Making Positive Psychology Work

Kristin Neff is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Kristin is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research. In addition to writing numerous academic articles and book chapters on the topic, she's the author of the book, Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself and creator of the CD series Self-Compassion Step by Step: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. In conjunction with her colleague, Dr. Chris Germer, she's developed an 8-week training program called Mindful Self-Compassion.

In this conversation, you will hear Kristin talk about self-compassion. She explains why our fear of failure and anxiety over performance are the two biggest reasons we don't do as well as we should and shares how the simple practices of self-compassion can help us to feel more confident, motivated and resilient.

Connect with Kristin Neff:

Website: http://self-compassion.org/

• [01:58] – Kristin provides some cultural and biological reasons that self-criticism is often our first response when things don't go to plan.
• [04:06] – Kristin shares what her research shows to indicate that self-compassion is a better response in these moments.
• [05:41] – Kristin describes some of the key skills people can learn through her program on self-compassion.
• [07:26] – Kristin lists a few self-compassion practices that are ideal for work settings.
• [09:17] – Kristin talks about the universal sound for comfort and compassion.
• [13:49] – Kristin discusses the importance of self-compassion in the mix of other positive psychology practices.
• [14:33] – Kristin shares some things organizations and leaders can do to encourage self-compassion practices.
• [17:13] – Kristin explains "backdraft" and the types of people that may struggle with implementing self-compassion practices.
• [19:20] – Kristin reports that women are less self-compassion, but more compassionate to others than men.
• [20:58] – The Lightning Round with Kristin Neff

• Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance - Angela Duckworth
• The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions - Christopher K. Germer and Sharon Salzberg

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.

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.

And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free!

Special thanks to Kristin for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Kristin Neff is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Kristin is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research. In addition to writing numerous academic articles and book chapters on the topic, she’s the author of the book, Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself and creator of the CD series Self-Compassion Step by Step: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself.  In conjunction with her colleague, Dr. Chris Germer, she’s developed an 8-week training program called Mindful Self-Compassion.

In this conversation, you will hear Kristin talk about self-compassion. She explains why our fear of failure and anxiety over performance are the two biggest reasons we don’t do as well as we should and shares how the simple practices of self-compassion can help us to feel more confident, motivated and resilient.

Connect with Kristin Neff:

Website: http://self-compassion.org/

• [01:58] – Kristin provides some cultural and biological reasons that self-criticism is often our first response when things don’t go to plan.
• [04:06] – Kristin shares what her research shows to indicate that self-compassion is a better response in these moments.
• [05:41] – Kristin describes some of the key skills people can learn through her program on self-compassion.
• [07:26] – Kristin lists a few self-compassion practices that are ideal for work settings.
• [09:17] – Kristin talks about the universal sound for comfort and compassion.
• [13:49] – Kristin discusses the importance of self-compassion in the mix of other positive psychology practices.
• [14:33] – Kristin shares some things organizations and leaders can do to encourage self-compassion practices.
• [17:13] – Kristin explains “backdraft” and the types of people that may struggle with implementing self-compassion practices.
• [19:20] – Kristin reports that women are less self-compassion, but more compassionate to others than men.
• [20:58] – The Lightning Round with Kristin Neff

• Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance - Angela Duckworth
• The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions - Christopher K. Germer and Sharon Salzberg

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.

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.

And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

Special thanks to Kristin for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Duncan Young is the head of Workplace Health and Well-being at Lend Lease. Duncan is a passionate advocate for the positive impact of workplaces on our health.

In this conversation, you will hear Duncan talk about the techniques he has helped implement in his organization to help leaders make well-being improvements. Leaders can make these changes based on the information they gather by wearing a heart-rate monitor, keeping the diary, and learning about improving the energy profile.

Connect with Duncan Young:

LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/duncan-young-6708389

• [01:40] - Duncan explains why improving well-being is such an important issue for Lend Lease and why leaders are becoming more aware of this importance.
• [02:44] - Duncan believes we are becoming aware of the impact lifestyle have.
• [03:20] - Duncan shares details on the programs he has created at Lend Lease to help leaders understand their well-being has on their performance.
• [04:28] - Duncan describes the technology they are using to help leaders understand how their everyday choices impact their well-being.
• [05:35] - Duncan explains how a diary is used in this process.
• [06:51] - Duncan talks about the ideal balance of energy expenditure and energy renewal at work.
• [08:25] - Duncan shares what individuals can take away from the information from the programs he's developed.
• [09:18] - Duncan provides some examples of the techniques people can implement to improve their profile.
• [11:25] - Duncan lists a few out-of-the-box ways to restore energy levels.
• [12:55] - Duncan explains how collecting data can help individuals make changes.
• [14:38] - Duncan believes it is important for leaders to share this information and these techniques with employees.
• [16:31] - Duncan talks about how small changes can become embedded in the company culture and give individuals the support to improve well-being.
• [17:52] - Duncan shares one caution for organizations wanting to improve well-being.
• [18:34] - The Lightning Round with Duncan Young.

• The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity - Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott

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 Duncan for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Duncan Young is the head of Workplace Health and Well-being at Lend Lease. Duncan is a passionate advocate for the positive impact of workplaces on our health.  

In this conversation, you will hear Duncan talk about the techniques he has helped implement in his organization to help leaders make well-being improvements. Leaders can make these changes based on the information they gather by wearing a heart-rate monitor, keeping the diary, and learning about improving the energy profile.  

Connect with Duncan Young:

LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/duncan-young-6708389

• [01:40] - Duncan explains why improving well-being is such an important issue for Lend Lease and why leaders are becoming more aware of this importance.
• [02:44] - Duncan believes we are becoming aware of the impact lifestyle have.
• [03:20] - Duncan shares details on the programs he has created at Lend Lease to help leaders understand their well-being has on their performance.
• [04:28] - Duncan describes the technology they are using to help leaders understand how their everyday choices impact their well-being.
• [05:35] - Duncan explains how a diary is used in this process.
• [06:51] - Duncan talks about the ideal balance of energy expenditure and energy renewal at work. 
• [08:25] - Duncan shares what individuals can take away from the information from the programs he’s developed.
• [09:18] - Duncan provides some examples of the techniques people can implement to improve their profile.
• [11:25] - Duncan lists a few out-of-the-box ways to restore energy levels.
• [12:55] - Duncan explains how collecting data can help individuals make changes.
• [14:38] - Duncan believes it is important for leaders to share this information and these techniques with employees.
• [16:31] - Duncan talks about how small changes can become embedded in the company culture and give individuals the support to improve well-being.  
• [17:52] - Duncan shares one caution for organizations wanting to improve well-being.
• [18:34] - The Lightning Round with Duncan Young.

• The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity - Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott

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 Duncan for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Dr. Alia Crum is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Stanford University. Her award-winning research focuses on how changes in our subjective mindsets can alter our objective reality through behavioral, psychological, and physiological mechanisms. She is an organizational training and consultant on mindset change and stress management.

A mindset is a lens in which you view the world. The mindsets we choose play a dramatic role in shaping our physiology and behavior. In this conversation, you will hear Alia discuss some of her fascinating studies and the findings from those studies. She specifically talks about mindset with stress, exercise, and food indulgence.

Connect with Alia Crum:

Website: http://mbl.stanford.edu

• [01:40] - Alia sets the framework for this conversation by explaining what a mindset is and how they work.
• [02:31] - Alia lists some of the things that shape our mindset and why they shape the way we feel and act.
• [04:15] - Alia talks about some of her research and findings. She discusses a mindset intervention she did with hotel room attendants in regards to exercise. Another study was on food indulgence.
• [07:57] - Alia describes her studies on stress and mindset.
• [11:23] - Alia talks about sharing the full truth of stress, then talking about the power of mindset and a 3-step approach. She shares what this 3-step approach is.
• [14:06] - Alia shares the overall purpose of a mindset shift.
• [15:07] - Alia explains that mindsets on gender can impact organizations.
• [16:04] - Alia describes how organizations can become more aware of mindsets.
• [17:43] - Alia shares what is currently on her mind in regards to mindsets.
• [19:24] - The Lightning Round with Alia Crum.

• The Magic of Conflict: Turning a Life of Work into a Work of Art - Thomas Crum
• Journey to Center: Lessons in Unifying Body, Mind, and Spirit - Thomas Crum
• Three Deep Breaths: Finding Power and Purpose in a Stressed-Out World - Thomas Crum

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.

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.

And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free!

Special thanks to Alia for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Dr. Alia Crum is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Stanford University. Her award-winning research focuses on how changes in our subjective mindsets can alter our objective reality through behavioral, psychological, and physiological mechanisms. She is an organizational training and consultant on mindset change and stress management.

A mindset is a lens in which you view the world. The mindsets we choose play a dramatic role in shaping our physiology and behavior.  In this conversation, you will hear Alia discuss some of her fascinating studies and the findings from those studies. She specifically talks about mindset with stress, exercise, and food indulgence.

Connect with Alia Crum:

Website: http://mbl.stanford.edu

• [01:40] - Alia sets the framework for this conversation by explaining what a mindset is and how they work.
• [02:31] - Alia lists some of the things that shape our mindset and why they shape the way we feel and act.  
• [04:15] - Alia talks about some of her research and findings. She discusses a mindset intervention she did with hotel room attendants in regards to exercise. Another study was on food indulgence.
• [07:57] - Alia describes her studies on stress and mindset.
• [11:23] - Alia talks about sharing the full truth of stress, then talking about the power of mindset and a 3-step approach.  She shares what this 3-step approach is.
• [14:06] - Alia shares the overall purpose of a mindset shift.
• [15:07] - Alia explains that mindsets on gender can impact organizations.
• [16:04] - Alia describes how organizations can become more aware of mindsets.  
• [17:43] - Alia shares what is currently on her mind in regards to mindsets.
• [19:24] - The Lightning Round with Alia Crum.

• The Magic of Conflict: Turning a Life of Work into a Work of Art - Thomas Crum
• Journey to Center: Lessons in Unifying Body, Mind, and Spirit - Thomas Crum
• Three Deep Breaths: Finding Power and Purpose in a Stressed-Out World - Thomas Crum

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.

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.

And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

Special thanks to Alia for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Barry Schwartz is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Swarthmore College and a visiting professor at the Haas School of Business at Berkeley. Barry spent 40 years thinking and writing about the interaction between economics and morality. He has written several best-selling books, including The Paradox of Choice and Why We Work. Barry's Ted Talks have been viewed by more than 14 million people.

When it comes to making decisions do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the number of choices you have? It seems that while choice is good for your wellbeing, more choice isn't necessarily better – there's a tipping point where too many options can paralyze you and lead to regrets. Hear how adapting a 'good enough' strategy, rather than searching for the ultimate best option, can help you navigate more successfully through your choices and improve your wellbeing and how these practices can be applied in workplaces.

Connect with Barry Schwartz:

Website – http://www.swarthmore.edu/profile/barry-schwartz

Ted Talks – https://www.ted.com/speakers/barry_schwartz

• [01:58] – Barry shares the dogma he believes that guides many western industrialized societies that is undermining our wellbeing.
• [03:38] – Barry talks about how having too many choices can lead to bad decisions and regrets.
• [04:54] – Barry explains the difference between maximizing and satisficing strategies when it comes to your choices.
• [06:48] – Barry shares how organizations with a culture of 'good enough' are likely to result in more satisfied, productive and effective employees.
• [10:20] – Barry talks about growth mindset and clarifies that having high standards and an end-result to aim for can keep you motivated on the journey.
• [11:41] – Barry shares his thoughts on balancing your inner-critic and self-compassion.
• [13:50] – Barry explains his researcher with Adam Grant on the "The Inverted U" and why you can have too much of a good thing when it comes to improving your wellbeing.
• [18:50] – Barry believes that it's possible for every worker at every company to find meaning and fulfillment from their jobs and explains how.
• [20:36] – The Lightning Round with Barry Schwartz

• Too Much of a Good Thing – Barry Schwartz & Adam M. Grant
• Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being – Martin Seligman
• Grit: The Power and Passion of Perseverance – Angela Duckworth
• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol S. Dweck

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.

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.

And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free!

Special thanks to Barry for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Barry Schwartz is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Swarthmore College and a visiting professor at the Haas School of Business at Berkeley. Barry spent 40 years thinking and writing about the interaction between economics and morality. He has written several best-selling books, including The Paradox of Choice and Why We Work. Barry’s Ted Talks have been viewed by more than 14 million people.

When it comes to making decisions do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the number of choices you have? It seems that while choice is good for your wellbeing, more choice isn’t necessarily better – there’s a tipping point where too many options can paralyze you and lead to regrets.  Hear how adapting a ‘good enough’ strategy, rather than searching for the ultimate best option, can help you navigate more successfully through your choices and improve your wellbeing and how these practices can be applied in workplaces.

Connect with Barry Schwartz:

Website – http://www.swarthmore.edu/profile/barry-schwartz

Ted Talks – https://www.ted.com/speakers/barry_schwartz

• [01:58] – Barry shares the dogma he believes that guides many western industrialized societies that is undermining our wellbeing.
• [03:38] – Barry talks about how having too many choices can lead to bad decisions and regrets.
• [04:54] – Barry explains the difference between maximizing and satisficing strategies when it comes to your choices.
• [06:48] – Barry shares how organizations with a culture of ‘good enough’ are likely to result in more satisfied, productive and effective employees.
• [10:20] – Barry talks about growth mindset and clarifies that having high standards and an end-result to aim for can keep you motivated on the journey.
• [11:41] – Barry shares his thoughts on balancing your inner-critic and self-compassion.
• [13:50] – Barry explains his researcher with Adam Grant on the “The Inverted U” and why you can have too much of a good thing when it comes to improving your wellbeing.
• [18:50] – Barry believes that it’s possible for every worker at every company to find meaning and fulfillment from their jobs and explains how.
• [20:36] – The Lightning Round with Barry Schwartz

• Too Much of a Good Thing – Barry Schwartz & Adam M. Grant
• Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being – Martin Seligman
• Grit: The Power and Passion of Perseverance – Angela Duckworth
• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol S. Dweck

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.

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.

And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

Special thanks to Barry for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Emily Esfahani Smith is a graduate of Master of Applied Positive Psychology program at the University of Pennsylvania, where she now serves as an instructor. Emily draws on psychology, philosophy, and literature to research and writes about the human experience. She is the author of the best-selling book, The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters.

Research shows that people who value happiness in the way our culture encourages us to do are left feeling empty and unhappy. What brings true happiness and satisfaction is meaning. We all want to know that our lives matter. In this conversation, you will hear Emily share the four pillars of meaning and the small, practical ways you can find meaning in your work no matter what your job description or your boss says.

Connect with Emily Esfahani Smith:

Website – http://emilyesfahanismith.com

Twitter – @EmEsfahaniSmith

• [01:44] – Emily explains why meaning matters when looking at wellbeing.
• [03:41] – Emily shares what her research shows might make life more meaningful.
• [06:35] – While people are reporting their sense of loneliness is escalating, Emily provides some examples of how we can increase our sense of belonging at work.
• [09:16] – Emily says that if we don't feel a sense of belonging, it may be up to us to reach out and connect with others and explains how we can do this at work.
• [10:03] – Emily puts "purpose" into context and shares how we can find purpose in our jobs.
• [12:45] – Emily explains how storytelling provides a path to meaning.
• [15:30] – Emily discusses Laura King's exercise with our lost selves and how that might help us with storytelling.
• [17:50] – Emily talks about The Moth and how it creates an environment for storytelling.
• [18:56] – When looking at transcendence, Emily shares why aura is important to our sense of meaning.
• [20:53] – The Lightning Round with Emily Esfahani Smith.

• The Moth
• Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude – Jim Collins and Michael S. Erwin
• Middlemarch – George Eliot and Rosemary Ashton

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.

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.

And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It's free!

Special thanks to Emily for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Emily Esfahani Smith is a graduate of Master of Applied Positive Psychology program at the University of Pennsylvania, where she now serves as an instructor.  Emily draws on psychology, philosophy, and literature to research and writes about the human experience.  She is the author of the best-selling book, The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters.  

Research shows that people who value happiness in the way our culture encourages us to do are left feeling empty and unhappy. What brings true happiness and satisfaction is meaning.  We all want to know that our lives matter.  In this conversation, you will hear Emily share the four pillars of meaning and the small, practical ways you can find meaning in your work no matter what your job description or your boss says. 

Connect with Emily Esfahani Smith:

Website – http://emilyesfahanismith.com

Twitter – @EmEsfahaniSmith

• [01:44] – Emily explains why meaning matters when looking at wellbeing.  
• [03:41] – Emily shares what her research shows might make life more meaningful.
• [06:35] – While people are reporting their sense of loneliness is escalating, Emily provides some examples of how we can increase our sense of belonging at work.
• [09:16] – Emily says that if we don’t feel a sense of belonging, it may be up to us to reach out and connect with others and explains how we can do this at work.
• [10:03] – Emily puts “purpose” into context and shares how we can find purpose in our jobs.
• [12:45] – Emily explains how storytelling provides a path to meaning.
• [15:30] – Emily discusses Laura King’s exercise with our lost selves and how that might help us with storytelling.
• [17:50] – Emily talks about The Moth and how it creates an environment for storytelling.
• [18:56] – When looking at transcendence, Emily shares why aura is important to our sense of meaning.
• [20:53] – The Lightning Round with Emily Esfahani Smith.

• The Moth
• Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude – Jim Collins and Michael S. Erwin
• Middlemarch – George Eliot and Rosemary Ashton

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.

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.

 And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

Special thanks to Emily for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!