Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast

David Desteno is a Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University where he directs the social immersions group. David’s research examines the mechanisms of the mind that shape vice and virtue, and his work continually reveals that human moral behaviour is much more variable than most would predict. He’s regularly featured in the media, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Harvard Business Review to name just a few. David is the author of several books including Emotional Success, The Truth about Trust, and the co-author of the Wall Street Journal’s spotlight psychology best seller, Out of Character. In today’s episode David shares his research on self-control and why harnessing social emotions – like gratitude, compassion and pride – can be an effective and energizing way to improve our levels of grit. Connect with David Desteno: Website: www.davedesteno.com [free_product_purchase id="24033"] You’ll Learn: [01:56] - David talks about the ability to be future oriented and perseve

Jo Mitchell is a clinical psychologist and co-founder of the Mind Room, a health, wellbeing and performance psychology practice in Melbourne, Australia. Jo has over 20 years of sports industry experience and has a specialist interest in working with high performers across all fields to improve their wellbeing, particularly by using the tools of Positive Psychology, Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness. She is also on the board for Action for Happiness Australia. In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing how to introduce wellbeing practices into workplaces that are cautious or skeptical about ‘soft skills’. We’ll explore how to tailor language, create a systems approach and a new app that opens this science up to a much wider market. Connect with Jo Mitchell: Website: themindroom.com.au [free_product_purchase id="23878"] You’ll Learn: [01:58} - Jo explains how she taylors the language used to present ideas of positive psychology, to be openly accepted in typically tough and competitive workplaces. [04:

Patty McCord is a workplace innovator, culture and leadership consultant, and former chief talent officer at Netflix. Patty has many years of working with business leaders and aspiring management to help people realize and practice leadership. She is the author of a wonderful new book, Powerful: Teams, Leaders and the Culture of Freedom and Responsibility, which pushes the boundaries of thinking about the way we work. From abolishing performance reviews to challenging the need for policies, Patty believes people come to work as fully formed adults with a desire to make an impact and to be proud of what they do. Her ideas have been featured in publications around the world, including the Harvard’s Business Review, Fast Company and The Wall Street Journal. In today’s podcast Patty explains why mapping engagement and happiness measures against productivity in workplaces may undermine the very results workplaces are trying to create.  She also shares how Netflix built a thriving culture by treating employees like

Dr. Peter McGraw is an associate professor of marketing and psychology at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business. As a behavioral scientist, his research examines the interrelationship of judgment, emotion, and choice—with a focus on the production and consumption of entertainment. McGraw directs The Humor Research Lab (HuRL) and is the co-author of The Humor Code: A Global Search for What Makes Things Funny. His research has been covered by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, TIME NPR, BBC, and CNN. His work appears in the Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing Research, Management Science, Psychological Science, and the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.  He is currently trying to kick a sweater vest habit – even if it does get him kicked off the Stylist Scientist List. Today we’re talking all about humor; how it can bring people together and push them apart. We’ll also cover it’s role in generating success for several key business areas. Connect with Pete

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

Peggy Holman is an author and consultant who employs dialogical practices to turn passivity into participation. Her award-winning book, Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into Opportunity, provides a roadmap for tackling complex systems challenges. In the Change Handbook she and her co-authors profile 61 processes that enable diverse groups to create their desired future. As co-founder of the non-profit, Journalism that Matters, Peggy has helped to cultivate a journalism community of practise that is committed to journalism, which supports communities and democracy to thrive. Today we’re talking to Peggy about what researchers are learning enables workplaces and systems to flourish, and why chaos rather than balance holds the key to learning and growth. Peggy shares her insights on how to create positive disruptions that enable a system to change, why passion and responsibility are the keys to authentic leadership and how leaders can mobilize and support people in taking action. Connect with Peggy Holman: W

Jacqueline Stavros is an Associate Professor at the Lawrence Technological University and has been honored with the LTU Inaugural Presidential Research Award. She’s known for her creation of SOAR, a profoundly positive approach to strategic thinking, planning, and leadership, based on the concept of Appreciative Inquiry. Today we’re talking to Jacqui about how the SOAR framework and how this can be used to help organizations and teams take a strengths-based, systems approach to strategic planning. and the kind of results they might expect.  Jacqui helps us to understand how SOAR differs from SWOT approaches, how to help the cynics embrace a more strengths-orientated approach and how you conduct a quick SOAR in just a few hours with a team. Connect with Jacqueline Stavros: Website: http://soar-strategy.com/ [free_product_purchase id="22823"] You’ll Learn: [02:14] - Jackie talks about 'meeting people where they're at]. [02:50] - Jackie explains generative questions. [03:43] - Jackie gives an introduction to SO

Reb Rebele is the Research Director for Wharton People Analytics, and teaches in the Masters in Applied Positive Psychology Programme at the University of Pennsylvania. Reb's research, writing and consulting projects bring behavioral science and research into the world of work, to drive better employee experiences and organizational outcomes. Today we're talking to Reb about why being a 'giver' at work can backfire and cause you to hurt the very people you want to help and burn yourself out in the process.  Discover what drives giving behaviors at work, the practical steps you can take to be a self-protective giver and what leaders can do to create their dream team of reciprocity approaches. Connect with Reb Rebele: Website: www.rebrebele.com [free_product_purchase id="22570"] You’ll Learn: [01:44] - Reb explains how helpfulness creates value in the workplace. [03:21] -  Reb talks about how giving too much can be draining and counter-productive. [08:05] - Reb discusses the generosity spectrum that he calls '

Amy Wrzesniewski is a Professor of organizational behavior at the Yale School of Management. For almost two decades, her research has focused on how people make meaning of their work in challenging work contexts or conditions Her findings have been published in a wide range of top academic journals, and highlighted in several best-selling books and popular press outlets, including Forbes, Time, Business Week, Harvard Business Review, U.S. News and World Report, The Economist, as well as bestselling books such as Drive by Daniel Pink, The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor, Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman, and The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler. Do you wish you had more meaning in your work?  Amy explains how you can craft your job, whatever your role and status, to find more meaning in what you do each day at work.  She also shares practical tips for leaders to create an environment that encourages job crafting among employees to help them feel more proactive, engaged and producti

Christopher Kukk is a Professor of Political Science and Social Science at Western Connecticut State University, the Founding Director for the Centre for Compassion, Creativity and Innovation, the author of the Compassionate Achiever, and the co-host of the Compassionate Achiever Podcast. Chris’ research and publications combine neuroscience with the social sciences and focus on education issues, the political economy of natural resources, and the creation and sustainability of civil society. Chris was also a counterintelligence agent for the United States Army, and is regularly featured in the media for his analysis on a wide range of topics and issues. Today Chris explains the neurological differences between empathy and compassion and why compassion may be the key to success in workplaces. He also shares his simple four step approach to creating more compassion and ways this can be practically be applied in workplaces. Connect with Chris Kukk: Website: http://chriskukk.com/ You’ll Learn: [02:16] - Chris e

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] -