Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast

Jennifer Moss is a researcher, Co-founder of Plasticity Labs, and a member of the Workplace Happiness Group at the United Nations Global Happiness Council. She is considered to be a Workplace Culture Expert and Thought Leader on the topic of happiness and emotional intelligence, and is author of the bestselling book Unlocking Happiness at Work. In this conversation, Jen guides us through the seven traits that enable happy and high performing employees and offers simple happiness hacks any workplace can use to help improve people's wellbeing.  She also cautions us about the happiness inhibitors that can bring us unstuck and why being happy at work doesn't mean avoiding stress or sadness. Connect with Jennifer Moss: Website: https://plasticitylabs.com/ You’ll Learn: [02:38] - Jen discusses the traits needed for people to be happy and effective at work. [07:27] - Jen talks about how paying attention to the little things can have a big impact on productivity. [10:27] - Jen explains how you can utilize technology

Gabrielle Kelly is the SAHMRI Wellbeing and Resilience Centre's inaugural director. Gabe is a filmmaker, digital media executive, social entrepreneur and strategist, who has worked on human behaviour and systems change in a range of settings, including the groundbreaking Adelaide Thinkers in Residence Programme, where she commissioned and led the residency of professor Martin Seligman in South Australia in an effort to build mental wellbeing and resilience and reduce mental illness at a societal level.  In this conversation, Gabe takes us inside the amazing work being done across the state of South Australia to help an entire population flourish.  She explains the PERMA PLUS dashboard and measure they have created to build a common language for resilience and wellbeing and walks us through the LIMBE approach they have created for embedding systems change.   Connect with Gabrielle Kelly: Website: http://www.wellbeingandresilience.com/ You’ll Learn: [01:55] - Gabe shares how she convinced an entire State to in

Fred Bryant is Professor of Social Psychology at Loyola University in Chicago, where he teaches on Social Psychology, Personality Statistics, and Research Methods. Fred has won numerous teaching awards.  He has produced more than 200 professional publications in Psychology, has presented over 150 papers at professional conferences around the world, and given numerous invited addresses and workshops at many prominent universities.  Fred is best known for his work on savoring, on which he has conducted cross-cultural investigations in a variety of Eastern and Western cultures.  In this discussion, you will hear Fred talk about the practice of savoring and the impact it has on your wellbeing.  Fred summarizes the research on savoring, the process by which savoring works, practical ways we can introduce more savoring into workplaces and cautions for where savoring may go wrong. He also explains why women are generally better at savoring than men! Connect with Fred Bryant: Website: bryant.socialpsychology.org You’

Jessica Amortegui is the Senior Director of Learning and Development at Logitech. Logitech were the winners of the 2016 Positive Business Project Competition, presented by the Center for Positive Organizations at The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. Logitech designs personal peripherals, and they connect customers to their digital experiences. They are recognized for their work in creating community, where it’s employees are invigorated by the work that they do each day. Jessica has spent many years studying, writing about, and applying the practices of positive psychology and positive organizational scholarship. In this conversation, you will hear Jessica share how Logitech is helping its employees use their strengths intelligently at work. She talks about the changes the company has seen from individuals completing the VIA Survey, using job crafting and participating in the free online strengths challenge and explains how Logitech is taking the next step of helping people discover the fears

Robert McGrath is Professor of Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University.  He is also a Senior Scientist at the VIA Institute on Character, program evaluator for Thriving Learning Community, a character development program implemented in fifty middle schools around the United States, and Director of Integrated Care for the Underserved of Northeast New Jersey.   In this conversation, you will hear Robert talk about the exciting work he is doing with various assessments at the VIA Institute.  He shares the latest tools and insights to assess and understand character strengths and explains how these can help you to bring out the best in yourself and others at work.   Connect with Robert McGrath: Website:  http://fdu-psych.com/mcgrath You’ll Learn: [01:53] -Bob explains how you can use your character strengths at work. [04:53] - Bob shares how understand the rankings of their character strengths in the VIA survey and what this means practically for developing our strengths. [9:01] - Bob talks about the recent

Linda Robson is a scholar practitioner, blending work in executive education with consulting and coaching around the elevation of organizations and the individuals who work within them.  Linda received her Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University.  She studied with David Cooperrider and Ron Frey.  She is an advisor at the Fowler Center for Sustainable Value. Linda also helped write The Flourishing Enterprise: The New Spirit of Business.  In this conversation, you will hear Linda share her fascinating research on the language used by high performing teams and why the words we speak impact the results we are able to achieve particularly in organizational change programs. Linda also shares while simply being more positive is not enough, why we need to acknowledge the sense of loss that any change in our workplaces can bring and the practical things leaders can do to use language to improve people's wellbeing at work.  Connect with Linda Robson: Email - Linda.Robson@Case.edu You’ll Learn: [02:20] - Linda expl

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.

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 improv

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

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] -

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 wellbei

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

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 q

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 o

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 peo

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

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 wo

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 wh

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 b

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 an