#36 Michael O'Bryan: The mechanics of our humanity
Feb 9, 2021
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Michael O'Bryan discusses humanity in organizations, positive psychology in business, ethical decision-making, community healing, and racial justice. They explore intersecting identities and systemic issues, emphasizing empathy, compassion, and creating a supportive work environment. The conversation delves into love as a choice and action, highlighting the benefits of understanding neuroscience for personal interactions.
Positive psychology shifted focus to enhancing thriving, not just reducing pathology.
Balancing short-term urgency with long-term consequences challenges decision-making.
Accountability and transparency are crucial in policy development to address systemic issues.
Deep dives
Michael O'Brien's Expertise in Community Development and Human Well-being
Michael O'Brien, an expert in community development, organizational culture, and human well-being, brings over a decade of experience working with resilient yet underserved populations like veterans, adults in recovery, returning citizens, and families experiencing homelessness. His work at the intersection of arts and social sciences focuses on transforming organizational understanding and support for human development, interaction, and performance.
Exploring Positive Psychology and Transformation in Organizations
Michael's discussion delves into positive psychology, emphasizing Martin Seligman's work that revolutionized psychology by shifting the focus from reducing pathology to enhancing flourishing and thriving. The conversation explores how this shift impacted psychology's approach, leading to the field of positive psychology and emphasizing systemic change to support human well-being.
Challenges in Decision-Making and Long-Term Impact
The episode highlights the complexities of decision-making and leadership, pointing out the challenges of balancing short-term urgent responses with long-term consequences. It discusses how historical events like World War II influenced the shift from positive psychology to a focus on pathology due to economic factors, raising questions about the ethical implications of decision-making.
Ethical Considerations in Policy-making and Impact on Society
The conversation delves into ethical dilemmas in policymaking, citing examples like the Purdue Pharma Sackler family scandal to illustrate how profit-driven decisions can perpetuate harm over decades. It challenges societal norms and emphasizes the importance of accountability and transparency in policy development to address systemic issues.
The Importance of Systems Design and Narrative for Behavior Change
The podcast emphasizes the significance of systems design and narrative in fostering behavior change and shifting worldviews. It advocates for utilizing these tools to create humane workplace cultures and societal systems that prioritize human thriving and well-being. The discussion encourages listeners to engage in compassionate inquiry, active listening, and intentional design for meaningful impact.
Michael O'Bryan is on a quest to make truly humane systems by transforming how organizations understand and support human development, interaction, and performance.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.makethingsthatmatter.com
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