Making Positive Psychology Work

Ryan Niemiec is a leading expert in mindfulness based strengths practices. Ryan recently spoke at the Canadian Conference on Positive Psychology and in this conversation, he shares his thoughts and findings on mindfulness. In this interview, you will hear Ryan’s insight into mindfulness. He shares how mindfulness based strength practice can have positive changes in people’s lives. Individuals can use positive psychology to help with problems as much as they do to flourish and mindfulness based strength practice helps manage these problems. Ryan also addresses some of the opposition to mindfulness and the idea that some people are not able to benefit from mindfulness. This interview was produced in partnership with the Canadian Positive Psychology Association and the 3rd Canadian Conference on Positive Psychology. Ryan Niemiec’s website: http://www.ryanniemiec.com/ You’ll Learn: ● [2:35] - Self-regulation and curiosity are at the core of mindfulness. ● [4:18] - Ryan shares two ways to integrate self-regulation and curiosity. ● [5:35] - Ryan talks about his 8-week program, “Mindfulness Based Strength Practice”and explains the difference between this program and others. ● [8:10] - Mindfulness based strength practice has a large impact on positive relationships. ● [9:08] - Ryan shares how mindfulness based strength practice can help people manage their problems. ● [10:18] - Ryan provides information on how you can experience the 8-week program. ● [11:52] - Ryan addresses opposition to mindfulness and talks about the idea of deliberate mind-wandering. ● [13:32] - Are there some people that can’t benefit from mindfulness? ● [15:05] - New research on the development and application of character strengths. ● [18:19] - Ryan talks about bringing character strengths to our work and that leading to a “life-calling”. ● [20:00] - The lightning round with Ryan Niemiec Your Resources: http://www.viacharacter.org/www/ Thich Nhat Hanh’s books on Amazon The Illusion of Separateness: A Novel - Simon Van Booy  

Leading scholar Bob Vallerand discusses the difference between harmonious and obsessive passions, how to identify them, and their impact on individuals. He also touches on the benefits of harmonious passions, self-determination theory, and promoting positive psychology in workplaces.

Robert Quinn is a world leading expert on positive organizations, and how to introduce and implement positive practices into workplaces. He shares examples of handling situations through conventional strategy and positive practices. While many organizations experience success with introducing and implementing positive practices, this is a transition that can be difficult to accomplish. We have a natural fear and to flourish, we need to overcome the conventional mind map. However, the most effective outcomes are the result of finding a balance of conventional methods and positive practices.  Robert shares the four questions to ask to transform yourself into a positive state and get different results than you have in the past:  What results to I want to create? Am I internally directed? Am I other-focused? Am I externally open? This interview was produced in partnership with the Canadian Positive Psychology Association and the 3rd Canadian Conference on Positive Psychology. Robert’s Blog: https://thepositiveorganization.wordpress.com/ You’ll Learn [2:26] - Assumptions of conventional social science and alternatives to those assumptions [4:29] - Robert shares an example of the destruction of the culture of an organization through conventional decision-making and strategy. [5:55] - To contrast the previous story, Robert shares an example of handling down-sizing with positive practices. [7:59] - Flourishing means overcoming natural fear [9:41] - Positive practices are an addition, not a replacement to the conventional mind map. [10:44] - Finding a balance with conventional methods and positive practices [12:50] - Robert shares his thoughts on how to introduce and implement these ideas. [16:21] - Contributive goals help people take risks [17:45] - Robert talks about the transformation he sees in his workshops. [18:33] - The lightning round with Robert Quinn.  Resources: “The Positive Organization: Breaking Free from Conventional Cultures, Constraints, and Beliefs” - Robert Quinn Lift Exchange Tool “Life on Purpose: How Living for What Matters Most Changes Everything” - Victor J Strecher “The Path of Least Resistance: Learning to Become the Creative Force in Your Own Life” - Robert Fritz Canadian Conference on Positive Psychology 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 Robert for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

David Cooperrider is renowned for his research in appreciative inquiry, a strength-based approach to creating change. David shares how appreciative inquiry is being used to build a better world. David explains how organizations can align strengths in ways that make the system’s weaknesses irrelevant. He also shares how individuals and organizations can use this life-centric approach to go through the steps of this positive change model. This interview was produced in partnership with the Canadian Positive Psychology Association and the 3rd Canadian Conference on Positive Psychology. Tune in to hear more! Website: www.davidcooperrider.com Twitter: @Dlc6David You’ll Learn: [2:25] - David explains basics of appreciative inquiry [4:52] - What you and your organization can gain from this positive change model [5:27] - People don’t resist change. People love change. [7:05] - Positive re-framing [9:30] - Omni search and bringing in all of the strengths at every level [10:50] - Strengthen the strengths [12:28] - Imagining our future [14:40] - Translate and improvise [16:30] - Valuing progress moments [18:02] - Embedding the change and reversing our mindset on change [20:50] - The lightning round with David Cooperrider Links from this discussion: DavidCooperrider.com The Spell of the Sensuous by David Abram Canadian Conference On 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 for 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 David for joining me this week. Until next time, take care.

Caroline Adams Miller is one of the world’s leading positive psychology experts on goal-setting, accomplishment, grit, happiness, and success. It seems everywhere you turn lately somebody is talking about grit. Is it really the key to success? Can you have too much? How do you cultivate it? So today, I turned to Caroline who is one of the world’s leading practitioners in grit to see what all the fuss is about. In this interview you’ll hear why she believes grit has to be authentic and how to avoid the downsides of “stupid grit”, “selfie grit” and “faux grit”. She explains how organizations can build grit through embedding it and why organization leaders must model grit in workplaces. This interview was produced in partnership with the Canadian Positive Psychology Association and the 3rd Canadian Conference on Positive Psychology. Tune in to hear more! Website: www.carolinemiller.com Twitter: @CarolineMCoach You’ll Learn [2:43] - Caroline defines “authentic grit” [3:22] - Caroline shares what she considers to be “stupid grit” [5:45] – Caroline explains “selfie grit” and why grit paragons all have humility [7:54] - Caroline explains “faux grit” and how this gets us into trouble [10:11] - How to build and embed grit [12:38] – Why leaders must have grit [15:18] - Should every workplace cultivate grit? [18:54] - The lightning round with Caroline Adams Miller Your Resources: Watch Caroline’s TedX Talk here Download the free chapter of Caroline’s next book “Getting Grit” Take Caroline’s free grit challenge here. Harvard Business Review article by Carol Dweck on “What Having a “Growth Mindset” Actually Means” “Peak” by Anders Ericcson Canadian Conference on 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 the 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 Caroline for joining me this week. Until next time, take care

Kim Cameron, a top scholar in organizational sciences, discusses the power of positive and relational energy in organizations. He emphasizes the importance of contribution over achievement and shares examples from the University of Michigan. Cameron believes that positive practices are not manipulation and explains why. Positive energy and relational energy lead to success, and fostering a culture of abundance has a positive impact on organizations.

Thank you for joining me for the very first episode of Making Positive Psychology Work. Every week, I’ll be interviewing the world’s leading researchers and practitioners who applying the evidence-based practices of positive psychology and neuroscience in workplaces to bring out the best in people. You see I believe that by uncovering tested, practical ways to help people move from functioning to flourishing at work, together we’ll be able to better navigate the incredible challenges and opportunities our world faces. Website: www.michellemcquaid.com Twitter: @chellemcquaid When you watch the ongoing economic, environmental, social and political challenges current reverberating around our world, can make it hard to feel hopeful about our future. But when you start diving into the growing body of research on the power of positive psychology and positive organizational scholarship approaches to improve people’s wellbeing, to leverage their strengths, to cultivate compassion, to motivate ourselves by the positive difference we can each make, and to harness our grit to accomplish the things that matter most, it’s impossible to deny the individual and collective potential we truly have at our fingertips. My goal on this podcast is to make this as easy, enjoyable and effective as possible for you. In this podcast, you’ll hear how. Tune in to hear more! You’ll Learn [1:40] – Who will join us each week on the podcast. [2:11] – How we’ll help you to become intelligent users of positive psychology, positive organizational scholarship and neuroscience research in your own life and in our workplaces. [2:53] – Why it’s so important to play with these ideas and not just accept the research at face value. [3:18] – How listening to this podcast can you save you time and money by freely and succinctly bringing your the world’s best researchers and practitioners every week. [3.41] – Who am I to take you on this journey. Your Resources: Show notes - www.michellemcquaid.com Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining me. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for 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! Until next time, take care.