Happier At Work®

‘’You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.’’ – John C. Maxwell. Welcome back to Happier at Work! This week’s solo episode continues as we dive into part two of ‘’The secret to creating routines to reach your goals’’ with your host Aoife O’Brien. If you missed part one of this session, fear not, as you can catch up on playback HERE. This week, Aoife discusses goal setting and habit formation and explores what are limiting beliefs and how we can overcome them. Aoife also weighs up the importance of focusing on commitment rather than waiting for moments of motivation to arrive. Essential points covered throughout this episode include: - Acknowledging and overcoming disruptive goal blockers. - How to stay in your own lane. - Why it is important to listen to your body. - Making time for self-reflection. - Overcoming imposter syndrome and tackling limiting beliefs. - How commitment is vital for goal achievement. - The difference between growth and fixed mindsets. - Striking the balance between self-compassion and self-discipline. - The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin. - The importance of delegation and embracing support. - The return on investment with your time and money. Resources: Year Compass – Free booklet to help you reflect on the past year and prepare for a new year ahead. https://yearcompass.com/ Book: Wink and Grow Rich by Roger Hamilton. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wink-Grow-Rich-Guide Book: The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin. https://gretchenrubin.com/books/the-four-tendencies/intro/ Quiz: The Four Tendencies quiz by Gretchen Rubin. https://quiz.gretchenrubin.com/ THE LISTENER’S SAY: Have a topic in mind that you would love for me to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with me via the links below and let me know. I would love to hear from you! 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

Aoife's Master acquaintance Chris Flack joins us on the podcast. Born in the UK and currently based in Dublin, Chris carries over fifteen years of experience specialising in tech and organisational behaviour consulting and is the proud co-founder of UnPlug. The mission of UnPlug is for people to take control of their technology instead of their technology usage controlling them. "If we make some small changes in how we use technology, we can have some really positive impacts on our behaviour, our well being and our productivity." – Chris Flack. Have you ever felt strained and overwhelmed with work or feel like you have developed the bad habit of always being available 24/7!? This week's episode will resonate with so many as we explore excessive technology usage and our right to unplug and disconnect from the culture of always being on. After all, our bodies cannot fully recharge if we don't allow for vital downtime. This episode is jam-packed with fascinating statistics, insights, and practical tips that will help you disconnect and gain control of your time, which will boost not only your productivity levels but, ultimately, your well-being. Key points covered throughout include: - An introduction to Chris Flack. - The relationship between loneliness and technology. - Overwhelm at work and the always-on culture. - The promise of technology. - Understanding our internal technology triggers. - The key to managing time and task prioritising. - Working from home productivity statistics. - Setting boundaries and switching off when working remotely. - Flexible work VS work design. - Assumptions linked to the hybrid working model. - The struggle of career development for remote workers. - The importance of human connection in a remote world. - Building a culture of support. - How to create behavioural change. - Chris' tips on disconnection and digital mindfulness. - What makes Chris Happier at Work. Chris is an instructor at the Digital Wellness Institute and is a highly sought-after award-winning speaker who has led discussions throughout some of the largest companies across Europe. 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 Chris Flack: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-flack/ https://unplughq.com/team/ https://right2disconnect.com/ 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: Book recommendation: Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg. PhD https://tinyhabits.com/book/ Playback recommendation: Previous Happier at Work episode – The Future of Remote and Hybrid work with Aoife O'Brien https://happieratwork.ie/83-the-future-of-remote-and-hybrid-work-with-aoife-obrien/

‘’What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while.’’ – Gretchen Rubin. Have you ever set goals that quickly went out the window or became unreachable? If so, this episode on effective goal setting will be of interest to you. We are delighted to reveal this week’s solo episode with your host Aoife O’Brien is a two-part special focusing on the secret to creating routines to reach your goals. Throughout this discussion, Aoife shares her approach and valuable tips on setting goals and explores the power behind building productive daily habits to help make your goals more achievable. Let’s not forget small steps can lead to significant changes! There is no doubt about it that 2021 was a rollercoaster year for all, so if you have eased yourself gently into 2022 so far without setting any year-end development goals, fear not as you can set goals at any given time that works best for you. This short episode is full of actionable tips and tools to help you plan, adapt, and smash your yearly targets. Essential points covered throughout this episode include: - The pressure from social media. - Why is self-reflection important? - The benefits of meditation. - Aoife’s intentional theme for 2022. - Commitment acknowledgement and celebrating wins. - Understanding and embracing the habit loop. - Reward methods for boosting motivation. - Assessing your Wheel of Life. - The impact of small changes. - Goals VS Systems. - Unlocking happiness and making time for self-evaluation. Be sure to come back and join us on Friday 4 February 2022 for part two of this session. THE LISTENER’S SAY: Have a topic in mind that you would love for me to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with me via the links below and let me know. I would love to hear from you! Resources: Happier at Work replay episode - Gerry Duffy on Goal Setting: https://happieratwork.ie/8-gerry-duffy-on-goal-setting/ Best-selling author, podcast host and in-demand speaker Gretchen Rubin: https://gretchenrubin.com/ Goodreads, the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations: https://www.goodreads.com/ Book recommendations: Charles Duhigg – The Power of Habit https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/ James Clear – Atomic Habits https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits Aoife O’Brien’s recommended reading list: https://happieratwork.ie/category/aoifes-reading-list/ DuoLingo, language learning website: https://www.duolingo.com/ 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

"People say their ideal leader wouldn't have any vulnerabilities, but actually in reality, and the research shows that when a leader is vulnerable, everybody else feels more comfortable with being vulnerable themselves, and therefore being more authentic, and essentially happier at work." - Seònaid Ó Murchadha. Welcome back to Happier at Work. Joining Aoife this week on the podcast is the inspirational Seònaid Ó Murchadha. Seònaid's passion lies within helping organisations embrace disability by advising businesses on the journey of diversity. Over the last two decades, Seònaid has worked endlessly advocating and highlighting employment rights for disabled people and can often be seen doing so through various media outlets nationwide. Today's show focuses on why disability inclusion in the workplace is important. Throughout the episode, Seònaid shares her personal story, discusses the reality of disability disclosures and non-disclosures, and reveals vital steps for creating open and inclusive environments. Essential points covered throughout include: - Introduction to Seònaid Ó Murchadha. - How can organisations be inclusive? - Creating and activating workplace policies. - Embracing diversity at work. - Requesting disability accommodation and assistance. - Seònaid's personal experience of interviewing for employment. - The power of open and honest conversations in an organisation. - Coming to terms with invisible skills. - Welcoming disability into the workplace culture. - Recommended steps and tools for workplaces to become more inclusive. - The Human Rights approach to disability. - Barriers and challenges facing people with disability. - The benefits of open workplace culture. - What makes Seònaid Happier at work. Seònaid, also widely known as the Bionic Businesswoman since receiving her new bionic arm in 2017, co-founded the Amputee Disability Federation in Ireland. Seònaid currently lectures at Maynooth University on disability studies and provides support for members of the Irish Small and Medium Business Enterprise Association. 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 Seònaid Ó Murchadha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bionicwoman/ https://twitter.com/bionicwoman_ie 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: The Reasonable Accommodation Passport scheme: https://www.ibec.ie/-/media/documents/influencing-for-business/labour-market-and-skills/reasonable-accommodation-passport-2019.pdf Irish organisation dedicated to ending mental health stigma: https://seechange.ie/ https://www.isme.ie/ AHEAD: Association for Higher Education Access & Disability: https://www.ahead.ie/wam TED TALK: The Myth of Average by Todd Rose: https://ed.ted.com/on/4s8O5loM

extended break, this week’s episode is a short solo session where Aoife looks back and reflects on 2021. Aoife shares her personal experience managing COVID-19 throughout a busy December and highlights why our health should always be a top priority. During the session, Aoife gives an insight into the importance of time-off and reveals what lessons she will be carrying forward into this new year ahead. Main points covered throughout include: - Why we should prioritise our health and well-being. - The importance of allowing your body to rest. - Embracing holidays and time off from work. - How to analyse and manage your task list. - Becoming comfortable with accepting help and delegating. - Setting goals for 2022. 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

"I've coached over 200 CEOs and C-suite leaders, and one of the first things I would always say is don't ever give yourself the luxury of a bad day like that's a luxury. You have to show up every day. Everyone's looking." – Bonnie Hagemann. We are delighted to welcome leadership expert and CEO of EDA, Bonnie Hagemann, onto the podcast this week to discuss the benefits of embracing change in the workplace and why it is vital to show up as your best self at work. Bonnie is a wealth of knowledge regarding leadership, strategy, and workplace culture development. Throughout the conversation, Bonnie kindly shares valuable books and tools specialising in people development and the art of tackling crucial discussions. Bonnie also reveals fascinating insights from her 2021 Executive Development trend report. Essential points covered throughout the session include: - An introduction to Bonnie Hagemann. - Fast-paced business operations. - What is Visionary leadership? - Preparing for tough business challenges. - The key to success: entrepreneurial mindset and discipline. - Showing up and bringing your A-Game to work. - Developing an influential organisational culture. - The power of workplace commitment. - A reminder to vote with your wallet! - The importance of self-care. - Leading through change and a crisis. - Becoming comfortable with embracing change in the workplace. - What makes Bonnie Happier at Work. Having created lasting and compelling business cultures and coaching over 200 CEOs and senior leaders, it is no surprise that Bonnie is often sought after for expert advice from giant media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, CNN and US News and more. 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 Bonnie Hagemann: https://www.bonniehagemann-coach.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhagemann/ 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: Book: Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Al Switzler and Ron McMillan. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-Conversations-Tools-Talking-Stakes/ Book: Leading with Vision by Bonnie Hagemann, John Maketa & Simon Vetter. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Leading-Vision-Blueprint-Compelling-Workforce/ 2021 Report: Trends in Executive Development by Bonnie Hagemann https://www.amazon.in/Trends-2021-Benchmark-Report-Development-ebook/

Have you ever delivered or received feedback in the workplace? For many of us, the thought of having these difficult conversations can instantly fill us with feelings of awkwardness, worry, and fear. In this week’s episode, host Aoife O’Brien breaks down feedback barriers, exploring why delivering effective and constructive feedback at work is so vital and why we should view feedback as a gift and an opportunity for growth. “The intention of the person delivering the feedback is to actually help you, and so you should treat feedback as a gift that someone is giving you this feedback in order to help you develop in your career, in order to develop in the role that you’re in, in order to help you to work more effectively’’. – Aoife O’Brien. Throughout the session, Aoife will share the importance of declaring the intention of feedback and will conclude the show with her top do’s and don’ts of providing effective feedback. Key points during the show include: - The importance of feedback. - How feedback welcomes growth. - Addressing difficult workplace conversations. - Creating psychological safety at work. - Identifying feedback intentions. - Setting clear expectations at work. - Preparation is key: plan your feedback process. - Focus on behaviour, not the individual. - Why clarity and feedback examples on performance are essential. - Finding the right balance of workplace autonomy. - Allowing time for feedback to be digested and understood. - Taking responsibility for behaviour. - Aoife’s final round-up – the do’s and don’ts of giving and receiving feedback. DID YOU KNOW? Today’s topic on delivering effective feedback is one of the keynotes that Aoife provides in organisations. If you would like Aoife to deliver this to your team or the wider organisation, please feel free to enquire directly TODAY. 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. Aoife would love to hear from you! Resources: Brene Brown on Feedback: https://brenebrown.com/collections/a-courageous-approach-to-feedback/ 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

Welcome back to Happier at Work! This week’s episode features a podcast debut appearance from an HR business leader who specialises in implementing transformational systems and initiatives within an organisation to create a high-performing and happier working environment. ‘’When things go really, really bad, the value systems keep everything together and keep the happiness, and we lift each other up. That’s what you want to do in real life. That’s what you want to do in a company. That’s what you want to do as a human being.’’ – Stefan Tonnon. In conversation with Aoife is Stefan Tonnon, the vice president of HR for EMEA at Insight. With over 25 years of experience, Stefan will share insights throughout the discussion on the importance of HR, creating a happier working environment, and living and growing within a values-based culture. Main points covered throughout include:  Introduction to Stefan Tonnon.  Why company values are important?  Aligning the core values of hunger, heart, and harmony.  The power of business communication and listening to understand.  The sense of belonging at work.  Receiving sponsorship and guidance from the top.  Leadership styles in business.  Building trust and psychological safety at work.  Cultivating kindness in the workplace.  Tips for creating a happier working environment.  The benefits of workplace empowerment.  What makes Stefan Happier at Work. Is Imposter Syndrome standing in your way? Beat the imposter with Aoife’s 6-week online course Imposter to Empowered. For further details, visit http://www.impostersyndrome.ie/impostertoempowered 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 Stefan Tonnon: http://www.linkedin.com/in/stonnon Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: http://www.happieratwork.ie http://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien http://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ http://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie http://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

‘’If you're asking employees, what it is that they want, it's really, really important that you need to listen to what they actually say.’’ – Aoife O’Brien. Welcome back to Happier at Work! In this week’s solo episode, Aoife will focus on the hot topic: the future of remote and hybrid work. In light of the global pandemic, many people continue to work from home or are now hybrid working. In this episode, Aoife shares insights into how businesses are operating today, highlights the importance of companies not following the crowd when creating strategies, and explains why companies should be listening internally to analyse what will work best for them. ‘’I think really bringing people on that journey with you, bringing people into it, getting their feedback, and really listening to what they have to say, is the crucial part of making this remote and hybrid future of work a reality and making it really work well for you!’’ – Aoife O’Brien. As we all universally continue to navigate and adapt to remote work or splitting our working week from the office and home desk, Aoife explores whether this is a temporary working model or if this indeed is the new way of working. Stay tuned throughout as Aoife will reveal the pros and cons to both hybrid and remote models. Further key points covered include:  How businesses are operating today.  The key to listening internally within an organisation.  Why is workplace communication important?  Pros and cons to remote and hybrid work.  Collaborating effectively when working remotely.  How to build virtual connections during Covid-19.  Handling your energy at work.  Setting and managing expectations at work.  Enhancing your workplace visibility.  How to prevent presenteeism at work.  Planning for career development.  Pitfalls to be aware of when entering this new working model. Is Imposter Syndrome standing in your way? Beat the imposter with Aoife's 6-week online course Imposter to Empowered. For further details visit http://www.impostersyndrome.ie/impostertoempowered THE LISTENER’S SAY: Have a topic in mind that you would love for me to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with me via the links below and let me know. I would love to hear from you! Resources: Shorter: How Working Less Will Revolutionise the Way You Gets Things Done by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shorter-Working-Revolutionise-Company-Things/ For further insights on mentoring programs with Katherine from Mentoring Resources, visit: http://www.mentoringresources.ie/ Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: http://www.happieratwork.ie http://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien http://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ http://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie

‘’We are not machines; we actually need to re-energize ourselves. And if we invest in doing that, it comes back into work in a better way. Then you can apply the time that you have, to direct that energy towards the work that matters.’’ – Niamh Brady. Welcome back to Happier at Work! Joining Aoife this week is productivity coach, creator of the ‘A Better Workday’ programme and author Niamh Brady. Listeners are in for a treat as this week’s episode will resonate with so many as we focus on productivity and creating a better workday. Niamh’s mantra is ‘everyone deserves a better workday’ and we couldn’t agree more! Throughout this captivating discussion, Niamh will explore the importance of managing our time, energy and attention and will also offer productivity methods to help us conquer the balance between work and wellbeing. Key points covered throughout include:  Introduction to Niamh Brady.  What is productivity?  The key to managing time effectively.  How to analyse and protect your energy.  Coping with working from home guilt.  The impact of a workaholic cycle.  Why is setting goals important?  Working in a fast-paced environment  Creating psychological safety and becoming comfortable saying no at all levels.  Improving your work-life balance.  Niamh’s top tips for boosting your energy.  Coping with work overwhelm and a lack of motivation.  What makes Niamh Happier at Work. Is Imposter Syndrome standing in your way? Beat the imposter with Aoife's 6-week online course Imposter to Empowered. For further details visit http://www.impostersyndrome.ie/impostertoempowered 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 Niamh Brady: http://www.niamhbrady.com/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/nbrady/ http://www.instagram.com/niamhbradycoach Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O'Brien: http://www.happieratwork.ie http://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien http://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ http://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie http://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast Resources: Book: Remote Working Essentials by Niamh Brady http://www.niamhbrady.com/what-we-do/remote-working-essentials/