Making Positive Psychology Work

Robert Biswas-Diener, is a leading researcher on culture, wellbeing, positive psychology coaching and author of several wonderful books including the The Upside of Your Dark Side.  With recent political changes in the United States and the UK leaving many feeling fearful and apprehensive about the future, Robert shares his insights on how to become comfortable with these uncomfortable feelings.  He suggests rather than trying to whitewash them, by accepting them, and seeing them as signals that something isn’t right, you can then decide on a constructive response to what’s unfolding.  You can also apply this in workplaces when looming mergers or restructures stir up similar feelings of uncertainty and fear. Connect with Robert Biswas-Diener Robert’s Website - RobertDiener.com PositiveAcorn.com IntentionalHappiness.com You’ll Learn: [01:37] - Robert talks about how emotions are like signals giving us a mental thumbs-up or thumbs-down about the quality of our life.   [05:35] - If you are fearful, it’s telling you that something you care about may be under threat, and you may need to protect it.    [07:54] - Robert explains when you can be comfortably uncomfortable with your negative emotions, instead of feeling overwhelmed, you can act constructively. [11:05] - Robert explains one important step in tolerating these emotions, is to specifically label the emotion to help understand what message it may be telling you. [13:54] – When people are experiencing incredible change in workplaces and feeling very negative, Robert talks about how leaders can build capacity in their employees. [16:20] - Robert says sometimes leaders need to challenge apprehension and other times it’s ok to validate concerns. [17:49] - Robert believes happiness and wellbeing doesn’t have to be a mandate at work.   [20:30] –To be a whole person you need to experience and draw on the full range of positive and negative emotions. [21:35] - Robert explains why “you never want cheerful optimists in the control tower, directing flight traffic.” [22:18] - The Lightning Round with Robert Biswas-Diener Your Resources: The Upside of Your Dark Side: Why Being Your Whole Self--Not Just Your “Good” Self--Drives Success and Fulfillment - Robert Biswas-Diener & Todd Kashdan View all of Robert Biswas-Diener’s books on Amazon Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success - Adam Grant Love at Goon Park: Harry Harlow and the Science of Affection - Deborah Blum 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 Robert for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Paloma Lopez is the global sustainability director for Kellogg. She helped lead the launch of the Kellogg origins program in sustainable agriculture in Europe.  She is now helping roll that program out on a global scale.   Paloma shares Kellogg’s long history with “purpose”.  She explains how it is increasingly important for employees that the values of the organization align with their own.   Paloma has great insight into what Kellog have learned on their journey about having the right programs, the right partners and the right messages.  Connect with Paloma Lopez Twitter - @palomalpez You’ll Learn: [01:21] - Paloma talks about embedding purpose within an organization.  She shares how Kellogg has done this. [3:34] - Paloma also explains why this strategy is important for their millennial employees. [7:14] - Paloma talks about the role that leaders play in implementing and maintaining these strategies. Paloma also shares a new initiative that aims to connect employees with their sustainable agriculture sources. [10:09] -  Paloma believes that small organizations with leaders that value purpose can also embrace these strategies. [14:41] - Paloma shares how a commitment to purpose can go wrong.   [16:35] - Paloma talks about the need for a clear commitment to the brand.  She shares an example that involves Special K. [19:44] - Paloma reminds us that  business need to work in partnership to address larger societal needs. [21:08] - The Lightning Round with Paloma Lopez Your Resources: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High - Kerry Patterson & Joseph Grenny Positive Business Conference 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 Paloma for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Vincent Stanley is an author and chief story-teller with Patagonia.  In this conversation, you will hear Vincent talk about Patagonia’s journey from sustainability to responsibility, the mistakes they've made along the way and how they've won the hearts and minds of employees.  Connect with Vincent Stanley Vincent Stanley’s Website You’ll Learn: [02:18] - Vincent shares why he believes organizations shouldn't focus on sustainability. [04:23] - Vincent talks about Patagonia’s journey towards responsibility. [07:17] - Vincent explains how Patagonia have used story-telling and experiences to convince their employees to embrace this change. [13:15] - Vincent shares how Patagonia's willingness to stumble on it's responsibility journey has helped the company plan more proactively. [14:30] - The lightning round with Vincent Stanley. Your Resources: The Responsible Company: What We’ve Learned From Patagonia’s First 40 Years - Vincent Stanley and Yvon Chouinard Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman - Yvon Chouinard Theory U: Leading from the Future as It Emerges - C. Otto Scharmer How to Thrive in the Next Economy: Designing Tomorrow’s World Today - John Thackara Thinking in Systems: A Primer - Donnella H. Meadows and Diana Wright Positive Business Conference 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 Vincent for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!    

Dr. Peggy Kern is a senior lecturer in the University of Melbourne’s Graduate School of Education in the Center for Positive Psychology.  Peggy has published over 50 peer reviewed articles and chapters.  Her research addresses the question, “Who flourishes and why?” In this conversation, you will hear Peggy talk about the role our behaviors and habits play in our well-being. With Julie Butler, Peggy has developed Permah Profiler, which is designed to measure different elements of well-being. She has also developed Permah Workplace Survey.  Peggy also shares that she recently received some criticism and she shares some valuable insight on how to react to criticism and ways to learn from it to become a better researcher.   Connect with Peggy Kern: Peggy Kern’s Blog - http://peggykern.org You’ll Learn: [01:40] - Peggy talks about our behaviors and habits and determining if these are undermine or uplift our well-being. [03:29] - Peggy shares her thoughts on why these little practices to promote well-being are so difficult for us. [05:20] - One of the best ways to change habits is to record what you’re doing and monitor your habits.  Peggy talks about using that same practice with measuring our well-being. [08:58] - Peggy developed a version of Perma Profiler for workplaces.   [11:27] - Peggy talks about the challenges that positive psychology researchers and practitioners experience. [15:06] - Peggy gives her thoughts on sharing the science of positive psychology in a simple enough manner to keep them interested. [19:24] - Peggy recently received some criticism and she talks about where this criticism came from and how she handled the situation.   [24:20] - Peggy shares her thoughts on science and the confidence practitioners have in the science of positive psychology. [28:32] - The Lightning Round with Peggy Kern. Your Resources: Permah ProfilerPermah Workplace SurveyGive and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success - Adam Grant   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 Kevin for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Kevin Schnieders is the Chief Servant Leader and CEO of Educational Data Systems, Inc. (EDSI). EDSI is a workplace development, customized training, and consulting company who provides innovative solutions to close workforce skill gaps around America.  Since Kevin became CEO, EDSI has tripled in size.   In this conversation, you will hear Kevin talk about models and systems that he has implemented at EDSI.  By talking with 450 EDSI employees in 45 days through this servant leadership model, Kevin has been able to understand his employees as individuals.  You will hear him share the logistics of maintaining these relationships.  EDSI has experienced incredible growth under Kevin and he explains the role that this model had in the success of the company. You’ll Learn: [01:50] - Kevin talked with 450 EDSI employees in 45 days. He talks about what led him to making the decision to take on this challenge and what he took away from these conversations.   [02:40] - Kevin believes leaders need to understand their employees as individuals.   [03:35] - Kevin talks about asking employees open-ended questions to get their opinions on the company. [04:26] - Kevin talks about some of the logistics to staying organized with the information his employees share with him. [05:25] - Kevin shares why he feels this investment in his employees is important and beneficial. He explains why he attributes the success of the company to this strategy. [07:14] - Kevin talks about buy-in with this servant leadership model across all levels of leadership and management with EDSI.   [09:05] - EDSI is using other systems like the Best Reflective Self Exercise and The Immunity Map.   [11:30] - EDSI believes in working to people’s strengths.  They allow for people to try to grow in areas, but they don’t set people up for failure. [12:29] - Kevin talks about the feedback he receives from his employees.   [15:17] - Kevin shares that there have been some models that EDSI tried that did not work out as planned. Your Resources: Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone - Mark Goulston M.D & Keith Ferrazzi The Secrets of Happy Families: Improve Your Mornings, Tell Your Family History, Fight Smarter, Go Out And Play, and Much More - Bruce Feiler Center for Positive Organizations’ Positive Business Project Educational Data Systems, Inc. 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 Kevin for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Dr. Aaron Jarden is a senior lecturer in psychology at Auckland University of Technology. He is also the president of the New Zealand Association of Positive Psychology. Aaron has done a lot of research on occupational wellbeing and in this conversation, he talks about how to introduce these practices to workplaces from the upper levels to the front-lines using a  “me, we, us” framework. Aaron also shares his thoughts on the links between the research community and practitioners.  He also speaks about the gap between the academic world and the general public's perception of wellbeing. You’ll Learn: [01:40] - Aaron talks about some of his research findings on occupational wellbeing. [03:12] - Aaron shares his thoughts on introducing these practices to workplaces. [05:08] - There are different ways organizations implement these practices and Aaron shares the different strategies and his thoughts on the variety of techniques. [06:23] - A challenge in implementing occupational well-being strategies is convincing leaders to buy in. Aaron talks about this necessary and difficult step in the process. [08:13] - Aaron talks about varying levels of senior leadership and the upward trend in this area. [09:14] - Aaron talks about the importance of small interventions that can make a huge difference to well being, that don't cost a lot.. [12:09] - Aaron shares an effective quick three-breath exercise to create a positive mindset. [13:16] - Aaron talks about the poor job researchers do of communicating science to the public and what the research community can do to repair that. [17:13] - Aaron talks about the difference between academics and general public understandings of wellbeing. [19:02] - The Lightning Round with Dr. Aaron Jarden. Your Resources: Dr. Aaron Jarden’s website Positive Psychology at Work: How Positive Leadership and Appreciative Inquiry Create Inspiring Organizations - Sarah Lewis Elon Musk Biography Second Wave Positive Psychology: Embracing the Dark Side of Life - Itai Ivtzan and Tim Lomas 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 Aaron for joining me this week. Until next time, take care! Until next time, take care!

Sarah Lewis is the founder and managing director of Appreciating Change in the UK. Sarah consults for organizations around the world on how to effectively create sustainable change. In this conversation, you will hear Sarah talk about her philosophies on change and how she helps organizations through the change process. We discuss the questions that must be asked to unleash change. Often, the questions asked pertain to what is going wrong or what is broken. Instead, Sarah talks about the questions that need to be asked to unleash the power to move forward through positive change. Sarah also explains some other methodology for positive change, like World Cafe and Simu-Real. In the Lightning Round, Sarah shares several authors and books for which she has great appreciation. She also shares that “positivity is a state as well as a trait.”These methodologies are not about ignoring the negativity in life, but rather to help us get to a state where we are coping and thriving. You’ll Learn: [01:30] - Sarah shares the advice she gives organizations wanting to bring out the best in their people during the change process. [3:21] - Sarah talks about getting leaders to embrace a more system change, rather than a top-down implemented change. [07:10] - Sarah talks about the questions that need to be asked to unleash the power to move forward. [10:04] - Sarah talks about the burning platform and while that might be productive in the short-term, there is difficulty with sustaining that change. [16:27] - Sarah explains the World Cafe and Simu-Real methodologies for change. [22:45] - The Lightning Round with Sarah Lewis. Your Resources: Sarah Lewis’ Website Sarah Lewis’ books on Amazon Kim Cameron’s books David Cooperrider’s books Collaborating for Change: Appreciative Inquiry - David Cooperrider et al. The Change Handbook: The Definitive Resource on Today’s Best Methods for Engaging Whole Systems - Peggy Holman and Tom Devane 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 Chris for joining me this week. Until next time, take care! Until next time, take care!

Chris White is the managing director of the Center for Positive Organizations and the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. Chris developed and co-teaches the MBA class on social intrapreneurship. In this conversation, Chris explains social intrapreneurship - leading positive change without authority - and compares this with social movement activists.   Chris talks about how organizations can create workplace environments to foster more social intrapreneurship,  and where these efforts can go wrong. You’ll Learn: [01:24] - Chris talks about his presentation on leading positive change without authority. He draws parallels between social movement activists and trying to create change in organizations. [02:06] - Chris goes over the 4 things that occur in social movement theory literature and those also apply to social intrapreneurship . [04:24] - Chris talks about social intrapreneurship. [06:25] - Chris shares his thoughts on the roles of passion, meaning, and purpose play in social intrapreneurship. [08:30] - Chris talks about the things leaders of organizations can do to create more intrapreneur-friendly environments in workplaces. [10:08] - People experience fear that leaders will not embrace intrapreneurship and Chris talks about what levels of the organization need to set the culture of intrapreneurship. [11:25] - Chris points out that Barclay’s is an organization that has fostered and nurtured intrapreneurship. [12:48] - Chris talks about social intrapreneurship gone wrong. [16:00] - The Lightning Round with Chris White. Your Resources: Changing Your Company From the Inside Out - Chris White Chris White’s Blog Lift: The Fundamental State of Leadership - Ryan Quinn and Robert Quinn Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living - Krista Tippett PositiveBusinessConference.com 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 Chris for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Jason Wilburn is the Vice President and General Manager for the Industrial Services Division of Conco Services Corporation. Conco was a finalist in the 2016 Positive Business Project competition, presented by The Center for Positive Organizations at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. Conco has a lot of remote employees that only see each other face-to-face twice a year, yet are expected to have the familiarity to be able to work effectively together. In January, Conco launched their program to develop and build high-quality connections. In this conversation, Jason talks about how he and Conco implemented these positive psychology practices. He shares the results and growth that Conco has experienced in 2016, with these practices in place. He also talks about the next steps of maintaining this program of high-quality connections. You’ll Learn: [01:36] - Jason talks about what he and his team have done at Conco to make 2016 the year of high-quality connections. [04:18] - Jason explains how Conco was able to convince people to buy into these concepts and approaches. [07:17] - Jason talks about the financial benefits of implementing a culture of high-quality connections. [08:30] - The change in culture with Conco has led to an increase in applicants. [09:38] - Jason talks about what sparked his interest in these positive psychology practices. [11:40] - Jason shares his advice on implementing these practices into an organization. [14:48] - Jason talks about how to accomplish the goal of maintaining and turning people from practitioners to teachers. [16:07] - The Lightning Round with Jason Wilburn. Your Resources: The Gratitude Journal The Positive Organization - Bob Quinn Why Nations Fail - Daron Acemoglu Originals - Adam Grant Bully Pulpit - Doris Kearns Goodwin The Center for Positive Organization’s Positive Business Project 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 Neil for joining me this week. Until next time, take care! Until next time, take care!

Cognitive neuroscientist Neil Garrett discusses how research suggests our brains may be wired for optimism. Factors like depression and stress can influence this bias. Filtering of information can encourage motivation but also lead to risk-taking. The role of genetics in this process is not yet known. Neil explores the double-sided nature of optimism and how to incorporate realistic optimism in budget planning. He also talks about reframing setbacks, running for creativity, and implementing positive psychology practices in the workplace.