Making Positive Psychology Work

Anna Box is a psychologist, story strategist, and founder of Screen and Soul, where she delivers film and thriving workshops, designed to deliver evidence-based well-being and performance psychology, all while feeling like a day at the movies. In all she does, Anna mashes the art of story with the science of thriving. Connect with Anna Box: Anna Box on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabox/ You'll Learn: [02:55] - Anna explains how to fuse storytelling and thriving in workplaces. [04:45] - Anna talks about the role of Joseph Campbell's "Hero's Journey Approach" in storytelling. [06:05] - Anna describes how she's teaching leaders to improve thriving in workplaces by helping them understand more about the hero's journey. [10:30] - Anna shares cautions about using film to teach wellbeing and how to protect from those things. [17:02] - Anna shares that the neuroscience of stories work. [18:14] - Anna discusses teaching leaders how to tell stories that might help to improve their people's wellbeing. [20:12] - The Lightning Round with Anna Box. Your Resources: Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead - Brené Brown Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead - Brené Brown A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled - Ruby Wax 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!

Scott Barry Kaufman is an author, researcher, speaker, and public science communicator. He is interested in using psychological science to help all kinds of minds live a creative, fulfilling, and meaningful life. Scott is a professor of positive psychology at The University of Pennsylvania. His research has been featured in The Atlantic, Scientific American, Psychology Today, and the Harvard Business Review, just to name a few of the many publications. Scott is the host of The Psychology Podcast, which I highly recommend listening to. In this conversation, you will hear Scott talk about creativity in the workplace. While creativity can be messy, and organizations typically don't like "mess," Scott explains how a "no agenda zone", openness to new experiences, opportunities for awe and other leadership behaviors can improve people's creativity. We also explore the psychological tools of growth mindsets, git and self-compassion that may be needed to support creative risk taking. shares some ways we can improve our creativity at work. Connect with Scott Barry Kaufman: Website: ScottBarryKaufman.com Podcast: The Psychology Podcast You'll Learn: [02:26] - Creativity is messy and organizations typically don't like a mess. Scott explains how they can embrace creativity by embracing uncertainty. [05:10] - Scott discusses the relationship between positive emotion and the creative process. [07:42] - Scott talks about the latest in the neuroscience of creativity. He talks about the importance of "the imagination network." [09:14] - Scott shares way researchers are finding can improve our creativity at work. [11:20] - Scott explains how awe can impact our creativity. [13:46] - Scott talks about how unusual environments can foster creativity, and what organizations and leaders can do to create weird experiences. [16:15] - Scott talks about the psychological skills of growth mindsets and self-compassion that enables us to take creative risks. [17:20] - The Lightning Round with Scott Barry Kaufman. Your Resources: Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind - Scott Barry Kaufman and Carolyn Gregoire Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World - Adam Grant and Sheryl Sandberg David Burkus' books on creativity in the workplace Keith Sawyer's books on creativity in the workplace The Power of Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence - Dacher Keltner 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!

Dr. Suzy Green is a coaching and clinical psychologist and founder of the Positivity Institute, a positively deviant organization dedicated to the research and application of positive psychology for life, school, and work. She also holds a number of honorary academic positions at The Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, The Australian Catholic University, The Graduate School of Education at The University of Melbourne, and The Black Dog Institute. Her work has been published in articles around the world. In this conversation, you will hear Suzy share the research on why cultivating positive emotions matter when it comes to our performance and wellbeing at work. Suzy shares the practical things employees, leaders and organizations can do to improve mood in workplaces and how to implement these approaches at a systems level. Connect with Suzy Green: Website - http://thepositivityinstitute.com.au You'll Learn: [02:00] - Suzy and I recently had the opportunity to work together on researching and writing a chapter for the new Handbook of the Psychology of Positivity and Strengths-Based Approaches to Work. Suzy shares what stood out to her in this research. [04:17] - There has been a lot of debate about measuring positivity ratios as a way to assess our wellbeing. Suzy shares the advice that she gives her clients about that approach. [06:16] - Suzy explains the importance of self-awareness when it comes to managing our moods. [08:38] - If you are looking to boost your heart-felt positivity, Suzy gives you her go-to activities. [09:56] - Suzy shares some advice if you are in a leadership role and trying to boost positivity within your team. [12:03] - Suzy provides some advice to companies wanting to implement these ideas in authentic ways. [14:50] - Suzy talks about helping organizations go beyond training with these practices. [21:01] - Suzy shares what sees as the most compelling parts of the business case at the moment, based on research. [25:05] - The Lightning Round with Suzy Green Your Resources: The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of the Psychology of Positivity and Strengths-Based Approaches at Work Positive Leadership: Strategies for Extraordinary Performance - Kim Cameron The Positive Organization: Breaking Free from Conventional Cultures, Constraints, and Beliefs - Robert E. Quinn The Three Questions (Based on a story by Leo Tolstoy) - Jon J. Muth 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!

BJ Fogg is an experimental psychologist who directs the behavior design lab at Stanford University. He is renowned for creating breakthrough methods for changing human behavior. These methods are called, "Tiny Habits." Fortune Magazine has named BJ one of the 10 New Gurus You Should Know. In this conversation, you will hear BJ talk about the tiny habits method. He explains how small behavior changes are easier to implement and sustain when it comes to creating lasting positive changes. He shares the three simple steps you can take to make tiny habits part of your daily wellbeing routine. Connect with BJ Fogg: Website: TinyHabits.com You'll Learn: [01:29] - BJ talks about his research on making positive behaviors stick. [02:09] - BJ explains what a "tiny habit" is and how it works. [04:12] - BJ describes how he used the tiny habits method with daily pushups. [06:19] - BJ talks about our brains adapting to tiny habits. [07:23] - In case the habit isn't "taking." BJ shares how to tweak the recipe. [10:26] - BJ explains that simplicity lies at the heart of behavior change. [13:35] - BJ tells us why celebration is important to help behavior changes continue. [18:34] - BJ shares how his newest research is looking to uncover super tiny ha bits that have the biggest impact on our wellbeing. Your Resources: Persuasive Technology: Using Computers to Change What We Think and Do - BJ Fogg BJ Fogg Ted Talk 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!

Dr. Richard Davidson is the William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry and the Director of The Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, both at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a renowned neuroscientist and one of the world's leading experts on the impact of contemplative practices, such as meditation on the brain. He is perhaps best known for his groundbreaking work on the study of emotions in the brain. This conversation with Dr. Richard Davidson was recorded live at the 2014 World Congress on Positive Psychology. This recording has never been played before on our podcast. In this conversation, you will hear Richard share what neuroscientists are discovering about ways to train our brains to improve wellbeing through small daily practices. Connect with Richard Davidson: Websites: http://richardjdavidson.com http://investigatinghealthyminds.org You'll Learn: [01:38] - Richard shares what the latest neuroscience research shows in the area of ways to improve wellbeing. [03:10] - Richard explains that wellbeing can be improved with practice. He talks about practices when it comes to improving wellbeing. [05:30] - Richard recommends that people start implementing these practices gradually. [6:26] - Richard encourages you to go to InvestigatingHealthyMinds.org and download the Compassion Meditation Practice. [07:02] - Mindfulness-based stress reduction is another excellent place to start, according to Richard. [07:41] - Richard explains how gratitude practices can help train our brains. [09:30] - Richard says that turning behaviors into habits is an effective way to embed these practices, neurologically. [11:37] - Richard describes some of the newer research now underway to understand how we can train our brains for wellbeing. Your Resources: The Emotional Life of Your Brain: How Its Unique Patterns Affect the Way You Think, Feel, and Live--and How You Can Change Them - Richard Davidson and Sharon Begley 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!

Lindsay Oades is the director and an associate professor at The Center for Positive Psychology at The University of Melbourne, where he oversees the masters of applied psychology program. Lindsey's study and application of wellbeing ranges from individuals, mental health systems, educational institutions, workplaces and liveable cities. He has published over 100 journal articles and books chapters on these topics. He is the co-editor of the International Journal of Wellbeing and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board at the Institute of Coaching at Harvard University. In this conversation, you will hear Lindsay shares some of the latest findings on how wellbeing practices can improve organizational performance. He also explains why focusing on improving individual wellbeing alone is not enough, and why we need to also address wellbeing at the team and organizational level and how we can approach this in workplaces. Connect with Lindsay Oades: LindsayOades.com Wiley.com education.unimelb.edu.au/cpp You'll Learn: [02:38] - Lindsay shares why he believes organizations are struggling to capitalize on the growing evidence about how wellbeing practices impact workplaces. [03:59] - Lindsay talks about the individual approaches for applying positive psychology at work. [06:09] - Lindsay explains why cultivating happy workers is overstated. [08:03] - Lindsay shares the importance of improving wellbeing at team levels and how this can be addressed. [14:30] - Lindsay talks about how organizational practices and policies and enable or restrict workplace wellbeing. [16:27] - Lindsay shares the advice he is currently giving to leaders about improving wellbeing at a systemic level. [20:33] - Lindsey explains why wellbeing literacy matters in workplaces. [22:22] - The Lightning Round with Lindsay Oades. Your Resources: Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace - Christine Porath Eat Move Sleep: How Small Changes Lead to Big Changes - Tom Rath 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!

Emilia Lahti is a researcher and social activist whose life mission is to be a catalyst for human connection, compassion, and nonviolence. She has given talks at Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Tedx, as well as at Singularity University at NASA Ames, where she studied futurism and exponential technology. Her work has been featured in the New Yorker, Business Insider, and Forbes, among others. In this conversation, Emilia shares her research on sisu,an ancient Finnish construct that describes what enables you to endure the toughest of life's situations and take extraordinary action against seemingly impossible odds. Emilia explains how we might be able to cultivate more sisu and why it can help us to exceed our own expectations and discover what we're really capable of. Connect with Emilia Lahti: Website: http://emilialahti.com http://sisunotsilence.com You'll Learn: [02:01] - Emilia explains that sisu is a latent inner-power and the difference between sisu, resilience and grit. [05:49] - Emilia addresses the question if sisu is something we are born with or is cultivated. [06:52] - Emila explains what an action mindset is and how it relates to sisu. [08:33] - Emila talks about what she is learning about our latent power to exceed our own expectations. [13:51] - Emilia shares why sisu is not a solo endeavor. [17:29] - Emilia explains her "Sisu Not Silence" movement and how she hopes to run the length of New Zealand to end the silence on interpersonal violence. [21:39] - Emilia defines the dark sisu zone and what to do if you find yourself there. Your Resources: Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success - Adam Grant The Zahir: A Novel of Obsession - Paulo Coelho Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post. Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free! You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing. Thank you Emilia. Until next time, take care!

Mathew White is an award-winning educator who brings a unique combination of a deep academic background in well-being with executive level leadership experience across education, public, and social sectors. Mathew is the Director of Wellbeing and Positive Education at St. Peter's College. He is an Associate Professor in the graduate school of education at the University of Melbourne. In this conversation, you will hear Mathew talk about the new book he recently edited, "Future Directions In Wellbeing" and the ground-breaking ways positive psychology can be applied in workplaces and schools. He also shares some of the gaps he encourages all wellbeing researchers and practitioners to be thinking about. Connect with Matthew White: Website: http://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/display/person174409#tab-overview Twitter: @Mathew_WhitePhD You'll Learn: [01:45] -Mathew shares the three big a-ha moments for him as he reviewed the essays on the future on wellbeing for the book. [04:19] - Mathew discusses the idea of well-being models in schools and parenting. [07:13] - Mathew talks about how organizations can improve wellbeing. [09:32] - Mathew shares how positive psychology is being integrated into the human resource practices at St. Peter's College. [11:18] - Mathew explains how St. Peter's College is maintaining the momentum of wellbeing practices after seven years of implementation. [13:46] - Mathew talks about wellbeing literacy in workplaces. [16:03] - Mathew lists a few gaps in the field of wellbeing. [18:00] - The Lightning Round with Mathew White Your Resources: Future Directions in Well-Being: Education, Organizations and Policy - Matthew A White and Gavin R Slemp The Strength Switch: How The New Science of Strength-Based Parenting Can Help Your Child and Your Teen to Flourish - Lea Waters Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined - Scott Barry Kaufman Scott Barry Kaufman TedX I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban - Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb 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!

Dr. Ryan Niemiec is a leading figure in the education, research, and practice of character strengths that are found in all human beings. He is Education Director of the VIA Institute on Character, a global, nonprofit organization. He is an award-winning psychologist and adjunct professor at Xavier University, an annual instructor at The University of Pennsylvania. He is a frequent speaker and workshop leader on positive psychology topics around the world. His latest book is Character Strengths Interventions: A Field Guide for Practitioners. In this conversation, you will hear Ryan talk about how your character strengths are the fuel that makes our other strengths rise. Ryan talks about ways to identify and develop your strengths at work each day and the behavioral traps that can bring your strengths unstuck. Connect with Ryan: Websites: http://www.ryanniemiec.com and http://viacharacter.org You'll Learn: [02:12] - Ryan starts the conversation by explaining what a strength is. [03:36] - Over 5 million people have measured their strengths by using the wonderful VIA Character Survey. [04:24] - Ryan talks about The Power Zone of Strengths. [07:35] - Ryan explains what he has found around subsets of our character strengths. [10:39] - Ryan discusses the idea of taking middle strengths and moving them up. [14:38] - Ryan selects three of his favorite strengths and interventions from his latest book. He talks about subtract signature strength, appreciation, and alignment. [21:00] - In his book, Ryan shares behavioral traps around developing our strengths. He shares some words of caution. He talks about trying to immediately apply a concept and the need to be flexible in this work. [23:35] - The Lightning Round with Ryan Niemiec. Your Resources: Character Strengths Interventions: A Field Guide for Practitioners - Ryan Niemiec The Upside of Stress: Why Stress is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It - Kelly McGonigal Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post. Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free! You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing. Until next time, take care! Thanks for joining us today Ryan!

Elise Morris is a positive psychology practitioner, and Director of People and Culture at Swisse Wellness, who were recently recognized by the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business as a global example of excellence for their work in whole person wellness. Elise believes wholeheartedly that other people matter, and when we live and lead from this perspective, we can unlock ours and others ability to thrive and flourish. . Would you like to implement a comprehensive wellbeing program to take people from functioning to flourishing in your organization? Elise explains the programs and initiatives Swisse Wellness are implementing as part of their whole person wellness program. These come under three pillars – movement, nutrition and mindfulness. Hear about the successes, and her hopes for further integrating the program within the organization. Connect with Elise Morris: Website - StillNorth.com.au You'll Learn: [02:08] - Elise shares why Swiss Wellness won an award at the 2017 Positive Business Project Conference. [04:40] - Elise explains the growing business case to improve wellbeing at work. [06:56] - Elise talks about getting past our own biases and understanding where someone else is coming from. [08:23] - Elise shares the tools and practices in their program. [10:20] - Elise explains how they are considering how to take a more systems perspective. [13:04] - Elise discusses performance and contribution. [14:17] - Elise shares how they measure the impact of their program. [15:49] - Elise talks about gender and buy-in with the practices. [17:31] - Elise shares a challenge they have faced with rolling out this program. [19:18] - Elise provides advice to others who are thinking about rolling out a similar program. [20:23] - Elise talks about scaling this program for working across multiple markets. [22:55] - The Lightning Round with Elise Morris Your Resources: Positive Psychology in a Nutshell: The Science of Happiness - Ilona Boniwell Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of the Near-Death Experience - Pim van Lommell Authentic: How to be yourself and why it matters - Stephen Joseph Positive Business Conference 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!