Happier At Work®

This week's episode comes with a twist as the podcast interviewer becomes the interviewee to celebrate the milestone of reaching 100 episodes. Stepping in to host this unique episode is Irish born, Sydney based guest Cathal Quinlan. Cathal holds over 20 years of experience working in corporate and has recently become the proud owner of Better@Work – helping people transform their working experiences and boosting performance personally and within others. This week, listeners will get to absorb so much more about the founder of Happier at Work as we dive into Aoife's personal and professional journey, learn about the evolution of her purpose and find out what the future looks like for the business. Listeners, get ready to embark on the squiggly road trip to Happier at Work. Whilst on the hot seat, Aoife will explore many topics that haven't been discussed before and reveals a fascinating opportunity. The main points throughout the episode include:- Stepping into employment after college. - Working abroad: making big moves for an international career. - Coping with feeling overloaded with work.- Dealing with empty promises and a lack of recognition at work.- The importance of confidence in the workplace. - Returning to work after a career break. - Falling in and out of love with your job. - Choosing a career and igniting your strengths. - Feeling unhappy at work and stepping into the unknown. - The damaging effects of micromanagement and value conflict at work. - Business attitudes: understanding the profile of an organisation. - How to enhance retention to avoid the great resignation. - When is Aoife happiest at work? - Podcast learnings and the power of gratitude. - The ongoing journey of Happier at Work and what is next for Aoife O'Brien. THE LISTENERS SAY:Do you have any feedback or thoughts on this discussion? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you! Connect with Cathal Quinlan:https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinlanConnect with Happier at Work host Aoife O'Brien: https://www.happieratwork.iehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrienhttps://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQhttps://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.iehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcastResources: The Squiggly Career by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis.https://www.amazingif.com/ The No Asshole Rule by Robert I. Sutton PhDhttps://www.amazon.com/Asshole-Rule

Welcome to the 100th episode of Happier at Work! This week's episode is a highlight special dedicated to the array of wonderful past guests who have featured on the show since the podcast made its debut back in September 2019. To celebrate such an incredible milestone, your host Aoife O'Brien revisits a selection of episodes where we hear openly and honestly from inspiring HR and business leaders about what drives their happiness at work. Even though we hear from 15 unique individuals, no answers are the same as they range from the simple acts of welcoming music into your day, allowing for continued learning and much more. However, you will start to sense a common theme throughout and soon realise the recipe's key ingredient for truly being happier at work. So, get ready to stroll down memory lane as we revisit discussions with some of our favourite industry game-changers. Special guests in order of appearance are as follows: Episode 7 - Andrew BarnesEpisode 11 - Louise GossEpisode 14 – Emiliana SimonEpisode 22 - Fiona EnglishEpisode 24 - Tim KiddEpisode 26 - Timen BaartEpisode 35 - Mike VacantiEpisode 49 - Aoife MollinEpisode 50 - Bhushan SethiEpisode 57 - Aaron BurnettEpisode 61 - Lucinda CarneyEpisode 70 - Jennifer DowlingEpisode 62 - Paul WalkerEpisode 82 - Niamh Brady Episode 84 - Stefan TonnonTHE LISTENERS SAY:Have you thought about what makes you happier at work? Do you have any feedback or thoughts on this discussion? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you! Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O'Brien: https://www.happieratwork.iehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrienhttps://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQhttps://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.iehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcastTo access the entire catalogue of Happier at Work episodes, visit: https://happieratwork.ie/happier-at-work-podcast/

“We spend so much of our time at work, when we’re not happy at work, that filters into other aspects of our lives.” – Aoife O’Brien. Welcome back to Happier at Work! To mark the 99th episode of the show, host Aoife O’Brien dedicates this solo discussion to the heartbeat and purpose of the podcast, finding happiness at work. Would you agree that people are the number one asset in any business!? Aoife’s mission is to help organisations identify the power of putting people first to create a happier working environment. Did you know that a happier environment enhances workplace productivity, performance and helps attract and retain top talent? In this episode, Aoife explores the benefits of establishing a healthy work-life balance from an individual and organisational perspective. Aoife also takes us on her journey of establishing happiness at work, sharing her personal experience of losing a sense of autonomy at work and revealing when she feels most fulfilled. Key points throughout the episode include: - Why is job satisfaction so important? - The stats don’t lie: the benefits of a positive work culture. - How being unhappy at work impacts our lives.- How to conduct a happiness audit for your workplace. - The key to being proactive when improving working environments. - Dealing with a workplace conflict of values. - The harm of micromanagement in business.- Identifying gaps: how to ignite your strengths at work. - The art of knowledge sharing.- When does Aoife feel happiest at work? - The downfalls of disengaged employees. THE LISTENERS SAY:Do you have any feedback or thoughts on this discussion? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you! Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: https://www.happieratwork.iehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrienhttps://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQhttps://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.iehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcastResources: Listen back: Finding Your Purpose at Work with Aoife O’Brien. https://happieratwork.ie/97-finding-your-purpose-at-work-with-aoife-obrien/ Book: The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor.https://www.shawnachor.com/books/happiness-advantage/

“It’s very easy to say we’re offering flexible working but actually what are you changing within how you run your business, how you engage with your staff, how you manage your staff, how you promote your staff, all of those things have to be factored in.” – Niamh O’Brien. Welcome back to Happier at Work! This podcast is for leaders who put people first and care about engagement and belonging, performance and productivity, leadership, equity and the future of work. Today’s episode is an O’Brien double as joining your host is special guest Niamh O’Brien. Niamh is a director of BDO Talent management at BDO Ireland and holds over twenty years of experience working across recruitment, people solutions, talent management and talent acquisition. Niamh is passionate and driven about employee experience, diversity, and inclusion at work. In this episode, Niamh unpacks how people are the heart of the business and explains why people are always at the forefront of everything she does. Niamh also reveals why companies should never overlook alternative talent pools and shares valuable advice on why now is the time for welcoming the future of work. Main points throughout the episode include: - An introduction to Niamh O’Brien.- How to embrace flexible work. - The war of talent. - The anticipation of the great resignation. - Career reflections post-pandemic: what really matters? - What does the future of work look like? - The key to attracting and retaining staff. - The rise of outcome-based work culture. - Leading and managing in a remote world. - Dipping into alternative talent pools. - Overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome. - What makes Niamh happier at work.THE LISTENERS SAY:Do you have any feedback or thoughts on this discussion? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you! Connect with Niamh O’Brien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niamhobrien/ https://www.bdo.ie/en-gb/bdo-ireland Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: https://www.happieratwork.iehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrienhttps://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQhttps://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.iehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

"Employees are looking to work in organisations that have a clearly defined purpose, and whose purpose really aligns with what it is that they want to do themselves as well." – Aoife O'Brien. Welcome back to Happier at Work! Over the last couple of years, we have all experienced a tremendous amount of change in our lives from experiencing challenging lockdowns, movement restrictions, a lack of human connection and, of course, a complete overhaul in how we operate at work. Home dining tables and spare box rooms unexpectedly became our new working environments, transforming cosy nests into new makeshift office spaces. In today's solo episode, Aoife revisits the topic of finding your work purpose to discuss developments that have occurred since the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. Aoife explores how workers are redefining their purposes, looking inward to explore their true professional needs and wants, and how they wish to spend their time. Aoife also discusses the link between employee disengagement and the great resignation. Further key points throughout the discussion include: - The meaning of purpose at work. - Arising opportunities within a pandemic. - Recruitment strategies: The importance of obtaining and maintaining suitable candidates. - The attraction of purpose-driven organisations.- Aoife's journey of bidding farewell to the corporate world.- Overcoming negative work experiences.- Aoife's mission to create happier workplaces. - The link between employee dissatisfaction and the great resignation. - The Sparketype Test: discover the work that makes you come alive. - Have you unlocked fulfilment at work?THE LISTENERS SAY:Do you have any feedback or thoughts on this discussion? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you! Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O'Brien: https://www.happieratwork.iehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrienhttps://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQhttps://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.iehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcastResources: Listen back to the Happier at Work episode with Fiona English on Meaning at Work. https://happieratwork.ie/22-fiona-english-on-meaning-at-work/ The Golden Circle Presentation by Simon Sinek https://simonsinek.com/commit/the-golden-circle The Good Life Project Podcast with Jonathan Fields https://www.goodlifeproject.com/podcast The Sparketype Test https://sparketype.com//

“I think energy is such an important thing. When you walk in as a leader, if you’re coming into the workplace, keeping an eye on your energy, and what you’re actually presenting in the business is really important.” – Gillian French.Welcome back to Happier at Work! Following two traumatic and life adjusting years facing a global pandemic, major operational shifts are undergoing within organisations and workplaces across the globe. This week on the podcast, Aoife is delighted to be joined by special guest Gillian French. Gillian holds the brilliant title of Expert in Residence with Workvivo. Employee experience, HR and putting people first rather than profit is Gillian’s driver, and on this episode, Aoife and Gillian explore that and a whole lot more!Gillian is passionate about helping organisations create wonderful sustainable cultures which support workers to flourish, work to their strengths and allow them to show up every day as their true selves. In this jam-packed discussion, Aoife and Gillian explore belonging at work and how people are the most important business asset. Gillian also highlights how work systems were broken pre-pandemic and questions if performance management may soon be a thing of the past. Further key points covered throughout include: - An introduction to Gillian French.- Finding a sense of belonging in the workplace. - The ripple effect of energy at work.- The most important business asset. - How to tackle employee disengagement. - How to avoid burnout from work.- Mastering time management at work. - Setting boundaries at work to avoid workaholism. - What does the future of work look like? - The challenges of hybrid working. - The downfalls of competition in the workplace.- How to increase and maintain employee happiness.- What makes Gillian happier at work. Connect with Gillian French:https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillianfrench https://www.workvivo.com/ Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: https://www.happieratwork.iehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrienhttps://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQhttps://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.iehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcastResources: Book: Reinventing organisations by Frederic Laloux.https://www.reinventingorganizations.com/ Playback previous Happier at work episodes: Andrew Barnes – From 4 Day Week https://happieratwork.ie/7-andrew-barnes-from-4-day-week/ Andrew Barnes and Charlotte Lockhart – From 4 Day Week https://happieratwork.ie/34-andrew-barnes-charlotte-lockhart-from-4-day-week-5/ Lasse Rheingans – The 5 Hour Work Day https://happieratwork.ie/happier-at-work-51-lasse-rheingans-on-the-5-hour-work-day/ Setting boundaries at work with Aoife O’Brienhttps://happieratwork.ie/happier-at-work-81-setting-boundaries-at-work-with-aoife-obrien/ Don’t miss out!Aoife hosts live discussions on LinkedIn with her podcast guests each week, discussing hot topics from episodes and answering listeners’ questions. Connect with Aoife today to ensure you don’t miss out!

"I'm not driven by money, but I'm driven by fairness, and if I feel that something is not fair, or that I don't understand why it's happening, then I think that's something that really bothers me and makes me unhappy at work." – Aoife O'Brien.Welcome back to Happier at Work! In this week's solo episode, Aoife chats finance by sparking a conversation focused on pay scales and fairness at work. How do you feel about pay right now? Is your salary always at the forefront of your mind? For many, workplace salary discussions can be an uncomfortable taboo topic to bring to the table, and it's a topic that hasn't been unravelled on this podcast before until now. In this episode, Aoife differentiates between the gender pay gap and equal pay, shares her personal experiences of reviews and pay-related discussions, explores if pay transparency is the future and highlights the importance of fairness and knowing your worth. Key points throughout the discussion include; - The hygiene factor of pay. - Gender pay gap VS equal pay. - Getting paid – where does the responsibility lie? - Aoife's personal experience of employee performance reviews. - The art of negotiating in the workplace and knowing your worth. - Climbing the salary ladder: how organisations handle pay progression.- The importance of setting workplace expectations. - An insight into pay structures and the taboo-busting concept of pay transparency. - How to negotiate a salary. THE LISTENERS SAY:Do you have any feedback or thoughts on this discussion? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you! Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O'Brien: https://www.happieratwork.iehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrienhttps://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQhttps://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.iehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

Katrijn van Oudheusden, a consultant and selfless leadership coach with over two decades in organizational development, joins to discuss the impact of ego in leadership. She explains selfless leadership and its transformative power for both leaders and employees. The conversation highlights identity formation, the importance of belonging in the workplace, and the idea of doing by not doing. Katrijn emphasizes unlearning limiting beliefs to reveal one's true self, ultimately advocating for a culture of collaboration over competition.

Bienvenido de nuevo a Happier at Work - Welcome back to Happier at Work! Aoife dedicates this week’s solo episode to her experience of kickstarting 2022 with a sense of adventure by working remotely in Spain’s largest Canary Island, Tenerife. When posting online about working from abroad, Aoife was flooded with questions from fascinated followers, and with that has decided to share her travelling tale. In this episode, Aoife unpacks her experience of travelling and working remotely, shares insights on the importance of discipline and routine, and reveals what she would do differently next time around. Main points throughout include: - Finding suitable accommodation for your needs. - What is remote working and is it for everyone? - Discipline and commitment: The keys to working remotely. - The importance of creating an effective work routine. - Remote and flexible working guidelines. - Work time management: setting goals and prioritising tasks. - The pitfalls of remote working. - Managing work productivity and achieving work objectives. - The importance of leadership communication in a remote world. - Adjusting back home after working abroad. THE LISTENER’S SAY: Have a topic in mind that you would love for Aoife to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: https://www.happieratwork.ie https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast Resources: Aoife’s interview on LMFM Radio’s Late Lunch with Gerry Kelly - 28 January 2022: https://play.acast.com/s/lmfm-late-lunch/latelunchfridayjanuary28th2022 Aoife’s feature in The Sunday Times: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/covid-in-ireland-remote-workers-swap-desk-chairs-for-deck-chairs Airbnb Vacation rental company: https://www.airbnb.ie/ Duolingo - language learning website and app: https://www.duolingo.com/

"As an organisation, you've got to make a decision, that your tone, your character, your commitment, comes out in all sorts of different ways, not just in the behaviours of leaders." – Bev Attfield. Joining Aoife this week is special guest Bev Attfield. Bev had the wonderful title of 'Principle of Workplace Science' at Jostle and hosted the People at Work podcast. Since the time of recording, Bev has become a Partner at Within People. Specialising in the human experience at work, Bev is a wealth of knowledge and shares many valuable tips and insights on how organisations can maintain employee satisfaction by creating an environment of psychological safety and a thriving workplace culture. Throughout the discussion, Bev reflects on how businesses have had to adapt to a startling new reality due to the Covid-19 pandemic and delves into the new realm of communicating and working remotely. Bev highlights the importance of keeping in line with organisational values and reveals the key to unlocking fulfilment at work. Key points covered throughout include: - An introduction to Bev Attfield. - What are the emotional drivers of an employee? - The great re-prioritisation. - Adapting to change and finding happiness at work. - The impact of Covid-19 on businesses. - Workplace active listening: the time for understanding and change is now. - Women in the workplace. - How to support workplace equality. - Creating and maintaining a living workplace culture. - An insight into Jostle. - Maintaining human connection in a remote world. - The importance of psychological safety at work. - Why employee communication is vital. - What is the difference between asynchronous and synchronous communication? - The concept of working out loud. - Managing flexibility at work. - What makes Bev Happier at Work. LISTEN BACK: You can listen back to Bev and Aoife's "Changing perspective to be happier at work" discussion from the People at Work podcast here: https://blog.jostle.me/blog/people-at-work/aoifeobrien Connect with Bev Attfield: I believe people are happiest at work when they’re supported in their life and work. When they’re surrounded by kindness and feel encouraged to explore, create, and belong at work. That’s why my mission is to evolve leader thinking and organizational structures to produce incredible experiences and supportive environments for humans in the workplace. A once-in-century opportunity to reimagine work is here, now. I’m privileged to have a hand in shaping what this looks and feels like, for the good of all at work. My effort at Within helps me achieve my own ideal state of work-life, while discovering new people-centric ways forward with each of my clients. Within People is a global partnership of business strategists and coaches who are building a new model for growth in the 21st century. We believe it’s one where people are the most important asset, so unleashing their full potential is what unlocks growth. The Within Way® is how we help our clients grow - and how we grow our own partnership. We are what we do, and our structure and business model is a reflection of the vision we have for 21st century business. That's why I'm so excited to apply my knowledge and passion to this collective of strategic thinkers and doers. I'm a regular writer on workplace matters and have hosted over 100 leader conversations as host of the People at Work podcast. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bevattfield/ Jostle's Blog: https://blog.jostle.me/blog People at Work Podcast: https://intranet.jostle.me/people-at-work Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O'Brien: https://www.happieratwork.ie https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast