Making Positive Psychology Work

Amy Blankson is one of the world's leading experts on the connection between positive psychology and technology. Amy is the only person to be named "a point of light" by two Presidents for creating a movement to activate positive culture change. She has worked with government agencies and large companies to help foster a sense of well-being in the digital era. In this conversation, you will hear Amy talk about how technology is positively and negatively impacting our wellbeing at work. Amy explains how our obsession with smart phones is wearing us out, how to be intelligent and deliberate in the way we use devices and the wearable technology that can actually help to improve our wellbeing. Connect with Amy Blankson: Website - AmyBlankson.com Amy Blankson Ted X Talk You'll Learn: [02:01] - Amy explains why she believes that technology is the biggest disruptor of happiness in human history. [04:13] - Amy shares her thoughts where technology is taking us when considering the way we work and our wellbeing. [06:49] - Amy encourages us to consider our intentions when it comes to technology. [09:30] - Amy talks about an experiment she is currently working on, which involves the frequency of checking an email inbox. [11:39] - Amy shares some advice on how to set other people's expectations based on our intentions. [14:04] - Amy provides us with some statistics on our technology use and its impact on our productivity. [16:30] - Amy talks about how this conversation may change the expectations managers put on employees. [19:15] - Amy explains what digital citizenship means and the practices we need to use to role model good behavior. [21:16] - Amy talks about her current favorite wearable, The Muse Headband. [23:03] - The Lightning Round with Amy Blankson Your Resources: The Future of Happiness: 5 Modern Strategies for Balancing Productivity and Well-Being in the Digital Era - Amy Blankson and Shawn Achor Ripple's Effect - Shawn Achor and Amy Blankson Calm App Headspace App Simple Habit App Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World - Cal Newport Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing Our Humanity to Maximize Machines - John Havens 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!

Jon Berghoff is a co-founder and managing partner of The Flourishing Leadership Institute. He has designed and facilitated whole system change efforts through large group collaborative summits for businesses and institutions of all sizes. His work on appreciative leadership, emotionally intelligent negotiating, and influence has taken him to Australia, Japan, the UK, and Australia. Jon is the official design and facilitation partner for the 4th Global Forum for Business as an Agent of Well Benefit. In this conversation, you will hear Jon share his knowledge and experience in appreciative inquiry. He discusses the idea of an appreciative inquiry summit and provides some example of productive summits. Jon explains how to bring appreciative inquiry into our daily lives and small groups, as well as larger groups and organizations. Jon shares how micro moments can influence macro movements. Connect with Jon Berghoff: Website - http://lead2flourish.comJon Berghoff Ted Talk You'll Learn: [01:54] - Jon shares what he has discovered unleashes our ability to come alive, be at our best, play to our strengths, innovate from everywhere, and deepen our sense of purpose. [02:42] - Jon describes what an appreciative inquiry summit is. [03:42] - Jon shares his definition of appreciative inquiry. [04:53] - Jon provides an example of an appreciative inquiry summit. [09:50] - Jon talks about his work with the city of Cleveland. [12:58] - Jon shares his thoughts on when an appreciative inquiry summit is an appropriate tool. [19:43] - Jon explains why he views appreciative inquiry as a tool. [25:19] - The Lightning Round with Jon Berghoff. Your Resources: Conscious Business: How to Build Values Through Value - Fred Kofman and Ken Wilbur Spiritual Capital: Wealth We Can Live By - Danah Zohar and Ian Marshall 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. Special thanks to Jon for joining us this week. Until next time, take care!

Adam Grant is a leading expert on how we can find motivation and meaning, and live more generous and creative lives. He has been recognized as one of the world's 25 most influential management thinkers, is the author of three New York Times best-selling books, and his TED Talks have been viewed more than 8-million times. In this conversation, you will hear Adam explain how our beliefs about our relationships at work shape the success we are able to achieve. Adam walks us through his research on givers, takers and matchers and what organizations can do to cultivate giving cultures. He also explains how to deal with takers, the value of disagreeable givers and the small practices you can try to be an effective giver. Connect with Adam Grant: Website - http://AdamGrant.net You'll Learn: [02:02] - Adam shares what advice he gives the organizations on how to lead and manage people better. [03:23] - Adam talks about the importance of organization rewarding the right people through measuring others-focused behaviors and results. [05:51] - Adam shares his thoughts on dealing with "takers" in an organization and bringing out the positive qualities in these individuals. [09:55] - Adam explains how to be a thoughtful giver within an organization. [13:56] - Adam cites that doing 5-minute favors at work raises your job satisfaction. He goes on to explain that the receivers of those favors pay back at 278%. [16:00] - Adam shares his thoughts on why self-compassion is important to help set boundaries and say "no" so we can be more effective givers. [17:46] - Adam explains how his opinions have changed on the topic of needing takers in an organization. [20:56] - Adam recently found that the most important driver of engagement at work was pride in the company. [23:31] - The Lightning Round with Adam Grant. Your Resources: Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success - Adam Grant Adam Grant Ted Talk: Are you a giver or a taker? Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy - Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World - Adam Grant Supernormal: The Untold Story of Adversity and Resilience - Meg Jay The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups - Daniel Coyle 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. Special thanks to Adam for joining us this week. Until next time, take care!

Shane was one of the world's leading researchers on hope and was also a senior scientist and research director at The Clifton Strengths Institute, where he explored the links between hope, strengths development, academic success, and overall well-being. For me, one of the most magical moments of this year's World Congress on Positive Psychology was the chance to honor, savor, and build upon the research of Dr. Shane Lopez. I first met Shane at a World Congress years ago, and he was generous enough to allow me to interview him on several occasions. To give you a chance to savor Shane's insight, I thought you might enjoy this interview, which was recorded prior to his death. Shane explains how using your strengths - those things you are good at and enjoy doing - can help you be more engaged in what you do each day at work. And when managers shift their thinking to a more strengths based approach that encourages each person to do what they do best they can make a big difference in engagement, profitability and productivity. Learn how to identify your strengths, how these can change over time, and what you can do to develop yours and others strengths. You'll Learn: [01:45] - Shane shares his journey with strengths. He talks about the work of Don Clifton at the University of Nebraska. [04:00] - Shane explains what a talent is and how they grow into strengths. [05:58] - In the workplace, we focus on weaknesses and try to "fix" those deficits rather than helping individuals find the right role. Shane states how Don focused on talents on finding the roles for people based on those roles. [07:20] - Shane shares that our talents are not static over time, but they don't change a lot. [09:05] - Shane talks about Clifton Strengths Finder. [11:57] - Shane discusses the difference in strengths between entrepreneurs and those working within organizations. [12:23] - If you have taken the strengths finder, Shane suggests you team up with someone else that has taken the assessment. [13:49] - Shane talks about how a workplace can be transformed by catching people doing great work and providing quality feedback. [15:57] - Shane talks about the 70% of disengagement in the workplace. Managers are not exempt from this lack of engagement. [17:33] - Shane shares what managers do to help employees use their strengths at work. [19:47] - Shane talks about the changes of strengths in college students and how that will eventually change the culture of workplaces. [20:48] - Shane speaks about seeing strength development at the preschool level. Your Resources: Making Hope Happen: Create the Future You Want for Yourself and Others - Shane Lopez 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. Vale Shane Lopez. Until next time, take care!

Richard Ryan is a professor at the Institute for Positive Psychology in Education at the Australian Catholic University. He is also a research professor of Psychology at the University of Rochester in New York. Rich is a clinical psychologist and co-developer of self-determination theory, one of the leading theories of human motivation. With over 300 papers and books in the areas of human motivation and personality and psychological well-being, he is among the most cited and influential researchers in psychology and social sciences. In this conversation, Rich discusses how we can motivate ourselves and others at work and what we can do practically to cultivate autonomy, competence and relatedness. He also explains the motivational pull of games and shares how elements within games can be used to improve wellbeing. Connect with Rich Ryan: Rich's Website You'll Learn: [01:53] - Many organizations still struggle with motivating individuals to do their best work. Rich shares his findings in what actually works. [02:41] - Rich explains why many organizations struggle with implementing strategies based on his findings. [03:54] - Rich shares some of the factors his research finds are important for leaders to be able to enable in team members. [05:10] - Rich explains why there are fundamental needs for flourishing. [06:39] - Rich describes how neuropsychology is adding to his understanding of what motivates us. [08:03] - Rich shares some outcomes leaders can expect if they make these changes. [09:47] - Rich talks about how to teach leaders to be more autonomy supportive of their employees. [10:53] - Rich shares that he has been inspired by the rise of the executive coaching culture. [12:00] - Rich talks about the balance of incentives without undermining motivation. [14:01] - Rich wrote a book on the motivational pull of games and he discusses the elements of games that can be utilized in workplaces. He also explains why gamification can be bad for organizations. [18:04] - Rich talks about new health programs that use incentives to encourage behavior changes. [20:19] - Rich talks about the importance of change in the process. [21:26] - The Lightning Round with Rich Ryan Your Resources: Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness - Richard Ryan and Edward Deci Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us - Daniel Pink Glued to Games: How Video Games Draw Us In and Hold Us Spellbound - Scott Rigby and Richard Ryan 7 Minute Workout Primed to Perform: How to Build the Highest Performing Cultures Through the Science of Total Motivation - Neel Doshi and Lindsay McGregor 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. Special thanks to Rich for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Kristin Neff is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Kristin is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research. In addition to writing numerous academic articles and book chapters on the topic, she's the author of the book, Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself and creator of the CD series Self-Compassion Step by Step: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. In conjunction with her colleague, Dr. Chris Germer, she's developed an 8-week training program called Mindful Self-Compassion. In this conversation, you will hear Kristin talk about self-compassion. She explains why our fear of failure and anxiety over performance are the two biggest reasons we don't do as well as we should and shares how the simple practices of self-compassion can help us to feel more confident, motivated and resilient. Connect with Kristin Neff: Website: http://self-compassion.org/ You'll Learn: [01:58] – Kristin provides some cultural and biological reasons that self-criticism is often our first response when things don't go to plan. [04:06] – Kristin shares what her research shows to indicate that self-compassion is a better response in these moments. [05:41] – Kristin describes some of the key skills people can learn through her program on self-compassion. [07:26] – Kristin lists a few self-compassion practices that are ideal for work settings. [09:17] – Kristin talks about the universal sound for comfort and compassion. [13:49] – Kristin discusses the importance of self-compassion in the mix of other positive psychology practices. [14:33] – Kristin shares some things organizations and leaders can do to encourage self-compassion practices. [17:13] – Kristin explains "backdraft" and the types of people that may struggle with implementing self-compassion practices. [19:20] – Kristin reports that women are less self-compassion, but more compassionate to others than men. [20:58] – The Lightning Round with Kristin Neff Your Resources: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance - Angela Duckworth The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions - Christopher K. Germer and Sharon Salzberg Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. 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. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free! Special thanks to Kristin for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Duncan Young is the head of Workplace Health and Well-being at Lend Lease. Duncan is a passionate advocate for the positive impact of workplaces on our health. In this conversation, you will hear Duncan talk about the techniques he has helped implement in his organization to help leaders make well-being improvements. Leaders can make these changes based on the information they gather by wearing a heart-rate monitor, keeping the diary, and learning about improving the energy profile. Connect with Duncan Young: LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/duncan-young-6708389 You'll Learn: [01:40] - Duncan explains why improving well-being is such an important issue for Lend Lease and why leaders are becoming more aware of this importance. [02:44] - Duncan believes we are becoming aware of the impact lifestyle have. [03:20] - Duncan shares details on the programs he has created at Lend Lease to help leaders understand their well-being has on their performance. [04:28] - Duncan describes the technology they are using to help leaders understand how their everyday choices impact their well-being. [05:35] - Duncan explains how a diary is used in this process. [06:51] - Duncan talks about the ideal balance of energy expenditure and energy renewal at work. [08:25] - Duncan shares what individuals can take away from the information from the programs he's developed. [09:18] - Duncan provides some examples of the techniques people can implement to improve their profile. [11:25] - Duncan lists a few out-of-the-box ways to restore energy levels. [12:55] - Duncan explains how collecting data can help individuals make changes. [14:38] - Duncan believes it is important for leaders to share this information and these techniques with employees. [16:31] - Duncan talks about how small changes can become embedded in the company culture and give individuals the support to improve well-being. [17:52] - Duncan shares one caution for organizations wanting to improve well-being. [18:34] - The Lightning Round with Duncan Young. Your Resources: The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity - Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free! Special thanks to Duncan for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Dr. Alia Crum is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Stanford University. Her award-winning research focuses on how changes in our subjective mindsets can alter our objective reality through behavioral, psychological, and physiological mechanisms. She is an organizational training and consultant on mindset change and stress management. A mindset is a lens in which you view the world. The mindsets we choose play a dramatic role in shaping our physiology and behavior. In this conversation, you will hear Alia discuss some of her fascinating studies and the findings from those studies. She specifically talks about mindset with stress, exercise, and food indulgence. Connect with Alia Crum: Website: http://mbl.stanford.edu You'll Learn: [01:40] - Alia sets the framework for this conversation by explaining what a mindset is and how they work. [02:31] - Alia lists some of the things that shape our mindset and why they shape the way we feel and act. [04:15] - Alia talks about some of her research and findings. She discusses a mindset intervention she did with hotel room attendants in regards to exercise. Another study was on food indulgence. [07:57] - Alia describes her studies on stress and mindset. [11:23] - Alia talks about sharing the full truth of stress, then talking about the power of mindset and a 3-step approach. She shares what this 3-step approach is. [14:06] - Alia shares the overall purpose of a mindset shift. [15:07] - Alia explains that mindsets on gender can impact organizations. [16:04] - Alia describes how organizations can become more aware of mindsets. [17:43] - Alia shares what is currently on her mind in regards to mindsets. [19:24] - The Lightning Round with Alia Crum. Your Resources: The Magic of Conflict: Turning a Life of Work into a Work of Art - Thomas Crum Journey to Center: Lessons in Unifying Body, Mind, and Spirit - Thomas Crum Three Deep Breaths: Finding Power and Purpose in a Stressed-Out World - Thomas Crum Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. 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. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free! Special thanks to Alia for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Barry Schwartz is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Swarthmore College and a visiting professor at the Haas School of Business at Berkeley. Barry spent 40 years thinking and writing about the interaction between economics and morality. He has written several best-selling books, including The Paradox of Choice and Why We Work. Barry's Ted Talks have been viewed by more than 14 million people. When it comes to making decisions do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the number of choices you have? It seems that while choice is good for your wellbeing, more choice isn't necessarily better – there's a tipping point where too many options can paralyze you and lead to regrets. Hear how adapting a 'good enough' strategy, rather than searching for the ultimate best option, can help you navigate more successfully through your choices and improve your wellbeing and how these practices can be applied in workplaces. Connect with Barry Schwartz: Website – http://www.swarthmore.edu/profile/barry-schwartz Ted Talks – https://www.ted.com/speakers/barry_schwartz You'll Learn: [01:58] – Barry shares the dogma he believes that guides many western industrialized societies that is undermining our wellbeing. [03:38] – Barry talks about how having too many choices can lead to bad decisions and regrets. [04:54] – Barry explains the difference between maximizing and satisficing strategies when it comes to your choices. [06:48] – Barry shares how organizations with a culture of 'good enough' are likely to result in more satisfied, productive and effective employees. [10:20] – Barry talks about growth mindset and clarifies that having high standards and an end-result to aim for can keep you motivated on the journey. [11:41] – Barry shares his thoughts on balancing your inner-critic and self-compassion. [13:50] – Barry explains his researcher with Adam Grant on the "The Inverted U" and why you can have too much of a good thing when it comes to improving your wellbeing. [18:50] – Barry believes that it's possible for every worker at every company to find meaning and fulfillment from their jobs and explains how. [20:36] – The Lightning Round with Barry Schwartz Your Resources: Too Much of a Good Thing – Barry Schwartz & Adam M. Grant Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being – Martin Seligman Grit: The Power and Passion of Perseverance – Angela Duckworth Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol S. Dweck Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. 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. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free! Special thanks to Barry for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Emily Esfahani Smith is a graduate of Master of Applied Positive Psychology program at the University of Pennsylvania, where she now serves as an instructor. Emily draws on psychology, philosophy, and literature to research and writes about the human experience. She is the author of the best-selling book, The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters. Research shows that people who value happiness in the way our culture encourages us to do are left feeling empty and unhappy. What brings true happiness and satisfaction is meaning. We all want to know that our lives matter. In this conversation, you will hear Emily share the four pillars of meaning and the small, practical ways you can find meaning in your work no matter what your job description or your boss says. Connect with Emily Esfahani Smith: Website – http://emilyesfahanismith.com Twitter – @EmEsfahaniSmith You'll Learn: [01:44] – Emily explains why meaning matters when looking at wellbeing. [03:41] – Emily shares what her research shows might make life more meaningful. [06:35] – While people are reporting their sense of loneliness is escalating, Emily provides some examples of how we can increase our sense of belonging at work. [09:16] – Emily says that if we don't feel a sense of belonging, it may be up to us to reach out and connect with others and explains how we can do this at work. [10:03] – Emily puts "purpose" into context and shares how we can find purpose in our jobs. [12:45] – Emily explains how storytelling provides a path to meaning. [15:30] – Emily discusses Laura King's exercise with our lost selves and how that might help us with storytelling. [17:50] – Emily talks about The Moth and how it creates an environment for storytelling. [18:56] – When looking at transcendence, Emily shares why aura is important to our sense of meaning. [20:53] – The Lightning Round with Emily Esfahani Smith. Your Resources: The Moth Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude – Jim Collins and Michael S. Erwin Middlemarch – George Eliot and Rosemary Ashton Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. 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. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free! Special thanks to Emily for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!