Don’t Sprint the Marathon Success Magazine, Shawn Achor December 2015 I once worked with a company vice president who wanted to run a marathon. Although she wasn’t in great shape and her workload limited her preparation for a marathon, she thought that if she could lead a team across three continents, then she could run…
How (and why) to Give the Perfect Gift Success Magazine, Shawn Achor December 21, 2015 We’ve reaped phenomenal results in researching the power of giving, and the results may seem counterintuitive to the field of positive psychology. We’ve known that social connection is the greatest predictor of happiness—measured by how people rate the quality of their…
The Busier You Are, the More You Need Mindfulness Harvard Business Review, Shawn Achor & Michelle Gielan December 2015 The most forward-looking companies are willing to take risks to achieve greatness. Most leaders give lip service to this idea, but few actually do it. We have worked with banks willing to take on toxic assets…
The Right Kind of Stress Can Bond Your Team Together Harvard Business Review, Shawn Achor December 2015 This past fall, I did a documentary with HBO, directed by Peter Berg and produced by Michael Strahan, called State of Play: Happiness. In the film, we explored how to create a positive culture in organizations where the culture…
Stress Is Actually Contagious—Here’s How to Make Yourself Immune Greatist | Locke Hughes, November 2015 Imagine this: You hit the gym for a morning workout and stroll into the office on time, ready for the day. Then you catch a glimpse of your coworker, sighing loudly and shuffling through papers. A few minutes later, you start…
3 Secrets to Happiness this Holiday Live Happy Magazine, Shawn Achor & Michelle Gielan November 2015 Expectations and stress seem to increase over the holidays, especially in the weeks leading up to them. We need to make the perfect meals, wear the perfect clothes and, of course, get the perfect gifts. But while it is easy to…
Does Your Personal Brand Broadcast Success? Michelle McQuaid | Huffington Post, October 2015 How do other people describe the way you work? Are you approachable and collaborative? Or maybe judgmental and controlling? Or perhaps even inspiring and empowering? The actions you take each day build your personal brand. The way you think, the way you feel…
Why You Need to Stop Worrying About Failing Success Magazine, Shawn Achor October 2015 Do you know what “icing the kicker” means? In football, when a kicker is preparing to make a potential game-winning field goal, the opposing coach will often call a timeout right before the ball is snapped. The thinking behind this strategy…
The Science of a Smile Success Magazine, Shawn Achor November 2015 When people complain, their facial expressions become scrunched and anxious. When we feel threatened by a negative family member or co-worker, our faces usually reflect exactly what we are trying to reject. Want people around you to be more positive? Check your face first. Emotions…
JustGOODnews.BIZ, September 2015 Broadcasting Happiness at Work in News, in Life. Q&A with Author Michelle Gielan Can work be a happy place? Can employers make changes in the workplace to foster positive thinking and happiness and still accomplish their goals? Can work be fun? Author and journalist Michelle Gielan said all of these things are possible, and…
