4. @peoplelab_
#spotlighton
This formula is scientifically broken
Every time we have a success the goalposts change. We reach our sales
targets, we get set higher targets
So we’re continually pushing happiness over our cognitive horizon
And in fact…. The opposite is true – positive brains perform significantly better
than negative, neutral or stressed brains
So if we focus on creating happy, positive brains we are more successful
Research shows increases in intelligence, creativity and energy
This translates into business outcomes
5. @peoplelab_
#spotlighton
Positive thinking
Lyobomirsky 2005 found:
• 31% increase in productivity
• Improved resilience
• Less burnout
• Less employee turnover
• Increased sales 37%
• When your brain is in a positive state it performs better then in a neutral, negative or
stressed state
6. @peoplelab_
#spotlighton
Why is this?
The formula is the wrong way round
Being in a positive brain state releases Dopamine
This makes you feel happier
But it also turns on all your learning centers in your brain
Work harder More Success
Happier
positive state
7. @peoplelab_
#spotlighton
Creating a positive lasting change
• You can rewire your brain by doing the following everyday for 21 days:
• 3 gratitudes each day
• Journaling
• Exercise
• Meditation
• Random acts of kindness
• This will help train your brain to scan for the positive, rather than the negative
10. @peoplelab_
#spotlighton
Peak Experience
• Think about a time when you loved doing what you were doing – either at work
or in your personal life
• In pairs take 5 minutes each to tell your partner about this time
• What was happening
• How did it feel?
• What made it possible?
• Why was it such an amazing time for you?
• What did you learn?
• Then swap
• Listen carefully to your partners story
• Then in groups talk about the themes emerging
11. @peoplelab_
#spotlighton
Your Playlist
Michael Frisch suggests creating a ‘playlist’ of activities which make us feel good, are
likely to stimulate positive emotions, which we enjoy, which interest us, which make us
happy…such as:
• Reading a book
• Watching a funny film
• Seeing the sunrise
• Going for a walk
• Going to a gig
• Hanging out with friends etc.
13. @peoplelab_
#spotlighton
Mindfulness
“Paying attention in a particular way:
on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally”
Jon Kabat-Zinn PhD, “Wherever you go, there you are”, 1994
With curiosity
Without engagement or attachment
While being kind to yourself
20. @peoplelab_
#spotlighton
What is your purpose in life?
Imagine fast forwarding into your old age… how would you answer the following
questions?:
• How and for what do I want to be remembered?
• Who do I want to be remembered by?
• Which of my accomplishments and strengths do I want others to talk about?
• When I look back am I am satisfied with my life?
• Am I living my life is such a way now that this will be achieved?
22. @peoplelab_
#spotlighton
Please answer these questions about intelligence.
Read each statement and decide whether you mostly agree with it or
disagree with it.
1) Your intelligence is something very basic about you that you can't change very
much.
2) You can learn new things, but you can’t really change how intelligent you are.
3) No mater how much intelligence you have, you can always change it quite a
bit.
4) You can always substantially change how intelligent you are.
25. @peoplelab_
#spotlighton
The list goes on…..
• …Einstein's teacher said that he was ‘academically
subnormal’
• …Walt Disney was told that he lacked ‘creative
imagination’
27. @peoplelab_
#spotlighton
Study: Praise for intelligence can undermine children's motivation and performance;
Muller & Dweck 1998
Intelligence Praise
“Wow, that’s a really good score.
You must have tried really hard.”
Effort Praise
“Wow, that’s a really good score.
You must be smart at this.”
Control Group “Wow, that’s a really good score.”
28. @peoplelab_
#spotlighton
Effects of Intelligence vs. Effort Praise
Growth Mindset
Learning
High
High
Increased
Fixed Mindset
Looking Smart
Low
Low
Decreased
Goals
Confidence
Motivation
Performance
After
difficult
trial
29. @peoplelab_
#spotlighton
Results from Intelligence praise
Performance on 2nd set
• “I’m not good enough”
• Reported a steep decline in fun
• When asked if they would like to
take the games home to play with
family, their future likelihood to play
the game again declined
significantly
Performance on 3rd set
• They chose the next problem based
on designing not to fail (vs. learning)
• They chose their reading based on
how they compared to others (vs.
learning new strategies)
• Telling others how they did- 40%
lied!!
2nd deliberately harder, told scored 5/10 and
performed “a lot worse” 3rd same difficulty as 1st set
30. @peoplelab_
#spotlighton
Results from Process Praise
Performance on 2nd set
• “I didn’t work hard enough”
• They had the same amount of
fun as 1st set
• Their likelihood to play again was
same as 1st set
Performance on 3rd set
• They chose their next problem
designed on learning more
• Their choice of reading was
based on learning new strategies
• Telling others how they did- only
1.3% lied
2nd deliberately harder, told scored 5/10 and
performed “a lot worse” 3rd same difficulty as 1st set
31. @peoplelab_
#spotlighton
# of problems solved on the IQ test
Trial 1 (before failure) and
Trial 3 (after failure)
4.5
5
5.5
6
6.5
Trial 1 Trial 3
Effort Praise
Control Praise
Intelligence Praise
#ofProblemsSolved