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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

Ever wondered what the difference is between stress and burnout!? In this latest Happier at Work episode, Aoife chats to expert in hope Lindsay Recknell about burnout, her personal experience dealing with it and how it navigated Lindsay into her career today. Lindsay is a workplace mental health consultant, speaker, and podcaster with a passion for helping companies increase and embrace psychological health & safety in the workplace. In this episode, Aoife and Lindsay explore how burnout can impact us, why we need to normalise mental health conversations in the workplace, the power of being proactive and how we can close cycles of stress. Key moments throughout the episode include: - Introduction to Lindsay Recknell. - What is burnout, and how does it affect us? - How to close the cycle of stress. - The significance of having a creative outlet. - Creating Psychological Safety environments. - Normalising conversations about mental health. - Coping throughout a pandemic. - Vulnerability in the workplace. - The importance of setting boundaries and communicating our boundaries. - What makes Lindsay Happier at Work. Lindsay empowers individuals, strengthens teams and transforms organizations through her Hope Motivates Action, Mental Health in Minutes and Burnout & Boundaries programs. ‘’Everybody deserves to work in a place where they feel psychologically safe to come to work and be their whole selves in a respectful and productive way.’’ – Lindsay Recknell. Connect with Lindsay Recknell: http://www.expertinhope.com/ http://www.expertinhope.com/programs/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-recknell http://www.facebook.com/expertinhope/ http://www.instagram.com/lindsayrecknell 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

‘’As long as you’re still producing the work and collaborating like you need to and hitting those key results, we can offer that flexibility.’’ – Karen Weeks. You are in for a treat! Joining Aoife on this latest Happier at Work episode is HR specialist Karen Weeks. Karen exited stage left from the world of theatre 20 years ago and has been a celebrated HR leader and coach ever since. With a drive for helping organisations create incredible cultures and a passion for guiding individuals to get unstuck from their careers and leading them to a professional path of fulfilment, it is no surprise that Karen was listed as one of the Notable Women in Talent by Crain’s New York Business in 2020. In this episode, you will get the perspective of an HR leader as Aoife and Karen dive into how HR can impact work environments and create happier employees, discuss why igniting employee experience matters, and review how the future of work is looking flexible. Key takeaways include: - Karen’s career journey from theatre to HR. - The essential role of HR. - Onboarding new employees and the power of asking questions. - Motivating employees by thinking of their needs and goals. - Psychological Safety and creating a safe space for honest conversations. - Different types of managerial styles. - Why Employee Experience matters. - What is workplace flexibility? - Managing flexible work arrangements. - How to build trust in the workplace? - What does success look like? - Understanding workplace values. - How personal life can affect work and vice versa. - What makes Karen Happier at Work. Karen is currently the SVP of People at Ordergroove and is a certified career coach, speaker, advisor to start-up companies, Girls in Tech NYC board member, the published author of “Setting the Stage: A Guide to Preparing for Any Feedback Conversation”, and host of the podcast “Getting off the Hamster Wheel”. Connect with Karen Weeks: http://www.karendweeks.com/ http://www.karendweeks.com/book/ http://www.karendweeks.com/podcast/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-d-weeks-sphr-ms-5965775 http://twitter.com/career_changers http://www.ordergroove.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 Resources: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni http://www.amazon.co.uk/Five-Dysfunctions-Team-Leadership-Lencioni/dp/0787960756 http://gretchenrubin.com/

Jennifer Dowling is a Chartered Work and Organisational Psychologist and Director of Train Remote. She specialises in remote, flexible and hybrid working. Jennifer has a strong background in people development, psychometrics, selection, training and coaching. In this episode, Aoife and Jennifer discuss the future of hybrid-remote working in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the power of autonomy in work and the benefits of effective time management and self-observation. Main points covered throughout the episode include: - An introduction to Jennifer Dowling. - The future of work and flexibility. - Transitioning from an interactive environment to remote work. - The power of autonomy in work. - The importance of self-awareness and understanding your working needs and values. - Understanding individual differences. - Building, communicating and demonstrating trust in the workplace. - The impact of self-limiting beliefs VS empowering beliefs. - Temporal awareness and mastering time management at work. - The benefit of practising self-observation and self-check ins. - Learning from daily reflections. - Recognising the difference between observation and judgement. - What makes Jennifer happier at work. Jennifer has worked with many organisations on the transition to remote working. She specialises in training, coaching and team development for managers and teams transitioning to more agile and flexible working. She is qualified in several psychometric tools and an experienced trainer, facilitator and coach. She is fuelled by curiosity, primarily in people; what makes us tick, makes us different and what contributes to making us the best version of ourselves! Connect with Jennifer Dowling: http://www.trainremote.ie/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-dowling http://twitter.com/trainremote 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: Article: The Neuroscience of Trust by Paul J. Zak http://hbr.org/2017/01/the-neuroscience-of-trust Talks at Google: The Lucifer Effect – Phillip Zimbardo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUyDznt5V4I App: Mood Meter – A gift of self-awareness for yourself and others. http://moodmeterapp.com/

Duena is the author of “Emotional Banking” and “People Before Tech: The Importance of Psychological Safety and Teamwork in the Digital Age”. She is a doer, an entrepreneur, an industry influencer, a blogger with a cutting-edge opinion style, a writer for Forbes, an international keynote speaker and the creator of the Emotional Banking™ and Human Debt™ concepts. Duena is the Co-Founder and CEO of PeopleNotTech - a company designing a revolutionary team software solution measuring and increasing Psychological Safety for high performing teams. In this episode, Aoife and Duena dive into the hot topic of workplace Psychological Safety and discuss effective team dynamics. Duena also shares her drive for making teams and humans happier at work by increasing psychological safety and reducing human debt. Main points covered throughout the episode include: - An introduction to Duena Blomstrom and her professional background. - The concept of human debt. - The impacts of not speaking up and being heard. - Toxicity in the Workplace. - How performance and productivity are essential. - Understanding and establishing workplace wellbeing. - Organisational permission and support. - A look at Psychological Safety on an individual basis and team basis. - The power of positive team dynamics. - The importance of building safety & trust in the workplace. - How superheroes can arise from any level within an organisation and make a significant change. - What makes Duena Happier at Work. Over the past 20 years, Duena has worked with multiple large organisations, be it to assist them in their digital strategy or to help them transform. With a background in Psychology and Business, Duena is on a crusade to see lasting change in this VUCA world, to assist companies avail themselves of Agile and the new ways of work and bring humanity back to the workplace. Connect with Duena Blomstrom: http://www.duenablomstrom.com/ http://www.duenablomstrom.com/books/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/duenablomstrom http://www.twitter.com/duenablomstrom http://www.peoplenottech.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 Resources: http://www.forbes.com/sites/duenablomstrom

Listeners interested in psychology, sociology and leadership are in for a real treat with this special extended Happier at Work episode with father-son duo Edgar and Peter Schein. Ed and Peter co-founded the Organizational Culture and Leadership Institute (OCLI.org) in 2015. Ed and Peter have just completed their fourth collaboration, the upcoming 2nd Edition of Humble Inquiry. In this episode, Aoife O’Brien, Edgar Schein and Peter Schein discuss the importance of communication, the gentle art of Humble Enquiry and the benefits of moving forward with an open and curious mind to create a better culture. Key points covered throughout the episode include: - An introduction to Ed and Peter Schein’s backgrounds. - What is Humble Inquiry? - Why we should attack the culture of telling and promote a culture of inquiry. - The importance and influence of personal & trusting relationships. - Psychological safety and cultural evolution. - Encouraging people to speak up. - Rewarding courage in the workspace. - Exploring professional distance. - Process of inquiry – taking time out to examine are you asking the right questions. - The power of groups and learning how to work effectively in a team. - What makes Ed and Peter Happier at Work. Edgar Schein is Professor Emeritus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management. Ed received BA degrees from the University of Chicago and Stanford and his PhD in Social Psychology from Harvard University. He is the 2009 recipient of the Distinguished Scholar-Practitioner Award of the Academy of Management, the 2012 recipient of the Life-Time Achievement Award from the International Leadership Association, the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award in Organization Development from the International OD Network. Peter Schein is the co-founder and COO of OCLI.org. He provides counsel to senior management on organizational development challenges facing private and public sector entities worldwide. Peter’s work draws on 30 years of industry experience in marketing and corporate development at technology pioneers including Apple, SGI, Sun Microsystems, and numerous internet start-ups. Ed and Peter’s first work together, the 5th edition of Organizational Culture and Leadership, was published in 2016. In 2018, Ed and Peter published Humble Leadership, which won the Nautilus Book Awards Silver Medal, and in 2019 they published Culture + Change +Leadership: The Corporate Culture Survival Guide 3rd Edition. Connect with Edgar & Peter Schein: http://www.scheinocli.org/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/peteraschein/ http://www.scheinocli.org/publications 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: Douglas McGregor – Theory X Theory Y concept http://www.businessballs.com/improving-workplace-performance/mcgregors-xy-theory-of-management/ Bob Johansen – Institute For The Future http://www.iftf.org/bobjohansen/

‘’In times of trauma, we look to our leaders to support us.’’ – Katharine Manning. Katharine Manning has over 25 years of experience training and consulting on trauma and victimization. She is the author of The Empathetic Workplace: 5 Steps to a Compassionate, Calm, and Confident Response to Trauma on the Job. As a senior attorney advisor with the Justice Department, for 15 years she counselled on victim rights in high-profile cases like the Boston Marathon bombing, the South Carolina AME church shooting, the Madoff investment fraud, and the case against Olympic Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. In this episode, Katharine and Aoife discuss overcoming trauma at work, the psychological impacts of trauma and how best to practice empathy at work. Katharine and Aoife also explore trauma in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, looking at how everyone is simultaneously navigating through various levels of trauma and hardship right now. Key points covered in the episode include: - An insight into Katharine’s professional background. - How the Me Too movement inspired Katharine. - What is trauma? - How to become an empathetic listener. - The LASER method - 5 steps to responding to trauma at work. - The key to communicating effectively. - Coping with the traumatic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. - The effects of institutional betrayal and breaches of trust. - Psychological safety in the workplace. - Vulnerability in leadership. - The significance of talking the talk and walking the walk as a leader. - The importance of putting employee-friendly policies in place. - Ensuring staff are aware of support & resources available to them. - How to encourage your team to support one another. Now, President of Blackbird, Manning helps organisations prepare for and respond to the challenges they face involving clients and employees in trauma. She has trained thousands of individuals on compliance with their responsibilities to victims, and she teaches a course on victim rights at American University. Before her government service, Manning was an attorney in private practice representing Fortune 500 companies in class actions, insurance, and media cases. Connect with Katharine Manning: http://www.katharinemanning.com/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/katharine-manning/ http://twitter.com/kl_manning http://www.instagram.com/empatheticworkplace/ 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 Recommendation: The Empathetic Workplace by Katharine Manning http://www.katharinemanning.com/my-book/

Susan Ní Chríodáin founded Beyond the Numbers to work with teams and individuals in organisations who recognise that putting people first generates the greatest return. Her experience and business acumen stems from a wide variety of commercial and non-profit roles. Putting people first and looking beyond the numbers is a significant contributor to happiness in the workplace. In this episode, Aoife and Susan explore how Psychological Safety at work has a profound impact on the work environment - it enhances trust, creation, innovation, and performance. Key points covered in the show include: - An insight into Susan’s career background. - Seeing beyond the numbers and putting people first. - How Toxicity and negativity can spread throughout the workplace. - How to identify & deal with being in a psychologically unsafe environment. - The benefits to communicating effectively on a human level. - Building courage to deal with difficult conversations. - Finding Calm with inner turmoil and being comfortable with silence. - How we can learn and progress by allowing vulnerability & being open to feedback. - Establishing boundaries and making them visible & tangible. - Actions that leaders can take to implement a psychologically safe workspace. For over 20 years, Susan led and managed a wide variety of teams in Europe, Africa, Asia, in-person and remotely. An FD at 33 she learnt that to have an impact required you to be brave, bold and to build strong working relationships. Technical excellence wasn’t enough; putting people first was key. Susan has a practical, no-nonsense approach to understanding and helping others resolve issues no matter how intractable they might seem. Susan hosts a podcast Life Beyond the Numbers for people who are curious about having a more fulfilling work-life and are united in a belief of putting people first to let their uniqueness shine through in their work-life. Connect with Susan Ní Chríodáin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/susannichriodain http://www.beyond-thenumbers.com/ http://lifebeyondthenumbers.podbean.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 Resources: Toastmasters International, a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. http://www.toastmasters.org/ Book Recommendation: Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World by Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall. http://www.amazon.com/Nine-Lies-about-Work-Freethinking/dp/1633696308/ 7 Questions to boost psychological safety at work – Dr Amy Edmondson http://www.inspirehub.com/blog/ask-these-7-questions-to-boost-psychological-safety-at-work

For more than two decades, Cali Williams Yost has been a leading authority on high-performance work flexibility. A visionary workplace futurist, strategist, and author, Yost is the Founder and CEO of the Flex+Strategy Group, a solutions company helping organizations unlock performance and engagement by reimagining how, when, and where work is done. In this episode, Aoife and Cali discuss how organisations have pivoted their businesses over the last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cali shares insights into how businesses recalibrated, looks at the contingency plan for moving forward, and discusses why remote working and flexibility within the workplace shouldn’t be feared. Key points throughout the show include: - Cali’s introduction to workplace flexibility. - The benefits of optimising flexibility in the workforce. - What makes a forward-thinking leader? - New methods of working and retaining culture. - A look at how businesses have adapted, and how they will innovatively move forward. - The barriers and opportunities that face businesses. - The importance of operational resilience, effective coordination, and management. - Leveraging technology and workspaces to boost productivity and collaboration. - The concept of Work + Life fit, setting boundaries and honouring employees’ realities. - How workplace flexibility can attract and retain local and global top talent. Called “one of the most sophisticated thinkers” on the transformation of work by The New York Times, Yost approaches flexible work transformation as a strategic business imperative. Her work is rooted in original research on the skills individuals need to leverage flexibility and take control of their work + life “fit” in order to do their jobs and manage their lives. She coined and codified her concepts on the flexible future of work in the empowering book, Tweak It: Make What Matters to You Happen Every Day, (Center Street/Hachette, 2013), and the critically acclaimed, Work+Life: Finding the Fit That’s Right for You (Riverhead/Penguin Group, 2004). Yost graduated with honours from Columbia Business School where she’s noted as an alumnus “Changing the World.” In 2018, she was named one of the global management thinkers “On the Radar” by Thinkers50, and she has been cited as one of Forbes’s 40 Women to Watch Over 40. Connect with Cali Williams Yost: http://flexstrategygroup.com/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/caliwilliamsyost/ Cali Williams Yost books: ‘Work + Life: Finding the Fit That’s Right for You’ http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594480656/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1 ‘Tweak It: Make What Matters to You Happen Every Day’ http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/089296880X/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0 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

‘’A network gives you reach but a community gives you power. Networks connect and communities care.’’ – Ted Rubin. Ted Rubin is a leading Social Marketing Strategist, Speaker, Photofy CMO... Author, Connector, Provocateur. In 2009 he started using/evangelizing the term ROR, Return on Relationship, (#RonR). Many people know Ted for his enthusiastic, energetic, and undeniably personal connection to people. In this episode, Aoife and Ted discuss the impact of creating a business community, and how empowering employees can motivate, instill greater trust and improve longevity as well as performance results. Key points covered in the episode include; - Ted’s introduction to business, working on Seth Godin’s start-up and his shift from sales into marketing. - Empowered employees power your brand. - Identifying your core values and showing the human side to your business. - How negative feedback or criticism can bring opportunities. By giving your employees or customers a voice, you can act on their feedback. - Seeing employee creative content as a resource for reach. - How work and home life can be interlinked. - The benefits of creating a business community. - Developing a pre-approval process for content. - The attitude of putting people first, rather than profit. - A look into how the working world is shifting. - Ted’s personal views on hiring techniques. - The impact of the pandemic and the lessons we can carry forward. Ted was Chief Social Marketing Officer (a title he created in 2011) of Collective Bias, and a principal shareholder until the 2016 acquisition by Inmar. In the words of Collective Bias Co-Founder John Andrews... "Ted, you were the vision, heartbeat, and soul of Collective Bias, thank you for building a great company. From innovations like CB. Socially to the amazing relationships you built with the blogger community, clients, and employees, you drove the epic growth.’’ Connect with Ted Rubin: http://www.TedRubin.com http://www.linkedin.com/in/TedRubin/ https://twitter.com/TedRubin 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 – Ted Rubin Books : Return on Relationship How To Look People In The Eye Digitally The Age of Influence: Selling to the Digitally Connected Customer Available now on https://tedrubin.com/books/

Dan Norenberg is a thought leader, advisor and coach to senior leadership teams. Dan improves leadership performance and organizational results through a system called Executive Ownershift, a top down, team of leader’s approach to breakthrough growth. Most leadership teams are a collection of highly talented and experienced professionals, yet the majority of these teams don’t play at their best. When leadership teams don’t play at their best, this hurts the entire organisation. Dan’s work enables leadership teams, and everyone that reports to them, to raise their game. In this episode Aoife and Dan discuss the value of effective leadership and look at how businesses can transform and achieve great results through Executive Ownershift. Key points covered include: - An insight to Dan’s personal and professional journey. - The surprising success rates of strategies. - The importance of understanding culture and the operational function of the leadership team. - How meetings can have a positive impact on performance and accountability. - The organisational roadmap and the 5 C’s – Clarity, Connection, Collaboration, Contribution and Consequences. - Discussion on Actors -VS- Authors. - Executive Ownershift – how slight changes can make a big impact. - The benefit of opening safe spaces to allow vulnerability and honest communication within the workspace. Dan worked years in front line leadership roles before becoming a consultant and has degrees in psychology and criminology. He is a Narrative Coach™ Certified Practitioner and a certified coach for Marshall Goldsmith’s Stakeholder Centered Coaching Programs. Norenberg is a member of the Society for the Advancement of Consulting, the Million Dollar Consultant’s Hall of Fame and the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches Europe program. Connect with Dan Norenberg http://www.dannorenberg.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 Resources: Book recommendation: Executive Ownershift: Creating Highly Effective Leadership Teams by Dan Norenberg http://www.dannorenberg.com/

Paul Walker is currently the Chief Commercial Officer at Consumer Intelligence, the independent voice of insurance and retail banking, helping businesses see the world through the eyes of the consumer. Paul is a senior business leader who has a track record of empowering people to thrive as part of trusting, inclusive, autonomous and accountable workplace cultures. In this episode Aoife and Paul discuss the strength in vulnerability and how this attribute can lead to less pressure, stronger meaningful relationships and great achievements. Key points covered include: - What is vulnerability and how it is personal to each individual. - Building meaningful relationships at work. - The impact of human connection - opening yourself up and presenting your human side. - Putting perceptions aside and people first. - Freely being an authentic doer and removing your armour. - How vulnerability can help you become an effective leader. - Self-actualisation and being content with yourself. Staying true to you rather than striving for perfectionism and focusing on leading to please. - The line between vulnerability and oversharing. Paul consistently builds high-performance, multi-disciplinary teams which deliver results across countries and cultures. With a career spanning over 25 years, living and working in numerous countries, including Russia and Turkey, a core component of success has consisted of people becoming the very best versions of themselves. Career highlights have included transforming loss-making business units to profit, whilst leading significant gains in both customer and employee engagement; building a team of senior client leaders globally and developing a reputation for world class engagement with the people in his teams. Connect with Paul Walker: http://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwalker73 http://www.consumerintelligence.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 Resources: Book recommendations: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius http://www.amazon.co.uk/Meditations-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/1470089734 The Chimp Paradox by Professor Steve Peters http://chimpmanagement.com/

Lucinda Carney is a Chartered Psychologist with 20 years Corporate HR experience. She is considered a thought leader in a range of people management and change related business topics. In this episode, Aoife and Lucinda discuss how to lead effectively through change and look into how businesses have adapted over the last year. Key points covered in the episode include; - Culture change within the workplace. - A look into the Kubler-Ross transition curve and the journey individuals embark on when faced with transition. - The importance of clear communication and empathy through challenging times. - The managerial role and how to handle modifications within an organisation. - Embracing change and flexibility. - An insight to the perform program. Lucinda is the Founder and CEO of Actus Performance Management Software which was launched in 2009 and has since gone from strength to strength with more than 70,000 users across the globe. Lucinda is an accomplished Speaker, Consultant and Coach. She was named ‘Everywoman Tech Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016’ and ‘Winner of one of the UK’s top 10 Women in Business 2020’ by Business Game changer magazine. Lucinda hosts the No 1 ranking Podcast ‘The HRUprising’ and her book “How to be a Change Superhero” was published in May 2020 reaching number one bestseller status in multiple Amazon categories. Lucinda’s accreditations and skills: Chartered Psychologist and CIPD Henley Certificate in Coaching Level ‘A’ & ‘B’ Testing NLP Practitioner SHL 360 feedback accreditation Design and delivery of Assessment Centres Lucinda is qualified in various psychometrics including MBTI; OPQ; Firo-B; SDI; Belbin and Insights. Connect with Lucinda Carney: http://www.actus.co.uk http://www.hruprising.com/ http://www.hruprising.com/hr-podcasts/ http://www.twitter.com/LucindaCarney http://www.instagram.com/lucinda_hruprising/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/lucindacarney/ 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: http://www.cleverism.com/understanding-kubler-ross-change-curve/

Following a long and successful corporate career having worked in a variety of customer facing, team leadership and senior business management roles, Seamus experienced at first hand the stresses and strains of living in an increasingly busy world. In this week’s episode, Aoife & Seamus discuss the importance of listening to our bodies and making significant lifestyle tweaks to enhance our quality of life, performance and overall harmony. Key points covered in the episode include; - The impact that stress has on our clarity of mind. - Influence of Modern Lifestyle Behaviours. - Busyness and losing the sense of balance. - The importance of taking breathers and time outs to reconnect with our self. - Behavioural skills. - Understanding our stressors & warning signs. - The concept of emotional intelligence. - The power of self-alignment, labelling our feelings, acceptance and diffusion techniques. Seamus became convinced that the rate of change and the pressure many people were experiencing in their daily lives was simply unsustainable and having a detrimental impact on an increasing number of people’s quality of life and overall health. In Seamus’ case, he noticed trigger signs and felt less happy within himself. With this in mind, Seamus made lifestyle changes which led to a much happier life balance. With this success, Seamus turned his attention to helping others make similar life-changing tweaks. Seamus completed BA Humanities and MSc Health Psychology on the way to founding Powering Health. Seamus is now using his experience and his knowledge to help people take back control and restore their ideal life balance in a very deliberate and proactive way. Connect with Seamus Power: https://poweringhealth.ie/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/poweringhealth Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: https://happieratwork.ie https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast Resources: We Add Heart: Heart focused breathing meditation (every Wednesday at 8.15pm) https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/weaddheart-dublin-lucan-online-tickets-101659121168 Book recommendation: Emotional Agility by Susan David https://www.susandavid.com/ Book recommendation: Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman https://www.danielgoleman.info/ Book recommendation: Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty https://thinklikeamonkbook.com/

Peter Connolly is a Workplace & Lifestyle Occupational Therapist with 16 years clinical experience specialising in sustainable high performance, mental wellbeing & burnout prevention. In this week’s episode, Aoife & Peter discuss mental wellbeing, lifestyle awareness and the ability to stay in contact with the present moment even throughout testing times. Key points covered in the episode include; - An introduction to Psychological flexibility. - Occupational health – focusing on what you need and want to do. - Early intervention & prevention. - The importance of cultivating compassion for our self and for others. - Being kind to our mind and opening ourselves to nourishing experiences. - Staying grounded throughout challenging times and focusing on what matters most. - Understanding the impact of the mind. - The knowing-doing gap. - The power of practice, repetition and visualisation. - Observing your inner dialogue without any judgement. The FITMINDS program is the first online membership program of its kind, with two packages: FITMINDS Community, with a focus on Mental Wellbeing & Prevention. High Performance with a focus on Sustainable High performance & Mental Wellbeing in Sport, Business & Arts. Peter has previously worked at South London & Maudsley (SLAM), Saint John of God Hospital, Saint Patrick’s hospital. Peter currently provides clinical input to the Dean Clinic (ST Patrick's hospital) & is trainer with Mental health First Aid Ireland. He has written for RTE lifestyle, appeared on the TV show Operation Transformation & contributes regularly on radio and media outlets. Connect with Peter Connolly https://lifestyleawareness.ie/ https://www.facebook.com/lifestyleawareness.ie https://www.instagram.com/lifestyleawarenessirl/ https://twitter.com/lifestyleawirl https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-connolly-9b214a10b/ Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: https://happieratwork.ie https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast Resources: https://jeffreypfeffer.com/books/the-knowing-doing-gap/

In this fascinating episode Aoife is joined by Elevate Now founder Nausheen Saumtally. Nausheen is a coach, mind-set trainer and a certified DISC behavioural analysis consultant. Aoife and Nausheen discuss the basics of the DISC model, how it can be used to help us understand our behavioural mode and in turn become greater communicators and leaders. Key points covered in the episode include: - The concept of Life Harmony. - An introduction to the DISC Analysis. - A breakdown of the four personality behavioural styles – Dominance, Influencing, Steadiness and Compliance. - The benefits of using the DISC tool for yourself and for others. - Increasing your self-awareness and zoning in on your key strengths. - The Golden Rule VS the Platinum Rule. - Learning to understand what you truly want and how to move forward with less stress. Hailing from a business development background with Microsoft and as a corporate coach & trainer, Nausheen has worked with a wide range of leaders, helping them transform their businesses and performance for optimal outcomes. She is passionate about personal development, with focused attention on mind-set, self-discovery and communication. Nausheen’s driving purpose is to be a catalyst for change, action and positivity through Elevate Now. Join in on the conversation on social media and let your host Aoife know – what is harmony for you in your life? Connect with Nausheen Saumtally: https://www.elevate-now.ca/ https://ca.linkedin.com/in/nausheen-saumtally-b6970590 Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: https://happieratwork.ie https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

Aaron Burnett is the CEO and founder of Wheelhouse Digital Marketing Group, a fast-growing digital marketing agency recognised by Inc. Magazine as one of the best places to work in the United States. Aaron joins us in this episode for an in-depth look at how he has cultivated and built a thriving company based on an unwavering focus on helpfulness, generosity and joy. Key points covered in the episode include: - The variances of expectations between our personal life and work life. - Being guided by values of helpfulness, generosity, stewardship, trustworthiness and joyfulness. - Agency perspective and breaking away from traditional agency normalities. - Twin Mission – being the best business partner for clients as well as the best working environment for employees. - Making a positive impact on your employee’s professional journey roadmap. - Practices put in place to enhance the wellbeing of employees. - A look into Wheelhouse’s Joy fund and how it brings people closer and causes a positive ripple effect within the organisation. - How Covid impacted the company and their coping mechanisms. - The importance of communication with staff during challenging times. - How the good in what we do can truly makes us happy. Wheelhouse is the culmination of Aaron’s experience and commitment to values-driven decision making. It’s a story told through performance, such as the 50 percent year-over-year growth the company has enjoyed for the past five years–all through referrals from delighted clients. Prior to Wheelhouse DMG, Aaron was president of Produxs, a UX design firm (acquired by UpTop), was founder of Nuevas Fronteras, the first telecommunications service aggregator serving the Hispanic community in the U.S., SVP Marketing for Speakeasy, VP of Marketing for NetMotion Wireless and VP of Sales & Marketing for AT&T Wireless. Connect with Aaron Burnett: https://www.wheelhousedmg.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronburnett/ https://twitter.com/aaronburnett Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: https://happieratwork.ie https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast Resources: Inc magazine - https://www.inc.com/ Book recommendations: The Art of Possibility by Benjamin Zander and Rosamund Stone Zander https://www.benjaminzander.org/shop/?_sft_category=books The Go-Giver by Bob Burg https://thegogiver.com/

Leang Chung is the Founder & CEO of Pelora Stack, HR strategist, speaker, career coach, instructor, and learning content designer. Throughout her career spanning 15+ years as an HR executive and trusted advisor, she partnered with business leaders to lead and scale transformational changes. In this episode, Leang and Aoife discuss how women of colour can amplify their visions and prepare to levitate their careers. Key points covered include: - Challenges & barriers women of colour face in the workplace. - How to utilise your strengths to get you from A to B in your career roadmap. - How to break through your resistance barriers. - The importance of focusing on your strengths and how to leverage them to help you move forward. - How your purpose will motivate you. - The significance of setting a project plan and celebrating each of your victories. Leang holds an M.A. degree in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University with a specialization in Change Leadership. Leang is also on the board with the Global Connections for Women (GC4W). Growing up with limited resources, she experienced what it’s like to be underestimated and the importance of access in order to get ahead. Coaching, mentoring and helping other underestimated people succeed is what drives Leang. Connect with Leang Chung: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leang-chung-pelorastack/ https://www.pelorastack.com/ Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: https://happieratwork.ie https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast Resources: Book recommendation: ‘How Women Rise’ by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith https://www.howwomenrise.com/