Making Positive Psychology Work

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!

Paige Williams is a Positive Change Solutionary who uses the science of wellbeing to create sustainable positive change within individuals and organizations. She is a lecturer with The Center for Positive Psychology at the University of Melbourne. In this conversation, you will hear Paige share her research on how an Inside-Out-Outside-In approach to improving wellbeing can help to improve work happiness in organizations. Paige explains how achieving successful and sustainable change relies on the dynamic interplay been the individual and the system that they are part of and the practical strategies organizations can use to create upward and sustainable spirals of wellbeing. Connect with Paige Williams: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paige-williams/ You'll Learn: [01:48] – Paige published a paper, Inside-Out-Outside-In: A Dual Approach Model To Developing Work Happiness. She explains this approach to wellbeing in workplaces. [04:52] – Paige explains how workplaces can leverage the factors that help us to improve from the inside out. [05:59] – Paige lists the factors that make up psychological capital and how they can influence outside in elements. [07:42] – Paige describes how a three-day positive psychology training intervention helped build psychological capital in people. [10:43] – Paige talks about using Kim Cameron's Positive Practices framework to help organizations build more positive cultures. [12:15] – Paige lists the insights she shares with leaders who are looking to improve workplace wellbeing. [14:44] – Paige talks about helping organizations and individuals implement and sustain these wellbeing practices. [16:05] – Paige talks about how leaders can provide people with opportunities to reinforce the positive training they've received. [17:02] – Paige discusses what she would like to research in the future. [19:11] – The Lightning Round with Paige Williams Your Resources: Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error – Kathryn Schulz Positive Psychology as Social Change – Robert Biwas-Diener 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 Paige for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Christine Porath is an associate professor at the School of Business at Georgetown University. Christine's research focuses on leadership, organizational culture, the effects of bad behavior in workplaces, and how organizations can create a more positive environment where people can thrive. She recently released a new book, Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace. How often does someone's rude or insensitive behavior zap your energy and motivation? Unfortunately it seems that incivility is on the rise in our workplaces. It can undermine your work performance, and your mental and physical wellbeing. Listen to Christine share strategies on buffering the negative effects of incivility and building more civil organizations. Connect with Christine Porath: ChristinePorath.com You'll Learn: [01:48] – Christine defines "incivility" and says that it has become more prevalent in workplaces. [04:44] – Christine explains that the number one thing driving incivility is stress and feeling overwhelmed. She also talks about technology's role in civility. [06:20] – Christine describes the cost to employees and workplaces from tolerating incivility. [08:13] – Christine shares some tips on how to handle incivility. [11:04] – Christine talks about why wellbeing is the best antidote to incivility. [12:30] – Christine asks, "Who do you want to be?" She explains why answering this question each day may determine our success. [14:36] – The Cycle to Civility is a four step process for organizations to become more civil places. [18:34] – Christine talks about where civility can go awry. [20:13] – There are simple techniques to improve our civility. Christine shares some of these. [23:21] – The Lightning Round with Christine Porath. Your Resources: The Price of Incivility What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful – Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter Triggers: Creating Behaviors That Last — Becoming the Person You Want to Be – Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance – Angela Duckworth Resisting Happiness – Matthew Kelly 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 Christine for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Ellen Langer is a Harvard psychology professor and the director of the Langer Mindfulness Institute. She has been described as "The Mother of Mindfulness" and has authored 11 books and more than 200 articles. Her work has influenced two decades of research in positive psychology. In this conversation, you will hear Ellen share why mindfulness doesn't require you to sit in hours of meditation. She explains the benefits she has found over 40 years of research for the practice of mindfulness in workplaces and what leaders can do practically to be more mindful and how they can help the people they lead to do the same. Connect with Ellen Langer: Websites: EllenLanger.com LangerMindfulnessInstitute.com You'll Learn: [01:30] – Ellen explains why "mindfulness" as the process of noticing new things. [02:15] – Ellen lists some benefits of mindfulness in workplaces. [06:07] – Ellen talks about the practical ways leads can be more mindful. [08:35] – Ellen provides an example of a mindful company that turned a failed product into a successful product. [11:58] – Ellen shares how we can approach the same task differently, depending on our perception of that task and the impact this can have on our performance. [13:53] – Ellen explains the simple changes we can each make to be more mindful. [18:15] – Ellen shares the benefits she's found of having happier workplaces [18:55] – Ellen talks about the impact mindfulness can have on our health. Your Resources: The Art of Noticing – Ellen J Langer The Dinner Party: Stories – Joshua Ferris Making It Work cheat-sheet 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 Ellen for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Roy Baumeister is one of the world's most prolific and influential psychologists. He has published well over 500 scientific articles and more than 30 books. In 2013, he received the highest award given by the Association for Psychological Science, the William James Fellow Award. He is a professor of Psychology at Florida State University. Wish you had more willpower to stick to your resolutions? Roy's early studies found that generally self-control works like a muscle – it gets tired when you exercise it, but if you exercise it a lot, it seems to get stronger. Recently he is finding a link between your willpower and your body's energy system, so when you are feeling tired, hungry, or run down your levels of self-control may be lower. Hear how self-control can help you manage the challenges of life. Connect with Roy Baumeister: Website: http://www.roybaumeister.com/ You'll Learn: [01:45] – Roy explains why self-control seems more important and powerful than self-esteem. [04:30] – Roy describes his findings on how self-control works. [07:01] – Roy comments on a recent study by Carol Dweck where if you believe you have unlimited willpower you will be less likely to deplete it. [09:40] – Roy's current research is finding that when your willpower is depleted you're more likely to jump to conclusions. [14:08] – Roy talks about self-defeating behavior, specifically in situations with short-term gain and long-term loss. [17:36] – Roy explains that people with good self-control generally have fewer stresses and problems. [19:35] – Roy shares some insights on when and how to make positive changes in your life. [20:17] – The Lightning Round with Roy Baumeister Your Resources: Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength – Roy Baumeister and John Tierney A Natural History of Human Morality – Michael Tomasello Cheap Sex: The Transformation of Men, Marriage, and Monogamy – Mark Regnerus 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 Roy for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Garry Davis' corporate career has included more than a decade in executive HR and OD roles in public and private sectors. His work in leadership development and applied positive psychology has been recognized through various awards. In this conversation, you'll hear Garry share his award-winning approach to introducing positive leadership into organizations and his tips for embedding these behaviors to create lasting changes. Garry also shares the surprising truths he learned about organizational cynics and how to manage them through the change process. Connect with Garry Davis: Website - thestylewisegroup.com [01:47] – Garry shares takeaways from his award-winning work. He explains the importance of context. [05:13] – Garry explains why a one-size fits all approach may not work when considering smaller teams within an organization. There can be different cultures with these teams. [07:18] – Garry shares his award-winning case study for the introduction of positive leadership into a workplace. [09:19] – After the conversation is changed, the behaviors need to be embedded. This takes time and using this company as an example, Garry talks about the time-frame to reach sustainability. [13:48] – Garry talks about early adopters and laggers and the impact they can have on implementing these practices. He draws a parallel to the movie, Toy Story. [18:03] – Garry shares what the strategy should be when it comes to the "terrorists" that don't immediately buy in. [19:56] – Garry shares that there may be companies that are not ready for positive psychology practices. [21:10] – The Lightning Round with Garry Davis. Your Resources: The Positive Business Conference Employee Engagement in Theory and Practice – Catherine Truss and Kirsten Alfes 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 Garry for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Sue Ashford is a professor in management and organization at the University of Michigan. Her research interests include leader effectiveness and development, issue selling, self-management and feedback processes in organizations. Are you keen to step up to a leadership role but worried you aren't quite ready? Sue suggests that everyone has leadership potential, and you learn leadership mostly from experience. But if you're racing through your experiences mindlessly, you could be missing out on a lot of learning. By mindfully engaging in your experiences, and being open to growing, developing your skills and getting feedback you can be more effective at learning leadership skills. Connect with Sue Ashford: Sue's Website You'll Learn: [01:42] – Sue will be presenting at the upcoming Positive Business Conference on 'Control Your Own Destiny: Leadership Development through Mindful Engagement.' [03:41] – Sue discusses the leadership is part skill, part mindset, and in part risk. [05:32] – Sue defines 'mindful engagement' as a set of practices that allow you to learn more from the experiences you're in. [07:53] – Sue explains that it's not possible to be mindful every moment of every day, but she says that you can be mindful in certain experiences. [12:45] – Sue says that experimentation with different approaches allows you to find what works and doesn't work. [14:08] – Both anxiety and too much positivity can prevent learning. Emotion regulation can keep your emotions in a middle ground. [15:48] –Referring to yourself in the third person has been found to help regulate emotions. [17:14] – Sue talks about feedback-seeking and explains two strategies for gaining this information. [20:20] – Sue explains why managers struggle with reflection. [23:15] – The Lightning Round with Sue Ashford. Your Resources: The Positive Business Conference A Lapsed Anarchist's Approach to Being a Better Leader – Ari Weinzweig Betwixt and between identities: Liminal experience in contemporary careers – Herminia Ibarra 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 Sue for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Edwin Locke is the Dean's Professor of Motivation and Leadership Emeritus at the University of Maryland. He has published over 300 chapters and articles in professional journals on topics such as motivation, job satisfaction, incentives and the philosophy of science. He is internationally known for his research on goal-setting. Goals are critical in helping us create change in our lives, and yet most people struggle to stick with the goals they set. In this conversation, you'll hear Ed explain the importance of setting goals and what his 35 years of research has discovered about setting effective goals and why SMART goals may not be as smart as you thought they were. Connect with Edwin Locke: Website: http://edwinlocke.com You'll Learn: [01:37] – Ed explains that life is a goal-directed process and if we remain passive in setting goals it's unlikely we will thrive. [04:44] – Ed shares why people struggle with goals. [06:14] – Ed explains why we should be setting difficult goals for ourselves. [07:08] – Ed describes the difference between a performance goal and a learning goal. [09:18] – Ed explains why SMART goals are incomplete. [10:55] – Ed shares the power of goal hierarchies and how to avoid goal conflicts. [12:16] – Ed reminds us that it's important to set goals for your own life and not setting goals to "show off" or goals based on someone else's life. [13:45] – Ed explains why "emotional intelligence" is over-rated for leadership. [15:00] – The Lightning Round with Ed Locke Your Resources: American Psychologist Article – Building A Useful Theory Of Goal Setting & Task Motivation Selfish Path to Romance: How to Love with Passion and Reason – Edwin Locke and Ellen Kenner New Developments in Goal Setting and Task Performance – Edwin Locke and Gary Latham 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 Ed for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!