Making Positive Psychology Work

Sue Ashford is a professor in management and organization at the University of Michigan.  Her research interests include leader effectiveness and development, issue selling, self-management and feedback processes in organizations.   Are you keen to step up to a leadership role but worried you aren't quite ready?  Sue suggests that everyone has leadership potential, and you learn leadership mostly...

Edwin Locke is the Dean's Professor of Motivation and Leadership Emeritus at the University of Maryland.  He has published over 300 chapters and articles in professional journals on topics such as motivation, job satisfaction, incentives and the philosophy of science.  He is internationally known for his research on goal-setting. Goals are critical in helping us create change in our lives, and yet...

Peggy Kern is a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne's Graduate School of Education in the Center for Positive Psychology. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles, and her research addresses the question, "Who flourishes, and why?" Are we oversimplifying positive psychology?  While the field has made much progress over the last 15 years in helping people find ways to improve the...

Professor Carol Dweck is widely regarded as one of the world's leading researchers in the fields of personality, social psychology, and developmental psychology.  She has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the US Academy of Sciences and won nine lifetime achievement awards for her research.  Her work is used by organizations around the world to transform their cultures....

Dacher Keltner is a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley.  He is also the faculty director of The Greater Good Science Center . Dacher's research focuses on the biological and evolutionary origins of compassion, love, beauty, power, social class, and inequality. Do you run towards or away from having more power?  Often perceived as the need to manipulate, coerce or dominate others, it turns out...

Vanessa King is a board member of Action for Happiness , which is a UK-based not-for-profit that focuses on proactively building skills for psychological well-being and resilience. She's also the architect of the Ten Keys to Happier Living. She joins me on this episode to talk about In this episode, you will hear Vanessa's Ten Keys to Happier Living , which form the acronym, GREAT DREAM.  Vanessa...

George Bonanno is professor of clinical psychology, Director of the Lost Trauma and Emotion Lab , and Director of The Resilience Center for Veterans and Families at Columbia University's Teacher's College . George's research focuses on resilience in the fact of loss and traumatic events.   Most of us have the natural tools to deal with extreme adversities in our lives. We cope well when extreme th...

Jeffrey Auerbach designs and delivers executive coaching and emotionally intelligent leadership programs.  He is the founder and President of The College of Executive Coaching, and past Vice President of the International Coach Federation Global Board of Directors. In this conversation, you will hear Jeffrey talk about the well-being coaching he does with people in the workplace.  The biggest part...

Angela Duckworth is a professor at The University of Pennsylvania. She is also the founder and scientific director of The Character Lab. She has advised the White House, professional sports teams and Fortune 500 CEO's.   In this conversation, you will hear Angela discuss the research that she is doing on character with children and teachers in middle schools.  Character is not one thing, it is man...

Martin Seligman is a leading authority in the fields of positive psychology, resilience, learned helplessness, depression, optimism, and pessimism.  He is the director of the Penn Positive Psychology Center, the Penn Master of Applied Positive Psychology program.  In this conversation, you will hear Martin share what he would like attendees to take away from his presentation at the 5th World Congr...

Sonja Lyubomirsky is a professor of Psychology at the University of California - Riverside. Her research on the science of happiness has been the recipient of many honors.  She is a best-selling author of the books The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want and The Myths of Happiness: What Should Make You Happy, but Doesn't, What Shouldn't Make You Happy, but Does . In this...

Paula Davis Laack is a former practicing lawyer, an internationally published writer, media contributor, and a stress and resilience expert.  She has designed and taught burnout prevention and resilience workshops for thousands of professionals around the world. She also taught resilience skills to more than 25,000 soldiers.   While a lot of people are familiar with the term "burnout", they don't...

Carin Rockind is the creator of Purpose Girl , a movement to empower purpose-driven living.  She is also a leading happiness expert who works with companies around the world, teaching real-life strategies to help people live to their fullest potential of success and well-being.   In this conversation, you will hear Carin talk about purpose. Carin explains why purpose is a verb. She describes how y...

Russ Harris is the author of the international best-selling self help book, The Happiness Trap .  He is a therapist and coach, as well as a world renowned trainer of acceptance and commitment therapy, otherwise known as ACT.  He has provided ACT training to over 20,000 people all around the world. In this conversation, you will hear Russ talk about the ACT approach. He explains how individuals and...

Jo Murray is a facilitator and change consultant with a Masters in Positive Psychology from Melbourne University.  Jo is specifically interested in how leaders in organizations can use the concept of psychological capital to improve the engagement and wellbeing of their employees.    While your organization may measure and track your economic, human or even social capital, have you ever considered...

Kathleen Cator is a clinical psychologist and former nurse with over 20 years' experience as a health professional. Kathleen leads self-compassion and mindfulness based training and therapies in public, education, and health care settings. Self-compassion is about treating yourself during difficult or challenging times as you would a good friend - with kindness, understanding and encouragement. Wh...

Louisa Jewell is a speaker, author, facilitator, and wellbeing teacher who has inspired thousands of people worldwide to be more confident.  She founded the Canadian Positive Psychology Association and her work has been featured in numerous publications. In this conversation, you will hear Louisa share her thoughts on developing more confidence, to help you and your organization become more innova...

Dr. Barbara Fredrickson is a distinguished professor of psychology and neuroscience.  She is the director of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  With 140 peer-reviewed articles published and translated into a dozen languages, her research is funded by the US National Institute of Health.   "Positive psychology is not just for when thi...

Monica Worline is an organizational psychologist, speaker, author, and the founder and CEO of Alive and Work, an organization that teaches businesses how to tap into courageous thinking, compassionate leadership, and the curiosity to bring their best work to life. In this conversation, you will hear Monica Worline describe the importance of compassion, specifically within organizations.  Monica sh...

Robert Biswas-Diener, is a leading researcher on culture, wellbeing, positive psychology coaching and author of several wonderful books including the The Upside of Your Dark Side .  With recent political changes in the United States and the UK leaving many feeling fearful and apprehensive about the future, Robert shares his insights on how to become comfortable with these uncomfortable feelings. ...

Paloma Lopez is the global sustainability director for Kellogg. She helped lead the launch of the Kellogg origins program in sustainable agriculture in Europe.  She is now helping roll that program out on a global scale.   Paloma shares Kellogg's long history with "purpose".  She explains how it is increasingly important for employees that the values of the organization align with their own.   Pal...

Vincent Stanley is an author and chief story-teller with Patagonia.  In this conversation, you will hear Vincent talk about Patagonia's journey from sustainability to responsibility, the mistakes they've made along the way and how they've won the hearts and minds of employees.  Connect with Vincent Stanley Vincent Stanley's Website You'll Learn: [02:18] - Vincent shares why he believes organizatio...

Dr. Peggy Kern is a senior lecturer in the University of Melbourne's Graduate School of Education in the Center for Positive Psychology.  Peggy has published over 50 peer reviewed articles and chapters.  Her research addresses the question, "Who flourishes and why?" In this conversation, you will hear Peggy talk about the role our behaviors and habits play in our well-being. With Julie Butler, Peg...

Kevin Schnieders is the Chief Servant Leader and CEO of Educational Data Systems, Inc. (EDSI). EDSI is a workplace development, customized training, and consulting company who provides innovative solutions to close workforce skill gaps around America.  Since Kevin became CEO, EDSI has tripled in size.   In this conversation, you will hear Kevin talk about models and systems that he has implemented...

Dr. Aaron Jarden is a senior lecturer in psychology at Auckland University of Technology. He is also the president of the New Zealand Association of Positive Psychology. Aaron has done a lot of research on occupational wellbeing and in this conversation, he talks about how to introduce these practices to workplaces from the upper levels to the front-lines using a  "me, we, us" framework. Aaron als...