Dr. Louise LambertD’raven

Assistant Professor

Canadian University of Dubai

Mainstream/Traditional PsychologyDepression Eating

disordersCrime Social violence Learning

disorders

Divorce Anxiety Anger Isolationloneliness

ADHD

Personalitydisorders

Familydysfunction

Employeeturnover

Addictions Obesitysedentarybehaviour

Bullying Stress andburnout

Suicide Conductdisorder

Lying cheatingdishonesty

An absence is not a presence of…• Simply “not having a broken leg” is not

enough to qualify for the Olympics.

Positive Psychology: Presence of positivePost-traumaticgrowth

HealthyLifestyles

Pro-Socialbehavior

Groupbelonging;cooperation

Giftednesstalent

Life satisfaction& subjectivewell-being

MindfulnessBeing in themoment

MotivationGritAchievement

Characterstrengths

Learning

Flourishingindividuals

Productivegroups andorganizations

Engagement Meaning andPurpose

Fitness andhealth

Friendship Thriving understress

The positiveside of humanexperience!

PositiveEmotions

HonestyAltruism

Organizational psychology assumes same

• Move organizations back to normal, butmediocrity not productive; we can do better.

• Positive organizational scholarship (psychology)= move organizations beyond average towardsgreatness

What makes us happy?(From a scientific perspective)

Well-being theory (PERMA; Seligman, 2011)

PERMA: Pleasure, positive emotion3:1 ratio: Broaden & Build Model

Being interested,doing what you’re good at,and losing yourself in it.

It’s a “great job” we’d do for free.*Assumes a “fit” and a “gap”

PERMA: Engagement + strengths = flow

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PERMA: Positive Relationships

Employees with abest friend at work(who is happy) are7x more engaged!

Copyright2009Louis

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PERMA: The Meaningful Life

Does it matter orcontribute tosomeone otherthan you?

PERMA: A life of Achievement

What wouldyou like to sayyou’veaccomplished?

Develop interventions based on the pathways

Why PERMA?

Small group questions• What makes you come alive at work?• If you had 3 wishes for the organization, what would

they be?• What’s the smallest thing we could change that would

make a difference?• Do we have fun here? Do you laugh here? Do you feel

hopeful here?• If our success were 100% guaranteed, what bold steps

might we take?

For Managers/Supervisor• What are you good at that we aren’t capitalizing

upon? What are your “extra/other” skills?• *Gap disappears

For Managers/Supervisor• Follow-through:• Craft the job• See what you can accommodate.

For Employees

• Am I bored? Why?• If I complained less, what would I do more of?• When do I feel good here? Doing what?• What would happen if I changed my mindset?• Is it the same elsewhere? (very likely)

For Employees• Do I come to work at my best?• Am I tired? Hungry? Dehydrated?• Am I happy otherwise?

• What seems like “bad work” is sometimesunhappiness and unhealthiness overall.

Positive psychology:Focus on greatness

• People want to succeed and do good; butneed a way there.

• Personal responsibility; strengths invite.