In this book, David Epstein examines the success of generalists in various fields, including sports, arts, music, invention, forecasting, and science. He argues that generalists, who often find their path late and juggle multiple interests, are more creative, agile, and able to make connections that specialists cannot. Epstein uses stories and research studies to show that wide sampling and late specialization can be more valuable than early specialization, especially in complex and unpredictable environments. He also discusses the distinction between 'kind' and 'wicked' learning environments and the importance of balancing specialization with range for long-term success[2][4][5].
Jeffrey Pfeffer's "Dying for a Paycheck" explores the detrimental effects of workplace stress on employee health and well-being. The book argues that excessive work hours, lack of control, and economic insecurity contribute significantly to health problems and premature death. Pfeffer presents compelling evidence linking workplace stressors to various health issues, including cardiovascular disease and mental health problems. He advocates for systemic changes in workplace culture and policies to prioritize employee well-being. The book challenges the traditional view of work-life balance and calls for a more humane and sustainable approach to work.
Today we're talking to Tom Rath, an author and researcher who has spent the past two decades studying how work can improve human health and wellbeing. During his 13 years at Gallup, Tom was the programme leader for the development of Clifton StrengthsFinder, which has helped over 20 million people to uncover their talents, and went on to lead the organization's employee engagement, wellbeing, and leadership practices worldwide. For the past 5 years Tom has served as a Gallup senior scientists, and is also an advisor, investor, and partner in several startups. His ten books, including StrengthsFinder 2.0, Wellbeing, and Eat Move Sleep have sold more than 10 million copies. His newest book, Life's Great Question: Discover How You Contribute to the World, has just been released.
On today's episode, we're discussing how to ensure our work isn’t doing more harm than good when it comes to our wellbeing, and the simple steps we can take to align our contributions to the things that are meaningful and energizing for people.
Connect with Tom Rath:
You’ll Learn:
- [03:33] - Tom shares the research that suggests that work is killing people when it should be making us healthier.
- [05:55] - Tom explains what we can learn from Tinder when it comes to matching the right people to the right work in an effort to improve our wellbeing.
- [07:55] - Tom offers some tips for what we can do as individuals to ensure our work is energizing and meaningful.
- [12:14] - Tom explains the difference between our passions and our contributions at work and how these impact our wellbeing.
- [14:28] - Tom helps us understand how to align our strengths to our contributions at work
- [16:18] - Tom shares his new tool for helping people to identify their contributions at work.
- [19:06] - Tom outlines the three contributions every team needs from its people to be successful.
- [21:21] - Tom explains how people’s contributions can evolve over time and why personality is not as fixed as researchers have previously thought.
- [25:18] - Tom cautions us on avoiding overplaying our contributions at work and burning ourselves out.
- [27:45] - Tom explains how we can amplify our contributions by managing our time more effectively.
- [29:44] - Tom explains how leaders can recruit people around the contributions people most want to make.
- [31:56] - Tom completes the Lightning Round.
Your Resources:
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 of 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! Thank you Tom!
Making Positive Psychology Work 
