positive performance with rose gantner
TRANSCRIPT
Positive Performance: Using Positive Psychology to
Achieve High-Performing Workplaces
Rose K. Gantner, Ed.D., NCC
Senior Director, Education, Training and Innovation
January 13, 2012
Healthpromotionlive.com
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Positive Psychology: Components and Rationale
A Wise Organization Strategy H.E.A.R.T.
Employers want…
Employees want…
High correlation between people’s attitudes,
purpose and ability to manage stress/resilience
Components
Stress Management
Resiliency
Positivity
Happiness
Mindfulness
Rationale
•Go beyond traditional offerings
• morale & engagement
• Interventions to build thriving
individuals, families , and communities
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Align Company Goals & Objectives
Positive Psychology: Definition
The scientific study of what enables individuals and communities to thrive
o Encompasses neurological, psychological, and physiology aspects
o Play to your strengths & strengthen others!
History - Maslow‟s self-actualization (1950s)
o Martin Seligman, PhD.: father of modern movement (1998)
Organization - International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA)
1) Individual
2) Interpersonal
3) Organizational Levels
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Research Studies
Buck Consultants: Workplace Wellness Strategies - November 2010
1,248 organizations in 47 countries
13 million employees
Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, Latin America, & Africa:
• #1 Improve Workforce Morale
• #2 Improve Engagement
U.S.A. - Not a priority yet:
• #1- Health care costs
• Productivity
• Absenteeism & Presenteeism
*Remember, our health care system is different from other countries due to
our reimbursement system.
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Research Studies (continued)
Harvard School of Public Health (2009)
• Optimistic people are less likely to develop hypertension and chronic
illnesses, and have less depressive and anxiety symptoms
• Positive emotions are linked to improved well-being
• Chronic anger, worry, resentment, and anxiety are linked to risks of
developing heart disease as people react to their feelings with BP and
stiffening of blood vessels
• Optimism & gratitude are not the same
• Optimism=future; Gratitude =past
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Findings 1. Optimistic coronary bypass patients were only 50% as likely
as pessimists to require re-hospitalization
2. Highly pessimistic men were three times more likely to
develop hypertension
3. People with positive emotions had lower blood pressures
4. More pessimistic men were more than two times more likely
to develop heart disease compared with the most optimistic
5. Lower Levels of stress hormones and less inflammation.
Reference: Harvard Health Publication, “Living Better, Living Longer,” May 2008.
Why Optimists Enjoy Better Health
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Positivity and Quality of Life
“People who learn to control inner experiences will be able to
determine the quality of their lives.”
- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, PhD
Biggest difference between an optimistic and a pessimistic person:
– Orientation of the world
– Choose: Empowerment or Disempowerment?
– Self-efficacy - Belief in self as a problem-solver
– Behavior efficacy - Anticipate positive outcomes
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Positive Psychology Components
• Each individual needs to find happiness –resilient enhancing strategies
that fit his/her personality, goals, values, lifestyle, and beliefs.
• “Best possible self exercise”-think about your future in positive ways
• Translate intentions, into real actionable small steps.
• Learning any positive psychology component is like learning a sport –
takes practice and repetition to improve.
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Why do we engage in unhealthy habits? Dopamine — DNA
The Reward and Pleasure Circuits
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• Our brain weighs 2.7 lbs. and has 100 billion neurons
• It takes only one neuron to build a new memory
• Our brain is hardwired to perform at its best when we are
positive
• Most behaviors: habits (80%); deliberate thinking (20%)
• Neurotransmitter, dopamine (pleasure/reward center)
• Applying behavior economics & gamification
• Do – Learn – Change model (BJ Fogg) Change Behaviors –What's in it for me? –Ready to change?
–Goal & Plan –Support Systems
Positive Emotions & The Brain
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The Brain
Brain’s Amygdala - almond-shaped structure, cerebral hemispheres, controls:
• Happiness: Center-left side of brain; positive emotions
• Fear & danger
Brain’s resistance to change:
will adjust if small steps are
taken toward a goal;
amygdala will not fire.
Self talk – Reframe
Resilience protects against
negative emotions
Reference Book: Traver, Kelly, MD and Sergent, BK. The Program: The
Brain‟s Smart Approach to the Healthiest You, 2009
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Strengthen Resiliency - 5 Essential Characteristics
Researchers: Gail Wagnild, PhD and Heather Young, PhD
1) Meaningful Life (Purpose/Passion) - Most important characteristics
2) Perseverance - Determination despite difficulties
3) Self-Reliance - Belief in self (abilities/capabilities); practice
4) Equanimity - Balance & harmony - reframe
5) Coming home to yourself - Own best friend
Resilient people have courage and emotional stamina.
Take Resilience Scale-Free Assessment - 14 short questions
www.resiliencescale.com
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1-7 scale (7=strongly agree) – 14 total questions
When I make plans, I usually follow through with them.
I feel proud I have accomplished things in my life.
I can get through difficult times because I‟ve experienced
difficulty before.
I can usually look at a situation in a number of ways.
When I am in a difficult situation, I can find my way out of it.
Resilience Scale – Sample Questions
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Resilience = Emotional Agility
• Worry Less
• Mindfulness
• Openness
• Bounce back
• Kindness
• Social Fabric
• Flexibility
Teach people to let go of negative patterns of thinking.
Reframe statements - ”If only______” “So what if only____”
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Resilient Personality Styles
More open to change; creative
Faster cardiovascular recovery
Less stress and more focus on joy
and peace
Fewer health issues
Less cost and increased well-being
and life span
More resilient in face of adversity
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3:1 Ratio
Learn. Unlearn. Relearn.
Positivity Ratio – Tipping Point
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• Broadens mind and heart
• Increases creativity and collaboration
• Builds resources
• Fuels resiliency
• Can be learned and improved
– Great to a team/committee’s
cooperation, collaboration, and
results!
Dream Big!
Positivity Feels Good
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Connectedness
We are influenced by others in three degrees of separation:
• Individual level
• At work
• Relationships
Ref: Christakis, W. MD, PhD and Fowler, J. PhD, Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives, 2009
Socially Connected:
If overweight, friend
has a 57% chance of
also being overweight
If smoker, quits, friend
is 34% more likely to
quit smoking
Social networks can
spread happiness,
generosity, and love
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Happiness/Health Connection
Strengths connected to happiness-gratitude, hope, faith, love, vitality, & curiosity; a combination of meaning & pleasure
Happier people have:
– Decreased health risks: fewer chronic conditions
– Decreased psychological factors
– Increased well-being; purpose and passion for bigger social good
– Increased social connections
– Increased feeling of safety and sense of belonging
Book: Buettner, Dan, Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from People Who Lived the Longest, 2008
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Happiness … Formula?
Research: Instilling happiness in the workforce increases teamwork,
leadership, productivity, morale, and work-life balance.
Happiness formula: HSCA (trait & state)
Sonja Lyubomirsky, University of California
iPhone App- “Live Happy” (8 activities)
Definition
H = Happiness
S = Set point
C = Circumstances
A = Intentional Activities – Choices
• 50% = Genetic
• 10% = Circumstances – noise, commuting distances
• 40% = Under your internal control and choices (takes work & practice) Book: Sonya Lyubomirsky, the How of Happiness, 2010
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Things That Will Make You Happy
Researchers: Martin Seligman, PhD and Christopher Peterson, PhD
1) Feeling Good: Seek pleasurable emotions (loving and being loved; skills and challenges)
• Positive thinking (gratitude & optimism)
2. Engaging Fully: “Flow” (hobbies, interests, activities, clubs, community)
• Social activities-”best possible self exercise”
3. Doing Good – Social Good: Volunteering with passion and purpose; bigger than self
4. Check Websites:
www.authentichappiness.com (Seligman)
www.positiveratio.com (Fredrickson)
www.resiliencescale.com (Wagnild)
www.viacharacter.org (signature strengths survey)
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Things That Won‟t Make You Happy
Money and materialistic objects –
looking in all the wrong places
• Searching for the fountain of youth
• Economist – Richard Easterlin„s
research: People in poor countries
are happier where their basic
necessities are covered
• Beyond that, $75,000.00 is not a
factor
• Lottery winners, a year later, are no
more happier than a control group
of people who did not win
• Happy employees take fewer sick
days (15 days/year)
Source: Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index (November 2011) .
Things That Won’t Make You Happy
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Happiness appears to
protect against illness
More satisfied people gain
7.5 to 10 years of life
Nunn Study: Positive
emotions and writing
Research supports: Hopeful people:
Decreased hypertension
Decreased diabetes
Decreased respiratory tract
infections
Key: Stay in the present moment and accept the situation.
Happiness is a continuum.
Practice kindness and compassion.
Happiness & Longevity Studies
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1. Wisdom (Intellectual Strengths)
• Creativity
• Love Learning
2. Courage (Accomplish Goals)
• Integrity
• Bravery
3. Temperance (Stay on Track)
• Forgiveness
• Humility
4. Justice (Social and Civic Strengths)
• Teamwork and Leadership
• Fairness
5. Transcendence (Connectedness to the World)
• Apprentice of Beauty, Spirituality, Gratitude, Hope, Humor
6. Humanity (Love and Kindness)
• Social Intelligence
• Emotional Intelligence
Strengths are built-in capabilities for certain thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors.
PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS!
Reference: Positive Psychology, Harvard Publication – www.healthharvard.edu
Six Virtues = Strengths
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Flow = Higher Engagement & Satisfaction
Researcher: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
• People report greatest satisfaction when they are totally
immersed in and concentrating on what they are doing
• In “flow”
• You lose awareness of time
• You aren’t interrupted by extra thoughts
• You clearly have defined goals – each moment
• You are active
• You work effortlessly
• You would like to repeat the experience
3x more flow when working than when during leisure time activity
Procrastination is the enemy of flow – start with small chunks for success
Flow = Higher Engagement and Satisfaction
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“Mindfulness is not so much about doing as about being.”
– John Kabat-Zinn, Ph D
• Practice of focusing your attention on the present moment –
Accepting it without judgment
• Mindfulness linked to happier and more resilient relationships
• Learned techniques: breathing, mediation, attention
• Takes effort and practice
• Latest research: “Loving Kindness Meditation” (Fredrickson, 2011)
o Self-Regulate Love
Mindfulness
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• Based on Buddhist concept of mindfulness –moment.
• Stress, High Blood Pressure and chronic
gastrointestinal difficulties.
• Mind – gut connection: It takes 20 minutes for our brain
to register fullness.
• Eat slower; put down fork between bites.
• Mindful eating - Notice colors, smells, and texture of
foods; chew slowly.
• Don‟t eat in front of the TV.
• Take small bites & chew well.
• Learn portion control.
Ref. Harvard Medical School, June 2010
Example of Mindful Eating
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• Transcends 150 countries and cultures
• Universal elements of well-being
• 66% of people doing well in at least one of the areas
• Only 7% thriving in all five
• Question:
– Do you like what you do each day at work?
Career Social Financial Physical Community
Five Essential Elements of Well-Being
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Questions
As an employee are you_________?
• Engaged: high-performer, creative, & passionate = 30%
• Disengaged: not happy and “checked out” = 52%
• Actively disengaged: employee “acts out” their
dissatisfaction = 18%
Talented employees want an adult partnership with
their supervisors
Good companies want to recruit and retain top talent to
remain competitive in the global marketplace
Ref, Gallop poll 2010
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Why Engagement & Satisfaction Matter
Companies with employees who report high levels of satisfaction
(trust & support) experience:
Absenteeism
Presenteeism
Turnover Rates
Substance Abuse
Drivers of both engagement and satisfaction relate to
components of Trust, Fairness, Autonomy & Meaningful Work
Ref. Schneider, Benjamin, SHRM, 2009
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• Roy M. Spence Jr. book: “It’s Not What You Sell, It’s What You Stand For: Why Every Extraordinary Business is Driven by Purpose” (www.itsnotwhatyousell.com)
• Aided companies as Southwest Airlines, Whole Foods and Walmart
o Financial & community growth
Purpose in place:
o Engagement: Same as culture of health in place (3x more engaged employees)
o Innovation
o Customer loyalty to brand
Purpose
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• Make health and well-being an impartial asset
• Be a champion for self and others
• Lead by example
• Be kind – nice matters to people
• Be open and enthusiastic
• Be flexible and adaptable – agility
• Be open to change and uncertainty
• Be professional – mutual respect
• Be optimistic – happier, fulfilled person
• Be willing and able to do your part
Tips for Increasing Healthy Engagement in the Workplace
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Increase Motivation in the Workplace
• Be a transparent & authentic leader
• Provide role clarity; clear expectations
• Provide feedback to all members
• Help connect employees‟ efforts to bigger
mission & purpose
• Remember that every employee can make
valuable contributions
• Practice Prosocial motivation-Protect &
Promote well-being of others
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CHALLENGE
MEANING
ENJOYMENT
External Drivers
Outcomes
Internal Drivers
Ref: Martin Stairs and Martin Galpin, “Positive Engagement: From Employee Engagement to Workplace Happiness,” p. 160.
Enthusiasm and Interest (Passion)
• Individual’s thoughts and actions • Choices/personal responsibility • Social relationships
Balance and Flow Optimal Experience
Drive and Purpose Bigger than Self
• Influence Behaviors Environment/Culture
• Increase or Decrease Individual Engagement
Individual, Team and Organizational
***Research by Soldati (2007) supports highly engaged employees outperform their disengaged counterparts by 20-28 percentage points.
Positive Engagement
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Dr. Rose K. Gantner
Available March, 2012