Making Positive Psychology Work

Peggy Kern is a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne's Graduate School of Education in the Center for Positive Psychology. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles, and her research addresses the question, "Who flourishes, and why?" Are we oversimplifying positive psychology? While the field has made much progress over the last 15 years in helping people find ways to improve their wellbeing, however, at best interventions are only beneficial for some people, some of the time, and are far from a magic bullet for everyone in all situations. Peggy suggests combining positive psychology's focus on the individual with systems science to take into account the complex reality of our everyday contexts, could assist target interventions for individuals and the collective good. Connect with Peggy Kern: Website: http://peggykern.org You'll Learn: [01:36] – Peggy has been working with a team of collaborators at Melbourne University that merges positive psychology with systems science to create positive systems science. She explains this merging of two interdisciplinary fields. [04:49] – Peggy shares how systems science helps us figure out which positive psychology interventions will be helpful for specific outcomes at different times. [11:10] – Peggy talks about how a systems map helps discover the relationships between things. [13:12] – Systems are complex, dynamic and changing. [15:13] – Peggy talks about how system science needs to be developed to help people flourish. [17:23] – Peggy addresses how we can get organizations to see themselves as wellbeing systems. [18:24] – To determine if a system is flourishing, measurement is necessary. Peggy talks about how the measurements work. [21:08] – This is the early days of this type of thinking. Peggy shares some resources for you to learn more, such as her blog. [22:08] – The lightning round with Peggy Kern. Your Resources: The Soul of Money: Reclaiming the Wealth of Our Inner Resources – Lynne Twist Peggy's Positive Systems Science Blog Understanding Systems Science: A Visual and Integrative Approach – Andreas Hieronymi 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 Peggy for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Professor Carol Dweck is widely regarded as one of the world's leading researchers in the fields of personality, social psychology, and developmental psychology. She has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the US Academy of Sciences and won nine lifetime achievement awards for her research. Her work is used by organizations around the world to transform their cultures. In this conversation, you will hear Carol talk about fixed and growth mindsets and how her research has found they can impact our performance at work. She draws on her experience of helping organizations implement this type of mindset to share the small changes workplaces can make to cultivate growth mindset environments and where this can go wrong. Connect with Carol Dweck: Website: http://mindsetonline.com/abouttheauthor/ You'll Learn: [02:10] – Carol explains the differences between fixed and growth mindsets, according to her research. [04:56] – Carol shares how her studies have found that when there is a fixed mindset culture with an organization, there's a lot of unethical and unhealthy behaviors because of the pursuit of outcomes. [08:41] – Carol shares that innovation is coming out of growth mindset companies at a higher rate. [10:22] – Carol's recent article in the Harvard Business Review points out some of the misconceptions around growth mindsets in workplaces. She explains what those misconceptions are. [13:00] – Carol talks about how Microsoft are cultivating growth mindsets across their teams. [19:32] – Carol explains why she believes self-compassion works well with a growth mindset. [23:20] – Carol shares where the growth mindset and these strategies can go wrong and the importance of evaluation. [24:16] – The Lightning Round with Carol Dweck. Your Resources: Carol's article in Harvard Business Review: What Having a "Growth Mindset" Actually Means How Microsoft Uses Growth Mindset to Develop Leaders Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol 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 Carol for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Dacher Keltner is a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley. He is also the faculty director of The Greater Good Science Center. Dacher's research focuses on the biological and evolutionary origins of compassion, love, beauty, power, social class, and inequality. Do you run towards or away from having more power? Often perceived as the need to manipulate, coerce or dominate others, it turns out that power is actually the ability to make a difference in the world by influencing others. As a result power is not something to be taken, but given to us through the practices of empathy, kindness, generosity and gratitude. The paradox however is that as our power grows from these practices, it often ends up disconnecting us from the very people we serve. So how can we navigate the power paradox? Connect with Dacher Keltner: Website – http://psychology.berkeley.edu/people/dacher-keltner You'll Learn: [01:35] – Dacher defines "power" as your capacity to influence other people. [06:53] – Dacher explains that there are small things you can do to feel more powerful. [09:05] – Dacher speaks about Adam Grant's work on keeping your generosity right for the context. [13:06] – Dacher explains how feeling powerful helps ignite your approach system by focusing on rewards, and when you're not feeling powerful it trigger your inhibition system making you more aware of risks. [15:05] – Dacher gives strategies to use to overcome the power paradox. [23:32] – Dacher shares some thoughts on servant leadership. [24:59] – Dacher explains what a future workplace looks like with shared power. [26:40] – The Lightning Round with Dacher Keltner Your Resources: Born to be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life – Dacher Keltner The Compassionate Instinct: The Science of Human Goodness – Dacher Keltner The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence – Dacher Keltner Good Natured: The Origins of Right and Wrong in Humans and Other Animals – Frans B. M. de Waal The Ethics for a New Millennium – Dalai Lama The Greater Good Science Center The Varieties of Religious Experience – William James 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 Dacher for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Vanessa King is a board member of Action for Happiness, which is a UK-based not-for-profit that focuses on proactively building skills for psychological well-being and resilience. She's also the architect of the Ten Keys to Happier Living. She joins me on this episode to talk about In this episode, you will hear Vanessa's Ten Keys to Happier Living, which form the acronym, GREAT DREAM. Vanessa lists these ten keys and describes how they can bring about happier living. She also talks about her program, Doing Well From the Inside Out and describes some of the success she's seen through that program with building well-being in the workplace. As technology changes the landscape of business and the future becomes more difficult to predict, getting back to the basics with well-being is more important than ever. Connect with Vanessa King: Action for HappinessTen Keys to Happier Living You'll Learn: [01:45] - Vanessa explains that the Ten Keys to Happier Living are areas that we can take action in to help ourselves and other people be happier. [02:14] - GREAT DREAM is the acronym for these ten keys and Vanessa walks us through each of the keys. [05:40] - Vanessa talks about how people can stick with these shifts. She explains that approaching these changes with an attitude of experimentation rather than lifestyle transformation where to set expectations. [06:30] - Vanessa explains how sharing what you're doing with other people can help create momentum through accountability. [08:57] - The evidence is still out on these strategies, but Vanessa shares why she believes it's possible long-term improvements in people's well-being. [11:40] - Vanessa emphasizes that these are ten keys to happier living, not ten keys to happiness. [14:06] - Vanessa talks about her program, Doing Well From the Inside Out, which helps build well-being in the workplace. [15:47] - Vanessa shares a few stories about participants that went through this and other programs who experienced transformations. [18:34] - Vanessa explains how she presents these strategies to businesses. She shares there's a need to think about organizations systemically. [22:30] - Technology makes it difficult to predict the future in business. Vanessa explains that requires us to get back to the basics with happy living. [23:14] - The Lightning Round with Vanessa King. Your Resources: Mindful Compassion: How the Science of Compassion Can Help You Understand Your Emotions, Live in the Present, and Connect Deeply with Others - Paul Gilbert PhD Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself - Kristin Neff Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul - Stuart Brown and Christopher Vaughan 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. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free! Special thanks to Vanessa for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

George Bonanno is professor of clinical psychology, Director of the Lost Trauma and Emotion Lab, and Director of The Resilience Center for Veterans and Families at Columbia University's Teacher's College. George's research focuses on resilience in the fact of loss and traumatic events. Most of us have the natural tools to deal with extreme adversities in our lives. We cope well when extreme things happen to us. To deal with the world around us, it takes a repertoire of behaviors. Sometimes, this involves what George calls "coping ugly." Sometimes we might need to do something that doesn't seem pretty but is reasonably effective. Connect with George Bonanno: Website for Lost Trauma and Emotion Lab You'll Learn: [01:55] - George will be presenting on loss, trauma, and resilience at the 5th World Congress on Positive Psychology. He shares what he would like attendees to take home from his presentation. [03:45] - Media coverage ensures that we are aware of negative events. The negative psychological consequences can be overcome, and eventually they go away. [05:38] - George believes that resilience is natural and speaks to the fact that organizations are spending money on trying to enhance resilience. [08:50] - George talks about the behaviors that make us cope better. [11:43] - "Coping ugly" is a phrase that George coined and he talks about what this means. [12:55] - George talks about how laughter can be an example of coping ugly. [14:20] - We all know the famous five stages of grief. George states that these stages have been harmful to many people. [16:25] - The Lightning Round with George Bonanno Your Resources: 5th World Congress on Positive Psychology The Other Side of Sadness: What the New Science of Bereavement Tells Us About Life After Loss - George A. Bonanno Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo - Hayden Herrera 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. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free! Special thanks to George for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Jeffrey Auerbach designs and delivers executive coaching and emotionally intelligent leadership programs. He is the founder and President of The College of Executive Coaching, and past Vice President of the International Coach Federation Global Board of Directors. In this conversation, you will hear Jeffrey talk about the well-being coaching he does with people in the workplace. The biggest part of well-being is career well-being. Jeffrey explains the importance of using strengths intelligently, and when one can't rely on their strengths, doing the work to learn something new. A weakness is sometimes a strength that is overplayed. Jeffrey shares examples of coaching clients to demonstrate how these strategies can be implemented to make positive lifestyle changes. Connect with Jeffrey Auerbach: Website: http://executivecoachcollege.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-e-auerbach-4155722b/ You'll Learn: [01:45] - Jeffrey will be presenting at the 5th World Congress on Positive Psychology. He'll be talking about coaching for executive well-being. He shares what he hopes attendees will take away from his presentation. [03:10] - Jeffrey shares how he coaches people to make changes to achieve well-being. He talks about a few practical applications people can implement. [06:02] - Jeffrey talks about his new book, Positive Psychology in Coaching: Applying Science to Executive and Personal Coaching. [07:59] - In his new book, Jeffrey talks about the dangers of over-using strengths. In the world of leadership, people are hired and promotion because of their strengths. But, when their careers fail, it's because they rely on those strengths rather than being an agile learner. [10:50] - Jeffrey shares how he coaches individuals to build on their strengths, but also be aware of and owning their limitations. [14:49] - Jeffrey cites Barbara Fredrickson's work on the upward spiral of lifestyle change. He shares an example of how positive emotions can make lifestyle changes more likely. [19:33] - Jeffrey talks about situations where well-being or strength-based coaching approaches are not appropriate. [21:07] - Group coaching situations are becoming more common. Jeffrey explains the reasons that he likes this approach. [25:08] - The Lightning Round with Jeffrey Auerbach Your Resources: 5th World Congress on Positive Psychology Personal and Executive Coaching: The Complete Guide for Mental Health Professionals - Jeffrey E. Auerbach Positive Psychology in Coaching: Applying Science to Executive and Personal Coaching - Jeffrey E. Auerbach and Sandra L. Foster Good Business: Leadership, Flow, and the Making of Meaning - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi A Dog's Purpose: A Novel for Humans - W. Bruce Cameron 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. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free! Special thanks to Jeffrey for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Angela Duckworth is a professor at The University of Pennsylvania. She is also the founder and scientific director of The Character Lab. She has advised the White House, professional sports teams and Fortune 500 CEO's. In this conversation, you will hear Angela discuss the research that she is doing on character with children and teachers in middle schools. Character is not one thing, it is many. Various character strengths fall into three dimensions: interpersonal character, intellectual character, and intrapersonal character. Angela also talks about these types of characters in regards to the workplace. You will also hear Angela talk about grit, and her opinions on the things workplaces are doing to try to cultivate grit. Connect with Angela Duckworth: CharacterLab.org You'll Learn: [01:59] - Angela shares some of the takeaways from her upcoming presentation on character at the 5th World Congress in Positive Psychology. [03:53] - In Angela's research, she looked at a subsets of strengths in the VIA (Values in Action Inventory). [05:31] - Angela says that self-control and grit are in the strength of will family. [06:41] - Angela describes the interpersonal strengths. These allow you to appreciate other human beings. [07:36] - Angela lists some characteristics that she defines as intellectual character. [09:26] - Angela talks about determining where students are in their strengths in these areas of character. [10:42] - Angela believes that these areas of character strengths are relevant to adults, in addition to youth. She describes how these translate to the workplace. [12:36] - Angela talks about the relationship between grit and character and their roles in achievement. [14:00] - Grit is sought-after in the workplaces, and Angela talks about the idea that the role of character will grow in businesses. She explains how strengths in some areas of character can lead to the individual being likelier to have or develop strengths in other areas of character. [16:31] - Angela talks about what workplaces are doing to successfully cultivate grit. [19:42] - Angela shares some concerns she has with workplaces implementing grit exercises. [22:09] - The Lightning Round with Angela Duckworth. Your Resources: 5th World Congress in Positive Psychology CharacterLab.org Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance - Angela Duckworth Getting Grit: The Evidence-Based Approach to Cultivating Passion, Perseverance, and Purpose - Caroline Adams Miller Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise - Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool 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. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free! Special thanks to Angela for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Martin Seligman is a leading authority in the fields of positive psychology, resilience, learned helplessness, depression, optimism, and pessimism. He is the director of the Penn Positive Psychology Center, the Penn Master of Applied Positive Psychology program. In this conversation, you will hear Martin share what he would like attendees to take away from his presentation at the 5th World Congress on Positive Psychology. He talks about changes he is seeing with governments as they implement positive psychology practices. Martin believes well-being should be one of the principle goals of political policy around the world. Martin also talks about positive psychology in the workplace. He shares one small change that he believes can make a big impact on workplaces. He also shares that increases in occupational well-being should decrease accidents and increase safety in the workplace. Connect with Martin Seligman: Website - http://authentichappiness.org You'll Learn: [02:02] - Martin will be speaking at the IPPA World Congress on Positive Psychology in July in Montreal. He shares what he would like attendees to learn in his session, "Positive Psychology: Past, Present, and Future". [03:55] - Martin shares some of the changes he is seeing with governments as they implement these ideas. He shares the five groups to life satisfaction and happiness, which forms the acronym, PERMA. [05:51] - Martin talks about the ways of measuring well-being with psychometric accuracy. [09:03] - Martin shares his confidence that these are the pillars of well-being and that governments can make changes with well-being. He explains how they are using social media to measure the results. [12:17] - Martin states that our positive emotional system is built around the question, "what works?" [13:49] - Martin shares a small change that can make big differences in the workplace. [16:22] - Martin defines good leadership in the workplace. [17:45] - Occupational safety dangers are increased by depression, anxiety, and anger. [18:41] - Martin explains how his original theories on learned helplessness may have been wrong. [20:44] - Martin talks about the idea of positive psychology practices may not be a good fit for certain workplace environments. [22:10] - The Lightning Round with Martin Seligman. Your Resources: Martin Seligman's books on Amazon Flourish - Martin Seligman Homo Prospectus - Martin Seligman 5th World Congress in Positive Psychology 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. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free! Special thanks to Martin for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Sonja Lyubomirsky is a professor of Psychology at the University of California - Riverside. Her research on the science of happiness has been the recipient of many honors. She is a best-selling author of the books The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want and The Myths of Happiness: What Should Make You Happy, but Doesn't, What Shouldn't Make You Happy, but Does. In this conversation, you will hear Sonja share her thoughts and findings on happiness. Sonja shares some of her findings that prove that positive activity interactions work. Sonja also talks about some of the myths of happiness, which is the topic of her latest book. She talks about the identification process to determine which interactions may work for individuals. She also talks about happiness in group dynamics, specifically the workplace. Sonja must present these interventions in various ways, depending on the environment and situation and she explains how she does that. Connect with Sonja Lyubomirsky: Website: http://sonjalyubomirsky.com/ You'll Learn: [01:57] - Sonja shares what she hopes attendees gain from her presentations on happiness. Sonja says that it is possible to become happier. [03:06] - Happiness is a broad term and Sonja describes how she defines the term. [04:07] - Sonja's talks about the short-term and long-term improvements people can make with happiness. She explains that short-term happiness is easier to achieve than long-term happiness. [05:10] - Sonja describes the benefits of people being happy in the workplace. She also explains why it's not a good thing to be "too happy" in the workplace. [06:46] - Sonja lists a few interventions that people can use in the workplace to become happier at work. [08:38]- Sonja shares some of her findings that prove that positive activity interventions work. She talks about gratitude and the role that factors like culture and dosage play a role. [10:37] - In her book, The How of Happiness, Sonja provides a survey to help determine which interventions might work for individuals. She talks about this identification process. [13:04] - Sonja shares some of the myths of happiness. [15:32] - Sonja talks about the idea of happiness and well-being in social environments and with each other in various relationships. [16:50] - Happiness shouldn't be forced on anyone. Sonja talks about situations where happiness interventions aren't the right strategy. [19:11] - Sonja explains how she presents these interventions in different types of workplaces. [20:00] - The Lightning Round with Sonja Lyubomirsky Your Resources: The International Positive Psychology Association's 5th World Congress on Positive Psychology Born to Be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life - Dacher Keltner The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence - Dacher Keltner The Art of Happiness - Dalai Lama The Undoing Process: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds - Michael Lewis 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. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free! Special thanks to Sonja for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Paula Davis Laack is a former practicing lawyer, an internationally published writer, media contributor, and a stress and resilience expert. She has designed and taught burnout prevention and resilience workshops for thousands of professionals around the world. She also taught resilience skills to more than 25,000 soldiers. While a lot of people are familiar with the term "burnout", they don't know what it is and how it develops. In this conversation, you will hear Paula talk about burnout and how individuals can avoid it. She also discusses the strategies that organizations can implement to help team members avoid burnout. Connect with Paula Davis Laack: Website: http://pauladavislaack.com You'll Learn: [01:55] - Paula explains why burnout is such an issue in workplaces, even though businesses have been addressing this issue for a long time. [03:45] - Paula defines "burnout" as a process of chronic stress. She explains the difference between stress and burnout. [05:18] - Paula addresses how individuals can avoid burnout. She provides a template to evaluate your burnout or potential burnout. [07:15] - The "I'm too busy" narrative is something Paula will be addressing in an upcoming blog post. This is something we need to be aware of and stop over-using. [07:44] - Paula talks about STRONG strategies. [09:22] - Small changes can make a huge differences. Paula talks about STOP, which is one of her favorite mindfulness techniques. [10:12] - Paula explains how to use passwords to move forward with your goals. [11:06] - Paula believes resilience skills can be very simple. [12:30] - Paula lists some things organizations can do to help employees avoid burnout. [15:56] - Paula says you can't be "too resilient". This is an important skill for people to have. [19:35] The Lightning Round with Paul Davis Laack Your Resources: Addicted to Busy: Your Blueprint for Burnout Prevention The Upside of Stress: Why Stress is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It - Kelly McGonical Kelly McGonical Ted Talk Daring Greatly - Brené Brown The Psychologically Healthy Workplace: Building a Win-Win Environment Organizations and Employees Self Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself - Kristin Neff 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. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free! Special thanks to Paula for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!