Making Positive Psychology Work

Consultant Cliff Kayser discusses the importance of polarity thinking in workplaces, offering examples of balancing polarities like 'me and we' and 'us and them.' He shares case studies from healthcare and law enforcement, emphasizing the need for common sense but not common practice in implementing polarity thinking.

Valorie Burton is the founder and CEO of the Coaching and Positive Psychology Institute and a best-selling author, international speaker, and life strategist. Valorie has a master’s in applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and her company provides coaching, coach training, and resilience training and has served clients in all 50 American states and 15 countries on six continents. Since 1999, she has written 13 books on personal development, including the best sellers Successful Women Think Differently and What’s Really Holding You Back? And she’s been featured in media outlets around the world. In this week’s episode, we explore how to practice racial empathy in workplaces and the simple steps workers can take to be respectful and effective white allies. Connect with Valorie Burton: https://valorieburton.com/ You’ll Learn: [03:13] - Valorie explains how the murder of George Floyd caused her to speak out on the need for racial empathy. [07:28] - Valorie shares why in order to become unstuck on the issue of racism in workplaces we need to start telling the truth. [11:29] - Valorie helps us understand why it often difficult for people of color to talk about what’s happening and the impact that racism has on them at work. [15:07] - Valorie offers suggestions for how white allies can help better support people of color in their workplace. [21:39] - Valorie provides some tips for how people of color – if they wish – can encourage white allies to take action. [25:16] - Valorie explains people of color often don’t need help from white allies but do need them to listen. [29:46] - Valorie enters the lightning round. Your Resources: MPPW Podcast on Facebook Group The Half Has Never Been Told by Edward Baptist Thanks for listening!  Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post. Please leave an honest review of the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free! You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing. Until next time, take care!  Thank you, Valorie!

Dr. Suzy Green is a Clinical and Coaching Psychologist – and Founder & CEO of The Positivity Institute, a positively deviant organization dedicated to the research and application of Positive Psychology for life, school, and work. She is a leader in the complementary fields of Coaching Psychology and Positive Psychology, was the recipient of an International Positive Psychology Fellowship Award, has lectured on Applied Positive Psychology as a Senior Adjunct Lecturer in the Coaching Psychology Unit, at the University of Sydney for ten years, and is an Honorary Vice President of the International Society for Coaching Psychology. On top of all of that, Suzy has just released her brand new book called – The Positivity Prescription. In this week’s podcast, we explore what ‘wellbeing coaching’ is and how we can make this more accessible in workplaces. Connect with Suzy Green: http://www.thepositivityinstitute.com.au/ You’ll Learn: [02:42] - Suzy shares what wellbeing coaching is and how it differs from other types of coaching. [04:39] - Suzy paints a picture of what a wellbeing coaching experience might be like. [06:33] - Suzy explains what makes coaching particularly effective when it comes to improving people’s wellbeing. [08:50] - Suzy highlights what might be holding back workplaces from engaging wellbeing coaching. [11:10] - Suzy how we might make coaching more accessible to workplaces. [13:19] - Suzy discusses the questions and cautions we should be considering when it comes to offering group coaching. [16:05] - Suzy shares the three Ms for building positivity. [18:04] - Suzy shares practical ways to enhance our mindfulness, mindset, and mood. [21:12] - Suzy enters the lightning round. Your Resources: MPPW Podcast on Facebook Group The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris & Steven C. Hayes PhD Thanks for listening!  Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post. Please leave an honest review of the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free! You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing. Until next time, take care!  Thank you, Suzy!

Al Comeaux is a former executive at Travelocity, GE, American airlines. As a senior leader, Al has championed change across a range of workplaces and undertaken a 20-year journey researching why so many change efforts fail and what's needed for success. Al is the founder of Primed For Change, a disruptive project to prepare leaders to take organizations successfully through change, and this week he has released a new book called Change Management. In this episode, we explore how senior leaders think about change in workplaces and how they can balance being SMART with taking an approach that wins people’s HEARTS. Connect with Al Comeaux: https://alcomeaux.com/ You’ll Learn: [02:58] - Al explains what most often takes leaders by surprise when it comes to trying to successfully create change in workplaces. [06:23] - Al helps us explore if leaders should be more focused on understanding the problems or the opportunities for change in their organization. [07:44] - Al offers tips for helping leaders to consistently explain the opportunity for change across their workplace, whilst allowing teams to make the change personally meaningful. [09:43] - Al offers guidance on when leaders should try a top-down versus open source approach to leading change. [14:52] - Al provides examples of how leaders can be SMART and have HEART when it comes to leading change. [18:24] - Al offers examples leaders model the change consistently. [22:31] - Al offers some tips for turning around the change cynics. Your Resources: MPPW Podcast on Facebook Group To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Thanks for listening!  Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post. Please leave an honest review of the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free! You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing. Until next time, take care!  Thank you, Al!

Mandy O'Neill, a management expert, talks about the importance of companionate love in workplaces. She discusses emotional vs cognitive culture, the impact of leader behavior, and ways to foster positive relationships at work.

Expert Arne Carlsen discusses relational agency and key skills for improving workplace relationships. Topics include deep listening, generative resistance, liberating laughter, psychological safety, and the Best Reflected Self exercise. Learn how to cultivate these skills successfully in teams for better work dynamics.

Dr. Scott Kaufman, a humanistic psychologist and author of "Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization," dives into the nuances of self-actualization, unraveling misconceptions about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. He discusses how workplaces can foster collective growth, emphasizing empathy during challenging times like the pandemic. Scott highlights the importance of aligning personal values with organizational goals and advocates for self-compassion as a pathway to fulfillment. Tune in for insights on navigating personal development in today's world!

In this conversation with Warren Nilsson, an Associate Professor of Social Innovation, listeners dive into how workplaces can emulate social purpose organizations to enact meaningful change. Warren discusses the importance of psychological safety and deep connections for fostering a culture of innovation. He emphasizes the need for organizations to operate within the social field and provides practical tips for aligning internal practices with external goals. This insightful talk highlights the transformative power of empathy and collaboration in driving positive workplace change.

Anne Lomax, a transformative change professional known for her focus on wellbeing, discusses essential strategies for supporting employee wellness during times of disruption. She shares how the CoVID-19 pandemic reshaped Qantas and outlines simple, practical steps organizations can take to promote wellbeing. From integrating daily calm sessions to recognizing team strengths, Anne emphasizes the critical role of leadership and authenticity in fostering resilience. Expect actionable insights and a positive outlook on navigating workplace changes!

Bruce Daisley, former Vice President at Twitter and author of "Eat Sleep Work Repeat," shares his insights on enhancing the remote work experience. He discusses evidence-based strategies for fostering psychological safety within teams, emphasizing the significance of open communication and support. Bruce highlights the role of laughter in building connections and combating burnout, offering practical tips for maintaining social ties despite physical distance. His passion for creating a positive workplace culture shines through, inspiring leaders to prioritize well-being and creativity.