

Making Positive Psychology Work
Michelle McQuaid
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 15, 2018 • 29min
Can You Create A Positive Disruption? with Michelle McQuaid
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/ [free_product_purchase id="27103"] 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: MPPW Podcast on Facebook Big Potential by Sean Achor Michelle Mcquaid on Amazon 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 • 27min
Can You Accelerate Wellbeing? with Emily Larson
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: MPPW Podcast on Facebook TED Podcasts Freakonomics The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz 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 • 25min
Can You Build Psychological Safety? with Amy Edmondson
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 [free_product_purchase id="26666"] 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: How to Turn a Group of Strangers Into a Team | Amy Edmondson | TEDxHGSE Building a psychologically safe workplace | Amy Edmondson | TEDxHGSE 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 • 26min
Are You Ready for Action? with Mark Williamson
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: Making Positive Psychology Work on Facebook - Free Gift 10 Keys to Happier Living by Vanessa King A Fearless Heart by thupten jinpa 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 • 27min
Headline: Can You Engineer Trust? with Paul Zak
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 [free_product_purchase id="26345"] 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: Making Positive Psychology Work on Facebook - Free Gift Gwynne Shotwell's TED Talk Eat People by Andy Kessler Trust Factor by Paul J Zaj & Dan John Miller 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 • 28min
Want an Energy Boost? with Elaine O'Brien
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) [free_product_purchase id="26102"] 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: Making Positive Psychology Work on Facebook - Free Gift 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 • 28min
You Build Your Resilience Muscles? with Rick Hanson
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/ [free_product_purchase id="25900"] 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: Resilient by Rick Hanson Resilience training resource Fred Rogers acceptance speech 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 • 30min
Can You Improvise Wellbeing? with Zoe Galvez and Betsy Crouch
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 [free_product_purchase id="25798"] 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: improvhq.com/free-training Team of Teams by General Stanley McChrystal 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 • 23min
Can You Build Wholebeing? with Tal-Ben Shahar
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 [free_product_purchase id="25707"] 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: The Power of Full Engagement by Tony Schwartz & Jim LoehrThe Courage to Teach by Parker J. Palmer Books by Tal-Ben Shahar 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 • 28min
Do You Need A Happiness Business Model? with Jenn Lim
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 [free_product_purchase id="25441"] 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: Scary Close by Donald Miller Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh 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!


