engaging hearts and minds: understanding and employing the psychology behind work
TRANSCRIPT
Dr. Louise LambertD’raven
Assistant Professor
Canadian University of Dubai
Mainstream/Traditional PsychologyDepression Eating
disordersCrime Social violence Learning
disorders
Divorce Anxiety Anger Isolationloneliness
ADHD
Personalitydisorders
Familydysfunction
Employeeturnover
Addictions Obesitysedentarybehaviour
Bullying Stress andburnout
Suicide Conductdisorder
Lying cheatingdishonesty
An absence is not a presence of…• Simply “not having a broken leg” is not
enough to qualify for the Olympics.
Positive Psychology: Presence of positivePost-traumaticgrowth
HealthyLifestyles
Pro-Socialbehavior
Groupbelonging;cooperation
Giftednesstalent
Life satisfaction& subjectivewell-being
MindfulnessBeing in themoment
MotivationGritAchievement
Characterstrengths
Learning
Flourishingindividuals
Productivegroups andorganizations
Engagement Meaning andPurpose
Fitness andhealth
Friendship Thriving understress
The positiveside of humanexperience!
PositiveEmotions
HonestyAltruism
Organizational psychology assumes same
• Move organizations back to normal, butmediocrity not productive; we can do better.
• Positive organizational scholarship (psychology)= move organizations beyond average towardsgreatness
What makes us happy?(From a scientific perspective)
Well-being theory (PERMA; Seligman, 2011)
PERMA: Pleasure, positive emotion3:1 ratio: Broaden & Build Model
Being interested,doing what you’re good at,and losing yourself in it.
It’s a “great job” we’d do for free.*Assumes a “fit” and a “gap”
PERMA: Engagement + strengths = flow
Copyright2009Louis
eLamb
ert
PERMA: Positive Relationships
Employees with abest friend at work(who is happy) are7x more engaged!
Copyright2009Louis
eLamb
ert
PERMA: The Meaningful Life
Does it matter orcontribute tosomeone otherthan you?
PERMA: A life of Achievement
What wouldyou like to sayyou’veaccomplished?
Develop interventions based on the pathways
Why PERMA?
Small group questions• What makes you come alive at work?• If you had 3 wishes for the organization, what would
they be?• What’s the smallest thing we could change that would
make a difference?• Do we have fun here? Do you laugh here? Do you feel
hopeful here?• If our success were 100% guaranteed, what bold steps
might we take?
For Managers/Supervisor• What are you good at that we aren’t capitalizing
upon? What are your “extra/other” skills?• *Gap disappears
For Managers/Supervisor• Follow-through:• Craft the job• See what you can accommodate.
For Employees
• Am I bored? Why?• If I complained less, what would I do more of?• When do I feel good here? Doing what?• What would happen if I changed my mindset?• Is it the same elsewhere? (very likely)
For Employees• Do I come to work at my best?• Am I tired? Hungry? Dehydrated?• Am I happy otherwise?
• What seems like “bad work” is sometimesunhappiness and unhealthiness overall.
Positive psychology:Focus on greatness
• People want to succeed and do good; butneed a way there.
• Personal responsibility; strengths invite.