Happier At Work®

‘’The only people who get upset when you start setting boundaries are the ones who benefited from you not having them.’’ Welcome back to Happier at Work! Aoife recently conducted poll research on LinkedIn to gather feedback on what listeners would be interested in hearing in these future solo episodes. The results overwhelmingly steered towards the hot topic of hybrid work, along with setting boundaries at work. In this episode, Aoife will be diving into boundaries – what are they, and what impact weak boundaries have. Establishing and communicating healthy boundaries at work is vital from the get-go. Boundaries help set clear expectations and protect individuals from work overwhelm, stress, and burnout, which can quickly lead to job dissatisfaction. During this discussion, Aoife will share personal insights with listeners on setting clear boundaries from an individual and a managerial perspective. Further key points covered include:  What are boundaries?  The importance of boundaries and the impact they have.  How to identify weak boundaries.  The importance of communication at work.  Setting expectations with employees.  Is resignation the solution?  Handling boundary blurred lines whilst working from home.  Tips to restore work-life balance.  Imposter syndrome and people-pleasing.  Getting comfortable with saying no and preparing for pushback.  The key to prioritising tasks.  Creating a safe work environment.  Understanding the boundaries of others. 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: 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

‘’Your work is important, it is, but you are more important than your work!’’ – Nicole Mixdorf. Welcome back to Happier at Work! Joining Aoife this week is special guest Nicole Mixdorf – chief wellness officer at Balanced by Nature, who was recently crowned the most influential woman in Corporate Wellness Services throughout the US. Workplace stress is a topic many listeners will relate to, and today’s show will focus on why your wellbeing and mental health matter. In this episode, Nicole will share her transformational journey of climbing the corporate ladder for over a decade, experiencing intense feelings of burnout whilst juggling major stressors that ultimately led to debilitating health effects. After taking time to heal her mind and body, Nicole launched Balanced by Nature, a corporate health and wellness firm that offers award-winning programs that support employees physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. ‘’There's a reason our company is called Balanced by Nature. When we have all these stressful, crazy moments in our day, the only way to bring that equilibrium to balance, is by giving yourself enough of those nurturing quiet moments to balance it out.’’ – Nicole Mixdorf. Have a pen and paper to hand, as Nicole kindly shares inspirational tips and practical tools to implement into your morning to conquer the day ahead! Key points covered throughout the episode include:  Introduction to Nicole Mixdorf.  Listening to your body to manage stress.  Pandemic anxiety: the universal feeling.  Understanding, managing, and aligning organisational culture and strategy.  The benefits of flexibility at work.  Wellbeing activities and ideas for self-care.  The importance of nutrition and boosting your immune system.  Nicole’s top tips for finding balance.  Morning habits to conquer your day!  Making the most of micro-moments.  Make your wellbeing a priority.  The great resignation: what is happening?  How to empower employees?  Empower employees  What makes Nicole Happier at Work. COMING SOON! On Wednesday, 3rd November, Aoife will host a one-hour webinar to help you overcome Imposter Syndrome. For further details and to reserve your space today, visit http://www.impostersyndrome.ie/webinar THE LISTENER’S SAY: Have any questions or 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 to let her know! Connect with Nicole Mixdorf: http://balancebynature.com/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolemixdorf/ 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

Welcome back! Did you know that the Happier at Work podcast is now two years in the running!? To mark this second solo episode, host Aoife O’Brien will exclusively focus on the podcast’s identity, discussing the true meaning of happiness at work. Throughout the episode, Aoife will share her first-hand experience of dealing with dissatisfaction at work and how it became the driving force behind her business today. Aoife will explore the significance of cultivating a positive work environment and will share fascinating insights from her dissertation research centred around values, needs and strengths. Key points covered throughout the episode include:  Staff turnovers: the costly impact on your business.  How happiness can boost your business.  Effects of a toxic work environment.  Aoife’s journey to unlocking true happiness at work.  What is Person-Environment Fit?  Aligning recruitment with company values.  Assessing and understanding strengths.  An insight into the three universal psychological needs – autonomy, competence, and relatedness.  The importance of feedback.  Psychological Safety in the workplace. COMING SOON! On Wednesday 27th October and Wednesday 3rd November, Aoife will host a one-hour webinar to help you overcome Imposter Syndrome. For further details and to reserve your space today, visit http://www.impostersyndrome.ie/webinar THE LISTENER’S SAY: Have any questions or 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 to let her know! 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: The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor http://www.shawnachor.com/books/happiness-advantage/ Previous Happier at Work episode: The Values of Business with Irial O’Farrell https://happieratwork.ie/happier-at-work-74-the-values-of-business-with-irial-ofarrell/

We are switching things up a little in this latest Happier at Work episode! Instead of focusing on workplace psychological impacts, this week, we will be concentrating on workplace physical wellness with special guest Annette Cashell. Annette is an ex-corporate with a managerial marketing background of 10 years. Following harrowing health concerns and avoiding a neck fusion operation, Annette is now a distinguished Pilates teacher and movement coach, passionate about helping others undo and prevent any excessive sitting damages. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and to this day, many individuals across the globe are continuing to work from home or are adjusting to a hybrid working model. In this fascinating discussion, Annette will highlight the impact of excessive sitting and unsuitable office equipment and why we should allow ourselves permission to move. Annette kindly offers valuable tips on how you can boost muscle movement into your daily routine. Key points covered throughout include:  Introduction to Annette Cashell.  The dangers of Sitting Disease.  How to create a safer working environment.  Permission to move your body and avoid being an active couch potato!  Welcoming movement into meetings.  Tips for promoting physical wellness whilst working.  The Knowing-Doing Gap.  Introducing corrective exercises and lifestyle changes for a better future.  What makes Annette Happier at Work. Annette’s Movement Makeovers program for Primary Schools was accepted into the Academy Mentoring Program with Social Entrepreneurs Ireland in 2018. Connect with Annette via the links below to keep up to date with her offerings of weekly online classes, virtual workshops, and wellness webinars. Connect with Annette Cashell: http://www.malahidepilates.com/ http://www.facebook.com/MovementMakeovers http://www.instagram.com/MovementMakeovers/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/annette-cashell 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: Annette’s FREE 45-minute webinar - ‘Take the pain out of working (from home)’ http://www.malahidepilates.com/take-the-pain-out-of-working-from-home/ Annette’s guide on how to make sitting less damaging: http://thriveglobal.com/stories/top-3-tips-to-make-sitting-less-damaging-instantly/ Annette features in Katy Bowman’s book ‘Grow Wild’: http://www.nutritiousmovement.com/product/grow-wild-the-whole-child-whole-family-nature-rich-guide-to-moving-more-paperback/

Welcome back to Happier at Work! Long-time listeners of the podcast will know that with each new episode, I interview business experts to discuss various topics, including leadership, diversity, well-being, inclusion, and unlock what ultimately makes each of our guests happier at work. To coincide with the launch of my new program, Imposter to Empowered, I will be releasing solo episodes throughout the podcast focusing on a range of business topics. Did you know that up to 70% of people experience Imposter Syndrome at some point in their career!? If you have ever felt out of place, felt like a fraud, or experienced an overwhelming sense of self-doubt, rest assured that you are not alone! In this episode, I explore what is Imposter Syndrome and share my personal experience with overcoming Imposter Syndrome and igniting empowerment. Key points covered throughout include: What is Imposter Syndrome?  The signs and triggers of Imposter Syndrome. New Level, New Devil.  Who experiences Imposter Syndrome? Imposter Syndrome: How It Makes Us Feel. The Five faces of Imposter Syndrome – The Perfectionist, The Natural Genius, The Soloist, The Superhero and The Expert. Acknowledging and moving forward with Imposter Syndrome.  The ABC framework to managing Imposter Syndrome.  The Power of Feedback. 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! Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O'Brien: http://www.happieratwork.iehttp://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrienhttp://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQhttp://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.iehttp://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcastResources: http://www.impostersyndrome.ie/ QUIZ: What kind of imposter are you? http://www.impostersyndrome.ie/quiz

Welcome back to Happier at Work! After a lovely break, I am delighted to kickstart this brand-new series with Truthsayers CEO & Co-founder Simon Stapleton. Simon and his team are on a mighty mission to enable happier and more productive workplaces across the globe by helping leaders understand their employees at an emotional level via Truthsayers cutting-edge Neurotech® platform. In this episode, both Aoife and Simon offer their insights into workplace engagement and share their previous experiences of feeling a lack of psychological safety at work. Simon also shines a light on the importance of bringing authenticity to work and the positive impacts that doing so will bring. Main points covered throughout the show include: - An introduction to Simon Stapleton. - The importance of being honest. - Bringing authenticity to work. - How a lack of engagement and psychological safety can affect a business. - Taking responsibility for the business culture. - Aligning recruitment with company values. - Creating an environment of inclusion. - Excelling and reaching your potential at work. - What makes Simon Happier at Work. With over 20 years of experience in building digital platforms for service industries, Simon has led the creation of technology that enhances the lives of millions of people worldwide. Simon's objective is to apply Neurotech to vast and present challenges that businesses face today, such as diversity and inclusion, sustainability and hybrid working. Did you know? Simon is a partner in a craft brewery, so when he isn't working, you can catch him creating unique ales! Connect with Simon Stapleton: http://truthsayers.io/ http://twitter.com/tneurotech http://www.linkedin.com/company/truthsayers/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/simonstapleton/ http://twitter.com/simonstapleton 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

Announcement: The Happier at Work podcast will return on Friday 1st October 2021. I have some great guests lined up between now and the end of the year. I'll be doing some solo episodes - if you have a topic you'd liked covered, please reach out! Also announcing the launch of my programme, Imposter to Empowered. More details can be found at https://www.impostersyndrome.ie

Welcome back to Happier at Work! Do you feel there is something missing from your work life? Have you ever let fear get in your way!? If so, you will thoroughly enjoy this discussion with Torch podcast host and social media & branding powerhouse Tiana Madera. Tiana has a deep passion for personal development, identifying wants and not allowing fear to limit any career or lifestyle moves. In this episode, Aoife and Tiana discuss how to let go of fear and craft your career. Tiana shares a beautiful insight into her world, including how she carved her professional path and shares how she successfully built a social media department for a $1 billion corporation through her self-belief and self-leadership skills. Main points covered throughout the show include: - An introduction to Tiana Madera. - Self-management: identifying our wants & needs. - The professional impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. - The importance of autonomy. - Tapping into your creativity and letting go of fear. - How to create psychological safety at work. - Igniting the power within and embracing opportunities. - Overcoming limiting beliefs. - Job crafting and accepting personal responsibility. - What makes Tiana Happier at work. "In life, people tend to wait for good things to come to them. And by waiting, they miss out. Usually, what you wish for doesn't fall in your lap; it falls somewhere nearby, and you have to recognize it, stand up, and put in the time and work it takes to get to it. This isn't because the universe is cruel. It's because the universe is smart. It has its own cat-string theory and knows we don't appreciate things that fall into our laps." – Neill Strauss. Currently based in LA, Tiana hosts Torch – a podcast for women in leadership focused on finding your strengths and moving past fears leading to a better life. You can listen to episode 55 of Torch featuring Aoife O’Brien here: 3 Needs to be Happier at Work with Aoife O’Brien - http://torchpodcast.com/55-2/ Connect with Tiana Madera: http://www.facebook.com/tianakaimadera http://www.instagram.com/torchpodcast/ http://www.instagram.com/tianapix http://twitter.com/TianaPix http://www.linkedin.com/in/tianakai/ http://torchpodcast.com 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

‘’The first time I came across the concept of values was as part of my executive coaching course, and it was one of those massive a-ha revelations that changed my life.’’ – Irial O’Farrell. Founder of Evolution Consulting, Irial specialises in delivering change, enhancing business performance, and building better companies. On this latest Happier at Work episode, host Aoife O’Brien and guest Irial O’ Farrell dive into the subject of values. We as individuals all hold values consciously and subconsciously. Throughout this episode, Irial discusses the values of business and the impact of identifying, defining, and reflecting values throughout the organisational culture. Irial also shares insights on conflicts in work as our values might not always be on par with others from time to time, and this disparity could lead to clashes and trust erosion throughout the workforce. Points throughout the show include: - An introduction to Irial O’Farrell. - The concept of workplace values. - The importance of defining values and setting work boundaries. - Putting values in place -VS- the lived experience. - Learning to rank core business values. - The power of vulnerability in leadership. - Workplace law of attraction. - Actively using values when seeking new fitting team members. - Driving accountability in the workplace. - The importance of a competence framework. - The business impact of disconnecting with values. - What makes Irial Happier at Work. Did you know? Irial is the first and at present only CMI-Accredited Master in Change Management in Ireland. Stay tuned as Irial’s forthcoming third book exploring unnecessary escalation of issues is due in September 2021. Connect with Irial O’Farrell: http://www.evolutionconsulting.ie/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/irialofarrell/ http://www.facebook.com/irialofarrellbooks http://www.instagram.com/irialofarrellbooks/ http://www.twitter.com/evolution_ary Irial O’Farrell’s books: http://www.evolutionconsulting.ie/shop/ 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 haven't started focusing in as a leader on building trust, well, there's an old Chinese adage, right? The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the second-best time is to do it today." – Brenda Neckvatal. Joining Aoife on this latest Happier at Work episode is amazon bestseller and award-winning HR professional Brenda Neckvatal. Brenda will treat listeners to her HR perspective, discussing building workplace trust, how the time to make change is now and why leaders need to understand that their people are their greatest asset. Brenda's work and practices have impacted businesses on an international level, and whilst listening to the episode; you'll quickly understand why Brenda is often referred to as the "HR force of nature" by her clients. Key points throughout the show include: - An introduction to Brenda Neckvatal. - The influence of great leaders. - The powerful combination of leadership and HR. - Getting the people side of the business right. - The value of investment. - Setting up for success and creating a trusting environment. - Employees want to be led, not managed. - The importance of communicating and managing workforce expectations. - Implementing change – how small steps forward are better than none. - Mastering difficult conversations. - Dealing with trust killers and toxicity in the workplace. - What makes Brenda Happier at Work. Throughout her 30-year career in business, Brenda has consulted to nearly 500 small businesses and C-suite leaders. She has optimised employee effectiveness and helped mitigate the high costs that are associated with making hasty employment related decisions. Perseverance, integrity, and relentless optimism are just of the few of the ingredients that make up what you experience when meeting and working with Brenda. Some food for thought... CFO asks the CEO: "What happens if we invest in developing our people and they leave?" CEO: "What happens if we don't, and they stay?" Connect with Brenda Neckvatal: http://brendathehrlady.com/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/neckvatal/ http://www.instagram.com/brendathehrlady The Best Practices in Human Resources Podcast http://brendathehrlady.com/podcast Book: Best Practices in Human Resources: How to Crawl from Want-to-be to VP by Vrenda Neckvatal. http://brendathehrlady.com/shop 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