company she and Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com, co-founded to inspire passion and purpose as part of their profitable happiness business model. To achieve this, Jenn delivers talks, interactive workshops, executive alignment sessions and culture team training for companies all over the world, and with the help of her team, they also create some wonderful tools to measure and improve happiness in workplaces.

In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing how to leverage Self-Determination Theory practices to help employees feel happier, ensure customers are more satisfied and deliver and improve the bottom line for your workplace.

Connect with Jenn Lim:

Website: deliveringhappiness.com

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You’ll Learn:

  • [02:00] - Jenn shares the story of Zappos and how they have created a flourishing culture.
  • [06:21] - Jenn explains how Self-Determination Theory provides the foundation for a happiness business model.
  • [07:36] - Jenn shares practical examples of how to improve autonomy and competence in workplaces.
  • [10:57] - Jenn explains how Zappos helps build relatedness in the workplace between managers and their teams
  • [13:45] - Jenn shares some tips and tricks for helping people in your organizational live the cultural values.
  • [17:43] - Jenn explains why Zappos offer people money to quit during their induction to ensure they have the right cultural fit.
  • [20:06] - Jenn shares some real-world examples of the kind of business outcomes organizations are achieving by investing in the happiness of their employees.
  • [24:07] - Jenn 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 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 Jenn!

Apr 6, 2018

Dr. Timothy Sharp runs one of Australia’s most respected clinical psychology practices, is a highly regarded executive coaching practice, and is the founder and chief happiness officer of the happiness institute, Australia’s first and now largest organization devoted solely to enhancing happiness in individuals, families, and workplaces. An adjunct professor in positive psychology at the University of Technology in Sydney and RMIT University, Tim is a sought-after public speaker who makes frequent media appearances, and is the author of, among other things, “100 Ways to Happiness: A Guide for Busy People” and most recently, “Live Happier, Live Longer: A Guide to Positive Ageing”.

In today’s episode we’ll discuss how to help people find the time to integrate wellbeing practices into their workplace.

Connect with Tim Sharp:

Connect with Tim Sharp:

Website: www.drhappy.com.au/

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You’ll Learn:

  • [03:28] - Tim details the acronym CHOOSE, which relates to the idea of choosing happiness for our own lives.
  • [08:07] - Tim gives tips on how to make time for happiness practises.
  • [12:27] - Tim discusses how a workplace could embed happiness practises into the everyday lives of their employees, using the approach of mental health organisation Batyr as an example.
  • [17:48] - Tim talks about making happiness practises work for the long term, by embedding and reinforcing key principles within the organisation.
  • [21:03] - Tim gives examples of some support and activities that can be provided to improve mental health in the workplace.
  • [22.58] - Tim explains how to navigate the cynics when trying to implement wellbeing practises within a workplace.
  • [25:25] - Lightning round with Tim Sharp.

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 Tim!

Mar 22, 2018

Stella Grizont is a graduate at the University of Pennsylvania’s Master’s of Applied Positive Psychology programme and is an executive coach who has worked with over 14,000 people in 21 countries. Stella has also delivered workshops to organizations including Google, Johnson and Johnson, Young & Rubicam to inspire their employees to develop a positive work culture. Her unique approach to loving your work has been featured on MSNBC, ABC news and the Today Show.

In today’s episode Stella explains the power of playful mindset to help us avoid getting stuck in the common mind traps most of us struggle with at work.

Connect with Stella Grizont:

Website: www.woopaah.com 

You’ll Learn:

  • [05:06] – Stella explains how the playful mindset can help approach uncertain situations with curiosity rather than fear at work.
  • [10:38] – Stella shares how complaining can become a common mind trap, because it triggers our negativity bias over and over again.
  • [11:56] – Stella talks about how comparing yourself to others is another mindtrap in which people often become stuck.
  • [13:56] – Stella outlines her “Vision Generator” exercise, and how it can help you to generate your vision and clarify how you want to be to avoid comparisons with others.
  • [14:34] – Stella explains how criticism – especially of ourselves – gets many of stuck when it comes to our work and what we can do to be more supportive of ourselves.
  • [19:29] – Stella shares what she wishes she known when she first graduated from the Masters of Positive Psychology program.
  • [21:24] – Lightning round with Stella Grizont.

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 Stella!

Mar 15, 2018

Dr. Diana Whitney is the founder and president of Positive Change, a global consultancy that helps executives and their teams design and facilitate high engagement, appreciative inquiry processes in support of business goals, strategies and innovation. Diana is also the co-founder of the Taos Institute, an education think-tank with over 500 international associates, teaching and doing research into constructive, relational processes in business, education families and communities. Diana is also the author of 18 books and dozens of articles and chapters including the Power of Appreciative Inquiry: A Practical Guide to Positive Change. She has more than 30 years of experience in helping make change happen, and teaching people how to make change happen around the world.

In today’s episode, Diana shares how she uses appreciative inquiry approaches to help organizations have a curious mindset and discover what gives life to their people to help systems create changes that work.  Diana shares several case studies and what her research has found enables appreciative inquiry approaches to improve relationships and bottom-line business outcomes.

Connect with Diana Whitney:

Website: positivechange.org

You’ll Learn:

  • [02:22] - Diana talks about how to introduce appreciative inquiry to clients that you work with.
  • [04.24] - Diana gives an example of how this could be approach could be applied in an organization.
  • [07:40] - Diana talks about the fear surrounding things that aren’t working well in an organization if they aren't openly discussed.
  • [09:42] - Diana explains how successful organisations "nurture out" their staff into roles that are most suitable to them.
  • [10:46] - Diana discusses the key skill of flipping or reframing the narrative, to shift the organisation and the thinking of people from what the problems are, known as deficit, into more life affirming, positive possibilities.
  • [14:45] - Diana shares the the incredible case study of Hunter Douglas Window Fashions.
  • [19:18] - Diana talks about why appreciative inquiry delivers these kind of outcomes.
  • [22:00] - Lightning round with Diana Whitney

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 Diana!

Mar 9, 2018

Reuben Rusk is the founder of Mind Quip, a social enterprise in Christ Church New Zealand whose vision is to create a happier and more productive workforce. Reuben is a lifelong learner and a big picture thinker who's passionate about teaching people to improve their lives and their wellbeing by distilling large amounts of research into down to earth training about what matters most. An experienced presenter and recognized expert in well being and resilience, Reuben’s research has been published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, the psychology of wellbeing, and the Journal of Happiness studies.

In today’s episode, we’ll be talking about the five domains Rueben’s research has found lie at the heart of more than 18,000 peer-reviewed positive psychology intervention articles and how these can be combined to create a synergistic and holistic approach to create wellbeing behavior changes that work.

Connect with Reuben Rusk:

Website: mindquip.com

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You’ll Learn:

  • [02:00] - Reuben identified more than 18,000 documents, and here talks about what he found that can help us to improve our well being?
  • [03:47] - Reuben discusses the five clusters of terms that he identified.
  • [07:09] - Reuben talks about how the synergistic change model might help to shape our wellbeing.
  • [08:59] - Reuben explains how the synergistic change model provides a framework to think through some important complexities.
  • [11:41] - Reuben talks about how he helps people understand how to navigate emotional and social complexities.
  • [12:50] - Reuben discusses the concept of relapse.
  • [14:45] - Reuben explains how to think synergistically across those five domains of emotions, attention and awareness, comprehension and coping, goals and habits and social relationships, when trying to make a positive intervention.
  • [15:58] - Reuben talks about the environmental factors that can affect positive interventions.
  • [18:38] - Reuben discusses how the simpler option is not necessarily easier, and how simplifying complex systems can do more harm than good.
  • [21:37] - Lightning Round with Reuben Rusk

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 Reuben!

Mar 1, 2018

David Desteno is a Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University where he directs the social immersions group. David’s research examines the mechanisms of the mind that shape vice and virtue, and his work continually reveals that human moral behaviour is much more variable than most would predict. He’s regularly featured in the media, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Harvard Business Review to name just a few. David is the author of several books including Emotional Success, The Truth about Trust, and the co-author of the Wall Street Journal’s spotlight psychology best seller, Out of Character.

In today’s episode David shares his research on self-control and why harnessing social emotions – like gratitude, compassion and pride – can be an effective and energizing way to improve our levels of grit.

Connect with David Desteno:

Website: www.davedesteno.com

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You’ll Learn:

  • [01:56] - David talks about the ability to be future oriented and persevere to our future goals is an important part of life.
  • [03:27] - David explains how the human mind tends to discount the value of the future.
  • [05:01] - David lists gratitude, compassion and pride, as the social emotions that help with control and grit?
  • [06:58] - David discusses how being self interested and aggressive is not an effective recipe for success, in the long term.
  • [07:42] - David explains that what is adaptive for helping other people is adaptive for ourselves as well.
  • [09:03] - David talks about how people who practise gratitude, compassion and pride, will demonstrate greater perseverence and less procrastination. He also discusses how the practise of meditation and mindfulnes can improve these qualities.
  • [10:21] - David talks about making a habit of taking pride in steps along the way, not just when you reach your ultimate goal.
  • [14:02] - David explains how pride can lead to perseverance.
  • [15:47] - David gives examples of things that we can do to create a sense of authentic pride for ourselves.
  • [17:21] - David details the intersection between the social emotions and our ability to maintain a growth mindset as we go about our jobs.
  • [18:42] - David talks about our biases on who we choose to show compassion to, and how.
  • [20:00] - David gives some practical tips on how to cultivate more compassion to improve relationships at work.
  • [21:32] - David lists some other emotions that play into our social relationships, impact the choices we make, and our levels of self-control and grit.
  • [22:24] - Lightning round with David Desteno.

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 David!

Feb 22, 2018

Jo Mitchell is a clinical psychologist and co-founder of the Mind Room, a health, wellbeing and performance psychology practice in Melbourne, Australia. Jo has over 20 years of sports industry experience and has a specialist interest in working with high performers across all fields to improve their wellbeing, particularly by using the tools of Positive Psychology, Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness. She is also on the board for Action for Happiness Australia.

In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing how to introduce wellbeing practices into workplaces that are cautious or skeptical about ‘soft skills’. We’ll explore how to tailor language, create a systems approach and a new app that opens this science up to a much wider market.

Connect with Jo Mitchell:

Website: themindroom.com.au

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You’ll Learn:

  • [01:58} - Jo explains how she taylors the language used to present ideas of positive psychology, to be openly accepted in typically tough and competitive workplaces.
  • [04:55] - Jo talks about setting up a support network to help footballers stick with newly learned behaviours, using repetition and reinforcement.
  • [10:24] - Jo talks about her new wellbeing mobile app called Mind Max.
  • [14:37] - Jo discusses the gender bias in men around wellness and wellbeing.
  • [20:45] - Jo explains how we can prevent burnout by scheduling moments of rejuvenation into our daily life, and the importance of giving ourselves permission to do this.
  • [21:39] - Lightning round with Jo Mitchell

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 Jo!

Feb 15, 2018

Patty McCord is a workplace innovator, culture and leadership consultant, and former chief talent officer at Netflix. Patty has many years of working with business leaders and aspiring management to help people realize and practice leadership. She is the author of a wonderful new book, Powerful: Teams, Leaders and the Culture of Freedom and Responsibility, which pushes the boundaries of thinking about the way we work. From abolishing performance reviews to challenging the need for policies, Patty believes people come to work as fully formed adults with a desire to make an impact and to be proud of what they do. Her ideas have been featured in publications around the world, including the Harvard’s Business Review, Fast Company and The Wall Street Journal.

In today’s podcast Patty explains why mapping engagement and happiness measures against productivity in workplaces may undermine the very results workplaces are trying to create.  She also shares how Netflix built a thriving culture by treating employees like adults, balancing freedom and responsibility and replacing performance reviews with radical honesty.

Connect with Patty McCord:

Website: pattymccord.com

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You’ll Learn:

  • [02:03] - Patty gives some of the dangers of overlaying engagement and happiness scores with team performance.
  • [06:48] - Patty talks about the value of saying something radically honest every day.
  • [07:53] - Patty explains how if you practise giving people feedback every day, 50% of it will work and be positive feedback.
  • [11:24] - Patty says why the freedom and responsibility has to live inside of the business that you're trying to accomplish.
  • [12:28] - Patty explains why strategy is figuring out what not to do.
  • [16:52] - Patty tells how to orchestrate vigorous debates to encourage people to get curious, and put themselves on the other side of the argument.
  • [19:23] - Patty gives examples of what should managers do instead of formal perfomance reviews.
  • [21:40] - Lightning round with Patty McCord.

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 Patty!

Feb 8, 2018

Dr. Peter McGraw is an associate professor of marketing and psychology at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business. As a behavioral scientist, his research examines the interrelationship of judgment, emotion, and choice—with a focus on the production and consumption of entertainment. McGraw directs The Humor Research Lab (HuRL) and is the co-author of The Humor Code: A Global Search for What Makes Things Funny.

His research has been covered by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, TIME NPR, BBC, and CNN. His work appears in the Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing Research, Management Science, Psychological Science, and the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.  He is currently trying to kick a sweater vest habit – even if it does get him kicked off the Stylist Scientist List.

Today we’re talking all about humor; how it can bring people together and push them apart. We’ll also cover it’s role in generating success for several key business areas.

Connect with Pete McGraw:

Website: petermcgraw.org/

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You’ll Learn:

  • [03:17] - Pete explains the principles of humour, and it's commonalities and differences across various demographics.
  • [05:03] - Pete dicsuses how to cultivate humour.
  • [07:32] - Pete covers the negative side of humour, and how it should be regulated in a work environment.
  • [09:53] - Pete talks about humour within cultures, and how forgiveness can be a complimentary quality.
  • [11:03] - Pete uses the analogy of being a supporting actor in life, and how productive it is when people act with this mindset.
  • {16:59] - Pete discusses the role of humour in sales and marketing, and how enthusiasm is a powerful tool for making an impact.
  • [18:55] - Pete lists some qualities that present charisma, including the use of movement and well placed silence.
  • [20:41] - Lightning round with Peter McGraw.

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 Gervase!

Feb 1, 2018

Gervase Bushe is the Professor of Leadership and Organisational Development at the Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. His career spans over three decades of transforming organisational structures, cultures and processes, away from command and control and towards more collaborative work systems. Gervase is an award winning author of over one hundred papers and has three books on organisational change, leadership, teams and teamwork. His newest co-authored book, “Dialogic Organisation Development: The Theory and Practise of Transformational Change,” builds on his ground breaking research into how appreciative inquiry leads to transformational change, and is gathering international acclaim. He has consulted to blue chip corporations and start-ups, public sector and business corporations in a variety of sectors and, in 2016, HR Magazine in the UK added him to their list of the 30 Most Influential HR thinkers.

Today we’re talking with Gervase about how to create changes in workplaces that enable them to flourish. Gervase shares his award-winning insights on why we need to understand more about how living systems thrive, the role of leaders and the danger of big visions, and how to ask generative questions that shift people’s thinking and behavior.

Connect with Gervase Bushe:

Website: gervasebushe.ca

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You’ll Learn:

  • [03:05] - Gervase introduces transformational change processes, and explains the results of tests he's done in that area.
  • [07:18] - Gervases gives his experience of how self organisation has been integrated into the workplace.
  • [11:26] - Gervase explains the difference between a 'positive' and 'generative' approach.
  • [16:27] - Gervase shares his tips on asking more generative questions.
  • [16:35] - Gervase talks about how to focus on developing positive traits, rather than trying to eliminate the negative.
  • [26:59] - Lightning round with Gervase Bushe

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 Gervase!

Jan 25, 2018

Peggy Holman is an author and consultant who employs dialogical practices to turn passivity into participation. Her award-winning book, Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into Opportunity, provides a roadmap for tackling complex systems challenges. In the Change Handbook she and her co-authors profile 61 processes that enable diverse groups to create their desired future. As co-founder of the non-profit, Journalism that Matters, Peggy has helped to cultivate a journalism community of practise that is committed to journalism, which supports communities and democracy to thrive.

Today we’re talking to Peggy about what researchers are learning enables workplaces and systems to flourish, and why chaos rather than balance holds the key to learning and growth. Peggy shares her insights on how to create positive disruptions that enable a system to change, why passion and responsibility are the keys to authentic leadership and how leaders can mobilize and support people in taking action.

Connect with Peggy Holman:

Website: www.peggyholman.com

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You’ll Learn:

  • [03:40] - Peggy explains why it's important to challenge the current systems in place, and how disturbance can prompt change.
  • [07:47] - Peggy talks about how to actively guide disruptive factors, rather than taking a passive approach.
  • [15:16] - Peggy discusses the benefits of open space technology.
  • [18:47] - Peggy explains why organisations have difficulty embracing self organisation.
  • [21:10] - Peggy covers how self organisation has been proven to benefit work processes.
  • [22:25] - Peggy gives examples of principles and support that can help open space technology function at it's best.
  • [23:20] - Peggy talks about some new approaches that have been discovered.
  • [25:11] - Peggy lists some cautions and caveats when implementing these approaches.
  • [25:51] - Lightning round with Peggy Holman

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 Peggy!

Jan 18, 2018

Jacqueline Stavros is an Associate Professor at the Lawrence Technological University and has been honored with the LTU Inaugural Presidential Research Award. She’s known for her creation of SOAR, a profoundly positive approach to strategic thinking, planning, and leadership, based on the concept of Appreciative Inquiry.

Today we’re talking to Jacqui about how the SOAR framework and how this can be used to help organizations and teams take a strengths-based, systems approach to strategic planning. and the kind of results they might expect.  Jacqui helps us to understand how SOAR differs from SWOT approaches, how to help the cynics embrace a more strengths-orientated approach and how you conduct a quick SOAR in just a few hours with a team.

Connect with Jacqueline Stavros:

Website: http://soar-strategy.com/

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You’ll Learn:

  • [02:14] - Jackie talks about 'meeting people where they're at].
  • [02:50] - Jackie explains generative questions.
  • [03:43] - Jackie gives an introduction to SOAR (strengths, opportunities, aspirations & results) and how it works.
  • [05:55] - Jackie gives example of which situations SOAR is most appropriate for.
  • [08:59] - Jackie explains the '5 'I' Approach'.
  • [12:05] - Jackie discusses the impact of SOAR on the workplace.
  • [17:15] - Jackie talks about potential cautions and caveats of using SOAR.
  • [24:18] - Lighting round with Jacqueline Stavros.

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 Jackie!

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