Happier At Work: Leadership, Culture, Performance

‘’You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.’’ – John C. Maxwell. Welcome back to Happier at Work! This week’s solo episode continues as we dive into part two of ‘’The secret to creating routines to reach your goals’’ with your host Aoife O’Brien. If you missed part one of this session, fear not, as you can catch up on playback HERE. This week, Aoife discusses goal setting and habit formation and explores what are limiting beliefs and how we can overcome them. Aoife also weighs up the importance of focusing on commitment rather than waiting for moments of motivation to arrive. Essential points covered throughout this episode include: - Acknowledging and overcoming disruptive goal blockers. - How to stay in your own lane. - Why it is important to listen to your body. - Making time for self-reflection. - Overcoming imposter syndrome and tackling limiting beliefs. - How commitment is vital for goal achievement. - The difference between growth and fixed mindsets. - Striking the balance between self-compassion and self-discipline. - The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin. - The importance of delegation and embracing support. - The return on investment with your time and money. Resources: Year Compass – Free booklet to help you reflect on the past year and prepare for a new year ahead. https://yearcompass.com/ Book: Wink and Grow Rich by Roger Hamilton. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wink-Grow-Rich-Guide Book: The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin. https://gretchenrubin.com/books/the-four-tendencies/intro/ Quiz: The Four Tendencies quiz by Gretchen Rubin. https://quiz.gretchenrubin.com/ THE LISTENER’S SAY: Have a topic in mind that you would love for me to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with me via the links below and let me know. I would love to hear from you! Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: https://www.happieratwork.ie https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

Aoife's Master acquaintance Chris Flack joins us on the podcast. Born in the UK and currently based in Dublin, Chris carries over fifteen years of experience specialising in tech and organisational behaviour consulting and is the proud co-founder of UnPlug. The mission of UnPlug is for people to take control of their technology instead of their technology usage controlling them. "If we make some small changes in how we use technology, we can have some really positive impacts on our behaviour, our well being and our productivity." – Chris Flack. Have you ever felt strained and overwhelmed with work or feel like you have developed the bad habit of always being available 24/7!? This week's episode will resonate with so many as we explore excessive technology usage and our right to unplug and disconnect from the culture of always being on. After all, our bodies cannot fully recharge if we don't allow for vital downtime. This episode is jam-packed with fascinating statistics, insights, and practical tips that will help you disconnect and gain control of your time, which will boost not only your productivity levels but, ultimately, your well-being. Key points covered throughout include: - An introduction to Chris Flack. - The relationship between loneliness and technology. - Overwhelm at work and the always-on culture. - The promise of technology. - Understanding our internal technology triggers. - The key to managing time and task prioritising. - Working from home productivity statistics. - Setting boundaries and switching off when working remotely. - Flexible work VS work design. - Assumptions linked to the hybrid working model. - The struggle of career development for remote workers. - The importance of human connection in a remote world. - Building a culture of support. - How to create behavioural change. - Chris' tips on disconnection and digital mindfulness. - What makes Chris Happier at Work. Chris is an instructor at the Digital Wellness Institute and is a highly sought-after award-winning speaker who has led discussions throughout some of the largest companies across Europe. THE LISTENER'S SAY: Have a topic in mind that you would love for Aoife to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Connect with Chris Flack: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-flack/ https://unplughq.com/team/ https://right2disconnect.com/ Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O'Brien: https://www.happieratwork.ie https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast Resources: Book recommendation: Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg. PhD https://tinyhabits.com/book/ Playback recommendation: Previous Happier at Work episode – The Future of Remote and Hybrid work with Aoife O'Brien https://happieratwork.ie/83-the-future-of-remote-and-hybrid-work-with-aoife-obrien/

‘’What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while.’’ – Gretchen Rubin. Have you ever set goals that quickly went out the window or became unreachable? If so, this episode on effective goal setting will be of interest to you. We are delighted to reveal this week’s solo episode with your host Aoife O’Brien is a two-part special focusing on the secret to creating routines to reach your goals. Throughout this discussion, Aoife shares her approach and valuable tips on setting goals and explores the power behind building productive daily habits to help make your goals more achievable. Let’s not forget small steps can lead to significant changes! There is no doubt about it that 2021 was a rollercoaster year for all, so if you have eased yourself gently into 2022 so far without setting any year-end development goals, fear not as you can set goals at any given time that works best for you. This short episode is full of actionable tips and tools to help you plan, adapt, and smash your yearly targets. Essential points covered throughout this episode include: - The pressure from social media. - Why is self-reflection important? - The benefits of meditation. - Aoife’s intentional theme for 2022. - Commitment acknowledgement and celebrating wins. - Understanding and embracing the habit loop. - Reward methods for boosting motivation. - Assessing your Wheel of Life. - The impact of small changes. - Goals VS Systems. - Unlocking happiness and making time for self-evaluation. Be sure to come back and join us on Friday 4 February 2022 for part two of this session. THE LISTENER’S SAY: Have a topic in mind that you would love for me to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with me via the links below and let me know. I would love to hear from you! Resources: Happier at Work replay episode - Gerry Duffy on Goal Setting: https://happieratwork.ie/8-gerry-duffy-on-goal-setting/ Best-selling author, podcast host and in-demand speaker Gretchen Rubin: https://gretchenrubin.com/ Goodreads, the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations: https://www.goodreads.com/ Book recommendations: Charles Duhigg – The Power of Habit https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/ James Clear – Atomic Habits https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits Aoife O’Brien’s recommended reading list: https://happieratwork.ie/category/aoifes-reading-list/ DuoLingo, language learning website: https://www.duolingo.com/ Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: https://www.happieratwork.ie https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

"People say their ideal leader wouldn't have any vulnerabilities, but actually in reality, and the research shows that when a leader is vulnerable, everybody else feels more comfortable with being vulnerable themselves, and therefore being more authentic, and essentially happier at work." - Seònaid Ó Murchadha. Welcome back to Happier at Work. Joining Aoife this week on the podcast is the inspirational Seònaid Ó Murchadha. Seònaid's passion lies within helping organisations embrace disability by advising businesses on the journey of diversity. Over the last two decades, Seònaid has worked endlessly advocating and highlighting employment rights for disabled people and can often be seen doing so through various media outlets nationwide. Today's show focuses on why disability inclusion in the workplace is important. Throughout the episode, Seònaid shares her personal story, discusses the reality of disability disclosures and non-disclosures, and reveals vital steps for creating open and inclusive environments. Essential points covered throughout include: - Introduction to Seònaid Ó Murchadha. - How can organisations be inclusive? - Creating and activating workplace policies. - Embracing diversity at work. - Requesting disability accommodation and assistance. - Seònaid's personal experience of interviewing for employment. - The power of open and honest conversations in an organisation. - Coming to terms with invisible skills. - Welcoming disability into the workplace culture. - Recommended steps and tools for workplaces to become more inclusive. - The Human Rights approach to disability. - Barriers and challenges facing people with disability. - The benefits of open workplace culture. - What makes Seònaid Happier at work. Seònaid, also widely known as the Bionic Businesswoman since receiving her new bionic arm in 2017, co-founded the Amputee Disability Federation in Ireland. Seònaid currently lectures at Maynooth University on disability studies and provides support for members of the Irish Small and Medium Business Enterprise Association. THE LISTENER'S SAY: Have a topic in mind that you would love for Aoife to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Connect with Seònaid Ó Murchadha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bionicwoman/ https://twitter.com/bionicwoman_ie Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O'Brien: https://www.happieratwork.ie https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast Resources: The Reasonable Accommodation Passport scheme: https://www.ibec.ie/-/media/documents/influencing-for-business/labour-market-and-skills/reasonable-accommodation-passport-2019.pdf Irish organisation dedicated to ending mental health stigma: https://seechange.ie/ https://www.isme.ie/ AHEAD: Association for Higher Education Access & Disability: https://www.ahead.ie/wam TED TALK: The Myth of Average by Todd Rose: https://ed.ted.com/on/4s8O5loM

extended break, this week’s episode is a short solo session where Aoife looks back and reflects on 2021. Aoife shares her personal experience managing COVID-19 throughout a busy December and highlights why our health should always be a top priority. During the session, Aoife gives an insight into the importance of time-off and reveals what lessons she will be carrying forward into this new year ahead. Main points covered throughout include: - Why we should prioritise our health and well-being. - The importance of allowing your body to rest. - Embracing holidays and time off from work. - How to analyse and manage your task list. - Becoming comfortable with accepting help and delegating. - Setting goals for 2022. THE LISTENER’S SAY: Have a topic in mind that you would love for Aoife to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: https://www.happieratwork.ie https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

"I've coached over 200 CEOs and C-suite leaders, and one of the first things I would always say is don't ever give yourself the luxury of a bad day like that's a luxury. You have to show up every day. Everyone's looking." – Bonnie Hagemann. We are delighted to welcome leadership expert and CEO of EDA, Bonnie Hagemann, onto the podcast this week to discuss the benefits of embracing change in the workplace and why it is vital to show up as your best self at work. Bonnie is a wealth of knowledge regarding leadership, strategy, and workplace culture development. Throughout the conversation, Bonnie kindly shares valuable books and tools specialising in people development and the art of tackling crucial discussions. Bonnie also reveals fascinating insights from her 2021 Executive Development trend report. Essential points covered throughout the session include: - An introduction to Bonnie Hagemann. - Fast-paced business operations. - What is Visionary leadership? - Preparing for tough business challenges. - The key to success: entrepreneurial mindset and discipline. - Showing up and bringing your A-Game to work. - Developing an influential organisational culture. - The power of workplace commitment. - A reminder to vote with your wallet! - The importance of self-care. - Leading through change and a crisis. - Becoming comfortable with embracing change in the workplace. - What makes Bonnie Happier at Work. Having created lasting and compelling business cultures and coaching over 200 CEOs and senior leaders, it is no surprise that Bonnie is often sought after for expert advice from giant media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, CNN and US News and more. THE LISTENER'S SAY: Have a topic in mind that you would love for Aoife to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Connect with Bonnie Hagemann: https://www.bonniehagemann-coach.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhagemann/ Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O'Brien: https://www.happieratwork.ie https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast Resources: Book: Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Al Switzler and Ron McMillan. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-Conversations-Tools-Talking-Stakes/ Book: Leading with Vision by Bonnie Hagemann, John Maketa & Simon Vetter. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Leading-Vision-Blueprint-Compelling-Workforce/ 2021 Report: Trends in Executive Development by Bonnie Hagemann https://www.amazon.in/Trends-2021-Benchmark-Report-Development-ebook/

Have you ever delivered or received feedback in the workplace? For many of us, the thought of having these difficult conversations can instantly fill us with feelings of awkwardness, worry, and fear. In this week’s episode, host Aoife O’Brien breaks down feedback barriers, exploring why delivering effective and constructive feedback at work is so vital and why we should view feedback as a gift and an opportunity for growth. “The intention of the person delivering the feedback is to actually help you, and so you should treat feedback as a gift that someone is giving you this feedback in order to help you develop in your career, in order to develop in the role that you’re in, in order to help you to work more effectively’’. – Aoife O’Brien. Throughout the session, Aoife will share the importance of declaring the intention of feedback and will conclude the show with her top do’s and don’ts of providing effective feedback. Key points during the show include: - The importance of feedback. - How feedback welcomes growth. - Addressing difficult workplace conversations. - Creating psychological safety at work. - Identifying feedback intentions. - Setting clear expectations at work. - Preparation is key: plan your feedback process. - Focus on behaviour, not the individual. - Why clarity and feedback examples on performance are essential. - Finding the right balance of workplace autonomy. - Allowing time for feedback to be digested and understood. - Taking responsibility for behaviour. - Aoife’s final round-up – the do’s and don’ts of giving and receiving feedback. DID YOU KNOW? Today’s topic on delivering effective feedback is one of the keynotes that Aoife provides in organisations. If you would like Aoife to deliver this to your team or the wider organisation, please feel free to enquire directly TODAY. THE LISTENER’S SAY: Have a topic in mind that you would love for Aoife to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you! Resources: Brene Brown on Feedback: https://brenebrown.com/collections/a-courageous-approach-to-feedback/ Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: https://www.happieratwork.ie https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

Welcome back to Happier at Work! This week’s episode features a podcast debut appearance from an HR business leader who specialises in implementing transformational systems and initiatives within an organisation to create a high-performing and happier working environment. ‘’When things go really, really bad, the value systems keep everything together and keep the happiness, and we lift each other up. That’s what you want to do in real life. That’s what you want to do in a company. That’s what you want to do as a human being.’’ – Stefan Tonnon. In conversation with Aoife is Stefan Tonnon, the vice president of HR for EMEA at Insight. With over 25 years of experience, Stefan will share insights throughout the discussion on the importance of HR, creating a happier working environment, and living and growing within a values-based culture. Main points covered throughout include:  Introduction to Stefan Tonnon.  Why company values are important?  Aligning the core values of hunger, heart, and harmony.  The power of business communication and listening to understand.  The sense of belonging at work.  Receiving sponsorship and guidance from the top.  Leadership styles in business.  Building trust and psychological safety at work.  Cultivating kindness in the workplace.  Tips for creating a happier working environment.  The benefits of workplace empowerment.  What makes Stefan Happier at Work. Is Imposter Syndrome standing in your way? Beat the imposter with Aoife’s 6-week online course Imposter to Empowered. For further details, visit http://www.impostersyndrome.ie/impostertoempowered THE LISTENER’S SAY: Have a topic in mind that you would love for Aoife to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Connect with Stefan Tonnon: http://www.linkedin.com/in/stonnon 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're asking employees, what it is that they want, it's really, really important that you need to listen to what they actually say.’’ – Aoife O’Brien. Welcome back to Happier at Work! In this week’s solo episode, Aoife will focus on the hot topic: the future of remote and hybrid work. In light of the global pandemic, many people continue to work from home or are now hybrid working. In this episode, Aoife shares insights into how businesses are operating today, highlights the importance of companies not following the crowd when creating strategies, and explains why companies should be listening internally to analyse what will work best for them. ‘’I think really bringing people on that journey with you, bringing people into it, getting their feedback, and really listening to what they have to say, is the crucial part of making this remote and hybrid future of work a reality and making it really work well for you!’’ – Aoife O’Brien. As we all universally continue to navigate and adapt to remote work or splitting our working week from the office and home desk, Aoife explores whether this is a temporary working model or if this indeed is the new way of working. Stay tuned throughout as Aoife will reveal the pros and cons to both hybrid and remote models. Further key points covered include:  How businesses are operating today.  The key to listening internally within an organisation.  Why is workplace communication important?  Pros and cons to remote and hybrid work.  Collaborating effectively when working remotely.  How to build virtual connections during Covid-19.  Handling your energy at work.  Setting and managing expectations at work.  Enhancing your workplace visibility.  How to prevent presenteeism at work.  Planning for career development.  Pitfalls to be aware of when entering this new working model. Is Imposter Syndrome standing in your way? Beat the imposter with Aoife's 6-week online course Imposter to Empowered. For further details visit http://www.impostersyndrome.ie/impostertoempowered THE LISTENER’S SAY: Have a topic in mind that you would love for me to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with me via the links below and let me know. I would love to hear from you! Resources: Shorter: How Working Less Will Revolutionise the Way You Gets Things Done by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shorter-Working-Revolutionise-Company-Things/ For further insights on mentoring programs with Katherine from Mentoring Resources, visit: http://www.mentoringresources.ie/ 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

‘’We are not machines; we actually need to re-energize ourselves. And if we invest in doing that, it comes back into work in a better way. Then you can apply the time that you have, to direct that energy towards the work that matters.’’ – Niamh Brady. Welcome back to Happier at Work! Joining Aoife this week is productivity coach, creator of the ‘A Better Workday’ programme and author Niamh Brady. Listeners are in for a treat as this week’s episode will resonate with so many as we focus on productivity and creating a better workday. Niamh’s mantra is ‘everyone deserves a better workday’ and we couldn’t agree more! Throughout this captivating discussion, Niamh will explore the importance of managing our time, energy and attention and will also offer productivity methods to help us conquer the balance between work and wellbeing. Key points covered throughout include:  Introduction to Niamh Brady.  What is productivity?  The key to managing time effectively.  How to analyse and protect your energy.  Coping with working from home guilt.  The impact of a workaholic cycle.  Why is setting goals important?  Working in a fast-paced environment  Creating psychological safety and becoming comfortable saying no at all levels.  Improving your work-life balance.  Niamh’s top tips for boosting your energy.  Coping with work overwhelm and a lack of motivation.  What makes Niamh Happier at Work. Is Imposter Syndrome standing in your way? Beat the imposter with Aoife's 6-week online course Imposter to Empowered. For further details visit http://www.impostersyndrome.ie/impostertoempowered THE LISTENER'S SAY: Have a topic in mind that you would love for Aoife to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Connect with Niamh Brady: http://www.niamhbrady.com/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/nbrady/ http://www.instagram.com/niamhbradycoach 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: Remote Working Essentials by Niamh Brady http://www.niamhbrady.com/what-we-do/remote-working-essentials/

‘’The only people who get upset when you start setting boundaries are the ones who benefited from you not having them.’’ Welcome back to Happier at Work! Aoife recently conducted poll research on LinkedIn to gather feedback on what listeners would be interested in hearing in these future solo episodes. The results overwhelmingly steered towards the hot topic of hybrid work, along with setting boundaries at work. In this episode, Aoife will be diving into boundaries – what are they, and what impact weak boundaries have. Establishing and communicating healthy boundaries at work is vital from the get-go. Boundaries help set clear expectations and protect individuals from work overwhelm, stress, and burnout, which can quickly lead to job dissatisfaction. During this discussion, Aoife will share personal insights with listeners on setting clear boundaries from an individual and a managerial perspective. Further key points covered include:  What are boundaries?  The importance of boundaries and the impact they have.  How to identify weak boundaries.  The importance of communication at work.  Setting expectations with employees.  Is resignation the solution?  Handling boundary blurred lines whilst working from home.  Tips to restore work-life balance.  Imposter syndrome and people-pleasing.  Getting comfortable with saying no and preparing for pushback.  The key to prioritising tasks.  Creating a safe work environment.  Understanding the boundaries of others. THE LISTENER’S SAY: Have a topic in mind that you would love for me to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with me via the links below and let me know. I would love to hear from you! 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

‘’Your work is important, it is, but you are more important than your work!’’ – Nicole Mixdorf. Welcome back to Happier at Work! Joining Aoife this week is special guest Nicole Mixdorf – chief wellness officer at Balanced by Nature, who was recently crowned the most influential woman in Corporate Wellness Services throughout the US. Workplace stress is a topic many listeners will relate to, and today’s show will focus on why your wellbeing and mental health matter. In this episode, Nicole will share her transformational journey of climbing the corporate ladder for over a decade, experiencing intense feelings of burnout whilst juggling major stressors that ultimately led to debilitating health effects. After taking time to heal her mind and body, Nicole launched Balanced by Nature, a corporate health and wellness firm that offers award-winning programs that support employees physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. ‘’There's a reason our company is called Balanced by Nature. When we have all these stressful, crazy moments in our day, the only way to bring that equilibrium to balance, is by giving yourself enough of those nurturing quiet moments to balance it out.’’ – Nicole Mixdorf. Have a pen and paper to hand, as Nicole kindly shares inspirational tips and practical tools to implement into your morning to conquer the day ahead! Key points covered throughout the episode include:  Introduction to Nicole Mixdorf.  Listening to your body to manage stress.  Pandemic anxiety: the universal feeling.  Understanding, managing, and aligning organisational culture and strategy.  The benefits of flexibility at work.  Wellbeing activities and ideas for self-care.  The importance of nutrition and boosting your immune system.  Nicole’s top tips for finding balance.  Morning habits to conquer your day!  Making the most of micro-moments.  Make your wellbeing a priority.  The great resignation: what is happening?  How to empower employees?  Empower employees  What makes Nicole Happier at Work. COMING SOON! On Wednesday, 3rd November, Aoife will host a one-hour webinar to help you overcome Imposter Syndrome. For further details and to reserve your space today, visit http://www.impostersyndrome.ie/webinar THE LISTENER’S SAY: Have any questions or a topic in mind that you would love for Aoife to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below to let her know! Connect with Nicole Mixdorf: http://balancebynature.com/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolemixdorf/ 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

Welcome back! Did you know that the Happier at Work podcast is now two years in the running!? To mark this second solo episode, host Aoife O’Brien will exclusively focus on the podcast’s identity, discussing the true meaning of happiness at work. Throughout the episode, Aoife will share her first-hand experience of dealing with dissatisfaction at work and how it became the driving force behind her business today. Aoife will explore the significance of cultivating a positive work environment and will share fascinating insights from her dissertation research centred around values, needs and strengths. Key points covered throughout the episode include:  Staff turnovers: the costly impact on your business.  How happiness can boost your business.  Effects of a toxic work environment.  Aoife’s journey to unlocking true happiness at work.  What is Person-Environment Fit?  Aligning recruitment with company values.  Assessing and understanding strengths.  An insight into the three universal psychological needs – autonomy, competence, and relatedness.  The importance of feedback.  Psychological Safety in the workplace. COMING SOON! On Wednesday 27th October and Wednesday 3rd November, Aoife will host a one-hour webinar to help you overcome Imposter Syndrome. For further details and to reserve your space today, visit http://www.impostersyndrome.ie/webinar THE LISTENER’S SAY: Have any questions or a topic in mind that you would love for Aoife to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below to let her know! 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: The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor http://www.shawnachor.com/books/happiness-advantage/ Previous Happier at Work episode: The Values of Business with Irial O’Farrell https://happieratwork.ie/happier-at-work-74-the-values-of-business-with-irial-ofarrell/

We are switching things up a little in this latest Happier at Work episode! Instead of focusing on workplace psychological impacts, this week, we will be concentrating on workplace physical wellness with special guest Annette Cashell. Annette is an ex-corporate with a managerial marketing background of 10 years. Following harrowing health concerns and avoiding a neck fusion operation, Annette is now a distinguished Pilates teacher and movement coach, passionate about helping others undo and prevent any excessive sitting damages. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and to this day, many individuals across the globe are continuing to work from home or are adjusting to a hybrid working model. In this fascinating discussion, Annette will highlight the impact of excessive sitting and unsuitable office equipment and why we should allow ourselves permission to move. Annette kindly offers valuable tips on how you can boost muscle movement into your daily routine. Key points covered throughout include:  Introduction to Annette Cashell.  The dangers of Sitting Disease.  How to create a safer working environment.  Permission to move your body and avoid being an active couch potato!  Welcoming movement into meetings.  Tips for promoting physical wellness whilst working.  The Knowing-Doing Gap.  Introducing corrective exercises and lifestyle changes for a better future.  What makes Annette Happier at Work. Annette’s Movement Makeovers program for Primary Schools was accepted into the Academy Mentoring Program with Social Entrepreneurs Ireland in 2018. Connect with Annette via the links below to keep up to date with her offerings of weekly online classes, virtual workshops, and wellness webinars. Connect with Annette Cashell: http://www.malahidepilates.com/ http://www.facebook.com/MovementMakeovers http://www.instagram.com/MovementMakeovers/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/annette-cashell 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: Annette’s FREE 45-minute webinar - ‘Take the pain out of working (from home)’ http://www.malahidepilates.com/take-the-pain-out-of-working-from-home/ Annette’s guide on how to make sitting less damaging: http://thriveglobal.com/stories/top-3-tips-to-make-sitting-less-damaging-instantly/ Annette features in Katy Bowman’s book ‘Grow Wild’: http://www.nutritiousmovement.com/product/grow-wild-the-whole-child-whole-family-nature-rich-guide-to-moving-more-paperback/

Welcome back to Happier at Work! Long-time listeners of the podcast will know that with each new episode, I interview business experts to discuss various topics, including leadership, diversity, well-being, inclusion, and unlock what ultimately makes each of our guests happier at work. To coincide with the launch of my new program, Imposter to Empowered, I will be releasing solo episodes throughout the podcast focusing on a range of business topics. Did you know that up to 70% of people experience Imposter Syndrome at some point in their career!? If you have ever felt out of place, felt like a fraud, or experienced an overwhelming sense of self-doubt, rest assured that you are not alone! In this episode, I explore what is Imposter Syndrome and share my personal experience with overcoming Imposter Syndrome and igniting empowerment. Key points covered throughout include: What is Imposter Syndrome?  The signs and triggers of Imposter Syndrome. New Level, New Devil.  Who experiences Imposter Syndrome? Imposter Syndrome: How It Makes Us Feel. The Five faces of Imposter Syndrome – The Perfectionist, The Natural Genius, The Soloist, The Superhero and The Expert. Acknowledging and moving forward with Imposter Syndrome.  The ABC framework to managing Imposter Syndrome.  The Power of Feedback. Is Imposter Syndrome standing in your way? Beat the imposter with Aoife's 6-week online course Imposter to Empowered. For further details visit http://www.impostersyndrome.ie/impostertoempowered THE LISTENER'S SAY:Have a topic in mind that you would love for me to explore on future podcasts? If so, please connect with me via the links below and let me know. I would love to hear from you! Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O'Brien: http://www.happieratwork.iehttp://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrienhttp://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQhttp://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.iehttp://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcastResources: http://www.impostersyndrome.ie/ QUIZ: What kind of imposter are you? http://www.impostersyndrome.ie/quiz

Welcome back to Happier at Work! After a lovely break, I am delighted to kickstart this brand-new series with Truthsayers CEO & Co-founder Simon Stapleton. Simon and his team are on a mighty mission to enable happier and more productive workplaces across the globe by helping leaders understand their employees at an emotional level via Truthsayers cutting-edge Neurotech® platform. In this episode, both Aoife and Simon offer their insights into workplace engagement and share their previous experiences of feeling a lack of psychological safety at work. Simon also shines a light on the importance of bringing authenticity to work and the positive impacts that doing so will bring. Main points covered throughout the show include: - An introduction to Simon Stapleton. - The importance of being honest. - Bringing authenticity to work. - How a lack of engagement and psychological safety can affect a business. - Taking responsibility for the business culture. - Aligning recruitment with company values. - Creating an environment of inclusion. - Excelling and reaching your potential at work. - What makes Simon Happier at Work. With over 20 years of experience in building digital platforms for service industries, Simon has led the creation of technology that enhances the lives of millions of people worldwide. Simon's objective is to apply Neurotech to vast and present challenges that businesses face today, such as diversity and inclusion, sustainability and hybrid working. Did you know? Simon is a partner in a craft brewery, so when he isn't working, you can catch him creating unique ales! Connect with Simon Stapleton: http://truthsayers.io/ http://twitter.com/tneurotech http://www.linkedin.com/company/truthsayers/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/simonstapleton/ http://twitter.com/simonstapleton 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

Announcement: The Happier at Work podcast will return on Friday 1st October 2021. I have some great guests lined up between now and the end of the year. I'll be doing some solo episodes - if you have a topic you'd liked covered, please reach out! Also announcing the launch of my programme, Imposter to Empowered. More details can be found at https://www.impostersyndrome.ie

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/

Effective communication is an essential tool for any business and more so than ever right now as many of us are still working remotely as the 1-year pandemic mark approaches. Not only does communication help build relationships and collaborations within the organisation; it too enhances employee engagement, morale and performances. In this episode Happier At Work host Aoife O’Brien chats to communication advisor Aden Nepom to discuss; - What is communication & why is it a vital tool? - To assume good intent of communicators. - Practical tips & tools to positively enhance your work environment. - The importance of building trust within your team, and for your staff to be understood & heard. - Understanding behaviours and how to gauge communications and body language. - How to prepare for tough conversations. - Positive conflict within the workplace. Aden Nepom is the host of The Changed Podcast, a Senior Facilitator for On Your Feet Improvisation for Business, and President of the Art of Change - Skills for Life. She helps people to navigate our ever-changing world by coaching skills and exploring habits that develop people into stronger collaborators, better business partners and more influential communicators. She has worked with worldwide renowned clients including Dell, Nike, Lockheed Martin, IAAP, the Federal Reserve Bank, Uber and more. Aden is also an internationally touring Improv Theatre performer and teacher. When not working with clients, you might catch her in ridiculously entertaining (sometimes heartfelt, sometimes hilarious... sometimes both!) shows like USS Improvise the Next Generation the Musical, B.A.B.E. Presents "I Love Musicals" a fully improvised 1950's sitcom-musical, or Manacle: Improvised Love Stories - a show in which Aden and real-life husband Eric convert audience stories into improvised One Act plays. Connect with Aden Nepom: http://www.artofchange.com/ http://thechangedpodcast.com/ http://www.facebook.com/TheArtofChangePage http://www.linkedin.com/company/artofchange http://twitter.com/TheChangedPod http://www.instagram.com/speakingofcommunication/ Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: http://happieratwork.ie http://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien http://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ http://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie http://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast Resources: The Curse of Knowledge, tappers and listeners study - http://hbr.org/2006/12/the-curse-of-knowledge

Director of the InsideOut Charter, Sarah Restall and host Aoife O’Brien discuss the importance of mental health and wellbeing within the workplace. A selection of key points covered in this captivating episode include; - Focus on engagement with senior leaders & the importance of having them on board to enhance a happy and balanced work environment for all. - How a business ethos has a ripple effect throughout all levels of the company hierarchy. - Business leader communication strategies and the significance of setting positive examples for employees. - Sarah shares her personal insights on the effects ill health can have on a business. - It’s not too late for change. Sarah provides preventative tips, tricks and tools that companies can put into place right now to improve workplace morale & wellbeing. Sarah Restall has a background in supporting senior leaders to take meaningful action to create mentally healthy working environments. The InsideOut LeaderBoard supports wellbeing in the workplace by eliminating the stigma associated with mental health problems with a focus on engaging Senior Leaders. With a wealth of experience gained working for Mind on the Time to Change Employers Team, her background includes offering expert consulting, coaching and support. Sarah designs and delivers presentations and has an impressive history of delivering to external forums as a passionate keynote speaker, panellist and panel facilitator. Connect with Sarah Restall: http://www.inside-out.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-restall-%F0%9F%92%99-9541782a/ Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien: http://www.happieratwork.ie http://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien http://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ http://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie http://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast Resources: https://www.formscore.today/

Clare Kennelly, founder of Inclusive Cork and Inclusive World Training and Aoife O’Brien discuss what is disability and the importance of disability inclusion within the workplace. In this in-depth episode, Clare opens up personally and professionally about disability along with her own vision impairment and covers; - Behaviours towards disability. - Shines a light on how companies are limiting themselves from a wonderful pool of talent. - Offers wonderful tips on how businesses can do better by implementing inclusive practices. Clare provides interactive and E-learning courses for Diversity and Inclusion. Within 30 years of educating and training, Clare has worked with students with varying disabilities and detected that even though they were succeeding in education, they were subsequently met with obstacles when it came to seeking work placements and employment opportunities. A passionate activist with a goal to making businesses leaders in inclusion, Clare has broken down many barriers within Ireland and since shifting her training online due to the pandemic, Clare is now providing highly sought after training & educational services to develop disability confidence within businesses on an international level. Clare is the creator and presenter of the DisruptAbility podcast, an educational and information platform for employers, employees, professionals and parents/guardians to highlight the barriers and opportunities for employing people with disabilities. Inclusive Cork and Inclusive World Training were established to respond to the Disability Employment gap and support organisations in understanding "Disability in the 21st Century". Connect with Clare Kennelly: https://inclusivecork.ie/ https://www.facebook.com/inclusivecork https://www.twitter.com/inclusivecork https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-kennelly DisruptAbility Podcast on Youtube with captions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC11H-9rYCOmQN7r_eBfMBFw DisruptAbility podcast is also available on; • Soundcloud • Spotify • Itunes Inclusive Word Training course - https://inclusive-world.teachable.com/courses 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: The Valuable 500, founded by Caroline Casey. A global movement putting disability on the business leadership agenda. https://www.thevaluable500.com/

Kelly Hartman and Aoife O’Brien speak about what it means to really be yourself at work. We talk about being honest, being bold, and being who you are. Kelly shares some tips on how to show up as your truly authentic self by being around people who bring out the best in you. Always create a judgement-free zone, accept that you’re not going to be liked by everyone, but that this gives you more time to connect with people you truly connect with. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Be self-aware about your needs, and find the courage to voice those needs. Kel Hartman is the Chief Wellness and Engagement Officer at Flywire. She is passionate about empowering both Flymates and the business to reach their full potential. Kel has more than 20 years of experience in organization development, cultural change, wellness, talent management and acquisition, executive learning and development, remuneration, succession planning, and employee relations. A true global citizen, Kel has worked all over the world, including Australia, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the United States, and has traveled to more than 95 countries. She is a qualified executive coach, has raised more than $20,000 for charity through two photography exhibitions, helped implement an NGO in West Africa, and has written and performed her own play. Kelly’s links: https://www.flywire.com https://uk.linkedin.com/in/hartmankelly Aoife’s links: 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

Lasse Rheingans and Aoife O’Brien speak about the 5 hour work day and what this means for the future of work. Lasse shares some key insights and practical tips from his own experience. We talk about things like what productivity means, what rules you can put in place to become more focused at work, outcomes versus outputs, automation, why it’s important to be happy at work, the concept of ‘urgency’. Lasse is a media science expert, holding a Bachelor of Arts in media production and a master’s degree in „interdisciplinary media sciences“. In 2017 he introduced the 5-hour working day at his company while honouring existing salaries and holiday entitlements. He believes that ‘work’ should neither be a question of location, nor can it really be measured in time; it’s the result that truly matters. To cope with today’s challenges he believes we should focus on people, their wellbeing, and their personal growth. He is committed to promoting digital and cultural change in people’s minds – to successfully overcome growing social problems in this uncertain world. Lasse is in constant pursuit of making a contribution to the change he wants to see in the world, of bringing people together and make people’s life better, of being a leader or mentor his younger self would have wished for. In 2018 he was rewarded the 2nd place of the „Chefsache Award“, in 2019 he won the „XING New Work Award“ and published his book „The 5-hour revolution“ (Campus, Germany), in 2020 he placed second for the „HR Personalwirtschaftspreis“, in 2021 his company was certified by the Fair Pay Initiative and also the „NEW WORK Arbeitgebersiegel“. He is married and a father of two, living and working in Bielefeld, Germany. Lasse’s links: https://www.ted.com/talks/it_s_time_to_rethink_work_lasse_rheingans_tedxkassel https://www.facebook.com/RheingansBielefeld https://www.instagram.com/lasse.rheingans/ https://www.twitter.com/pixelkoenig https://www.linkedin.com/in/lasserheingans/ Aoife’s links: 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: Dropbox Blog: https://blog.dropbox.com/topics/work-culture/haltung--the-german-answer-to-happier--healthier-virtual-work Rheingans: https://rheingans.io Simon Sinek, The Millennial Question: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vudaAYx2IcE Vouchercloud study: https://www.vouchercloud.com/resources/office-worker-productivity Cal Newport Deep Work (book) https://www.calnewport.com/books/deep-work/

Bhushan Sethi and Aoife O’Brien speak about the future of work. With everything happening in the world right now, Bhushan shares some key insights and practical steps you can take today to make work better for everyone. We cover topics such as the health and wellbeing of employees, mental health and wellbeing, vulnerability in leadership, outcomes versus outputs, worker preferences, leadership role-modeling, issues around bias, inequality and white privilege, working collaboratively, and four key areas to focus on right now. Bhushan is the joint leader of PwC’s Global People & Organization practice, where he shapes and drives the firm's global network strategy across its 11000+ practitioners in 150+ countries delivering standalone and integrated solutions across people strategy, technology, process and risk & compliance. Demonstrable track record of working with business leaders to define and implement organization & workforce strategies which enable sustainable business, financial, regulatory and customer outcomes. Award winning thought leader and media spokesperson on topics including “future of work”, culture, workforce strategy and diversity & inclusion. He has recently featured in WSJ, Bloomberg, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, New York Times, American Banker and HR Digest. Current member of T20 “Future of work task force” and World Economic Forum Council on Skills and Education, having previously served on WEF Equality & Inclusion Council. He currently resides in New York City and has lived and worked in Europe, Asia and the US. Bhushan’s links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhushansethi1 Aoife’s links: 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

Aoife Mollin and Aoife O’Brien speak about fitting in at work. Aoife Mollin shares her research on job satisfaction in remote working teams, which ultimately led to a finding of the importance of ‘fit’. We discuss needs satisfaction, with a focus on autonomy and flexible working, as well as trust as a key component of a well functioning team. We talk about culture, communication and what makes for a great remote working environment. Aoife Mollin helps senior & middle managers who are dissatisfied in their careers to uncover a high impact plan to a more satisfied & successful career, without the stress. She combines this with supporting leaders to lead effectively in a way that works for their organisation and themselves. This results in confidence, satisfaction & success in their role as a leader. Having over 15 years consulting experience working across industries within both the private & the public sector, she spent over 10 years in management consultancy, delivering change programmes in large organisations. Working within organisations on change programmes, her focus was on supporting people through the change which was sometimes being imposed on them. Combining this consulting experience with training and coaching skills, allows her to challenge individuals to understand how they can work through change to contribute more effectively to organisational performance, while enjoying work. She delivers both 1:1 coaching & group leadership development programmes. She holds a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology & Coaching Psychology (MAPPCP); a European bachelor of Business and Legal Studies, a diploma in Corporate and Executive Coaching and a diploma in Small Business Coaching. She is a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the Irish Institute of Training & Development (IITD). She was a finalist for the 2016 ICF Ireland Coach of the year award & is a qualified DISC practitioner. Investing in her own belief of lifelong learning, she is currently working towards PCC ICF Certification. Aoife Mollin’s links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemollin/ https://amaresults.com Aoife’s links: 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

Zoe Routh and Aoife O’Brien speak about leadership and self-awareness, the importance of understanding yourself in order to become a better leader. Sometimes power can impact on our humility, and we lack empathy, compassion and service to others - the reason we became leaders in the first place! It’s important to be aware of our triggers, observe ourselves without judgement. Two critical areas of self-awareness are covered: feedback; and self-reflection. We touch on the importance of giving feedback, how to give feedback effectively, and there are several self-reflection prompts you may want to jot down! Zoë Routh is a leadership expert specialising in the people stuff. She shows leaders and teams struggling with office politics and silos how to work better together. She has worked with individuals and teams internationally and in Australia since 1987. From the wild rivers of northern Ontario to the remote regions of Australia, Zoë has spent the last thirty years showing teams how to navigate the wilderness of people stuff. Zoë is the author of four books: Composure, Moments, Loyalty, and People Stuff - Beyond Personalities: An advanced handbook for leadership, released July 2020. Zoë hosts the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast, dedicated to all things people in leadership. Zoë is an outdoor adventurist and enjoys telemark skiing, has run 6 marathons, is a one-time belly-dancer, has survived cancer, and loves hiking in the high country. She is married to a gorgeous Aussie and is mother to a geriatric garden-wrecking chook. Zoe’s links: https://www.zoerouth.com https://www.facebook.com/zoe.routh https://twitter.com/zoerouth https://au.linkedin.com/in/zoerouth https://www.instagram.com/zoerouth/ Aoife’s links: 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

Shane Twomey and Aoife O’Brien speak about the distributed hybrid workforce, focusing on how to manage people in this new world of remote (working from home, wfh) and office working. We cover why it’s important to manage staff on outcomes, not inputs, and how to make that change. Shane speaks about “being deliberate” in your actions, and the three key dynamics within an organisation - social dynamics, power and influence, and creative dynamics. What are you doing to make sure your people are thriving? Shane Twomey is a senior Organisation, Change and Management Consultant with over 25 year’s experience in Multi-national, Indigenous and Public Sector environments. He is experienced in providing a range of organisation solutions including Organisation Design & Development, Organisation Change and Executive Coaching. Prior to moving into consultancy, Shane worked in a range of Senior Human Resources roles with numerous blue chip organisations including Maxtor, where he had a European brief, Siemens, where he was responsible for implementing Strategic HR, and Viridian Power & Energy, where Shane developed a commercial HR Framework. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, Shane holds a Masters in Human Resources from the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business. He is a Registered Coach with Henley Management School, is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Management Consultants & Advisors and a member of the Institute of Directors. Shane’s links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanetwomey/ Website: www.organisationdynamics.ie Aoife’s links: 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

Karin Tischler and Aoife O’Brien speak about flexible working, specifically job sharing, and the impact this has on gender equality. We cover topics such as the gender pay gap, transferable skills, top sharing (a new concept to me!), the importance of role models, unpaid care work. We also touch on the difference between the US and Europe, and Karin shares some wonderful examples from SAP. Karin Tischler is the founder of Emily’s Path Consulting, promoting flexible working methods to create a more diverse workforce and increase gender equality. She is a speaker, researcher and podcast host of “Job Sharing And Beyond” – talking to international experts about job sharing, reduced work hour weeks, father networks, professionals returning from unpaid care work and much more. A returner herself with a master’s degree from the University of Oxford and a focus on professional research and consulting, Karin utilizes her European & German background to raise awareness of this untapped part of the workforce, to share innovative solutions and to create international collaborations. She is also a co-host of LinkedIn Local in Vancouver, a global volunteer initiative to organize networking events focused on human connections. Karin’s links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-tischler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilysPathConsulting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karintischlerbc/ https://www.instagram.com/jobsharingandbeyond/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/karin_tischler https://twitter.com/JobsharingByond Website: https://emilyspath.ca/ My social links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

Helen Joy and Aoife O’Brien speak about first time managers, and answer the question: what makes a great manager? In this current Covid world, we cover the non-verbal cues and how to check in with people to make sure they’re doing ok. Traditionally the role of the manager has been to make sure that stuff gets done, now it is more focused on getting the best out of people. We talk about the key skills required to be an effective manager, such as communication, including setting clear expectations for the role of the manager, emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-management in particular), flexibility, adaptability, critical thinking and coaching. Helen passionately believes that we are all capable of creating a motivating and inspiring workplace if we want to do so. She is passionate about Leadership and Management Development, particularly aspiring and new managers. She led and developed teams within operational and support environments to achieve results through formal/informal training and coaching. Helen has held senior operational and training roles in the recruitment industry and has a clear understanding of the need to balance commercial realities and results with people development. Helen's expertise lies in enabling businesses to grow from the inside out by working with managers to create inspired, motivated, top-performing teams. Helen’s links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenjoyleadershipgrowth/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeopleSparkltd Website: http://www.people-spark.co.uk My social links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

Katharine Slattery and Aoife O’Brien speak about mentoring: the difference between mentoring and coaching; the benefits of mentoring specifically; what makes an effective mentoring programme. We also talk about the preparation needed for both the mentor and the mentee when it comes to designing and delivering an effective mentoring programme. Katharine Slattery established Mentoring Resources in 2012, to design and deliver in-person and eLearning training programmes for mentors and mentees participating in mentoring programmes in professional, educational and community settings in Ireland. Katharine believes in the power of mentoring in providing an additional level of support for those going through a time of transition and challenge - whether that is starting off in a new level of education, beginning a new role, or striving for professional or personal development. Mentoring Resources also design, implement and manage mentoring programmes for small and large-scale organisations in Ireland. Katharine has worked with several Irish Higher Education Institutions, corporate sector and community sector clients, and other organisations such as the HSE, HIQA and the Law Society of Ireland, and has seen first-hand the benefits to mentees, mentors and the organisation in which mentoring is embedded. Katharine is a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and the Women’s Inspire Network. Katharine holds a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from the Queen’s University of Belfast, as well as a Professional Practice Certificate in Training Development & Delivery from the Irish Institute of Training and Development. She has just begun a post-graduate Diploma in Business in Executive Management. A mentor provides three Ss – a safe pair of ears, a sounding board, and a source of possible solutions. Amid the noise and competing demands of a workplace environment, it’s not hard to see how the opportunity to have those ears, that sounding board and that source of help could make you ‘Happier At Work’. Katharine’s links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Trainer4Mentors LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharineslattery/ Website: https://www.mentoringresources.ie/ My social links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://twitter.com/Empowerment_IE https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast

Garima Gupta and Aoife O’Brien speak about how HR can implement better self-care practices. HR tend to be the ones looking after everyone else, which can lead to increased levels of burnout within the team. We discuss how HR should be the ones to put on their own oxygen mask first and Garima shares some very practical tips on how to make that happen. The advice she shares is applicable not only to HR, but to anyone working in an organisation and who could do with learning ways to deal with burnout and overwhelm. Garima Gupta- People Geek & Continuous Learner When the whole world is silent, then even one voice becomes powerful. - Malala Yousufzai “Your voice matters” no matter who you are and where you are. I had come to this realization as a young adult but somewhere in my career I felt the need to conform and to be politically correct and spoke my truth more diplomatically. I was told that I need to add more please and thank you. Somewhere I lost my voice in all this. But I found my voice again and more importantly the courage, it requires to use it, a few years back, after a coaching session. I have since been speaking, within and outside my organization about Inclusion, Equity and using your voice, to share my unique perspective of working with a global workforce in constantly changing environments I have been working as a Global HR leader for over 15 years, across industries and geographies (India, China, Australia, Sub-Saharan Africa, USA, UK and Central American countries). Over these years, I have been having robust conversations about the future of work, creating a better employee experience and investing in talent. Garima’s links: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/garimagupta-shrm-scp/ My social links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://twitter.com/Empowerment_IE https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast