Happier At Work

This episode features Asumpta Gallagher, the owner and founder of Best Practice. She launched her business in early 2018 to provide supports to GP’s, their Practices and their Staff. The services that Best Practice provide, enables GPs to spend more time being the Doctors they want to be. Best Practice helps to standardise processes, implement systems as well as providing tailored training to staff inhouse, remotely and through external workshops. A well managed Practice empowers and motivates the entire Practice Team, and results in a better work life balance for everyone as well as improved Patient Care. A full list of services can be found on www.bestpractice.ie Asumpta and I discuss what makes a good leader, the difference between managing and leading, ambition, success, asking for help and starting with why.www.bestpractice.ie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rZLZwwq6rA https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien www.empowermentcoaching.ie

This episode features Tim Kidd, the Europanel Managing Director for Kantar’s Worldpanel division, with responsibility for the UK, France, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, Greece plus the US. Kantar Worldpanel is centred on the creation of data and insight to help clients understand people better (specifically what they buy and consume) and to inspire growth. Tim has been in the business for 27 years and is retiring at the end of March, which will be a sad and happy day in equal measure. He believes strongly that if we get the people part of business “right”, then clients will get more value from their relationship with us and this in turn will lead to us having a stronger business ourselves. And by “right” he means that everyone in the team knows where we’re going, what their part in that is, is able to grow personally, is valued and respected and has fun along the way too. Many companies talk about people, but he hopes his legacy will be a to have a led a team where the people focus is authentic.Tim and I discuss

This episode features Stephen Naughton, an experienced leadership coach and consultant with unique skills in operational leadership and team coaching. He has over 16 years’ experience in leading teams in financial services and developing the Operations Performance Centres of Excellence. Stephen covering a wide variety of topics such as leadership, emotional intelligence, diversity awareness, virtual communications and resilience. He continues to coach executives and also coaches college students on a pro bono basis. He's also the host of the Good Boss Bad Boss Podcast and has a passionate belief in the potential of every human being!Stephen and I discuss what makes a good leader, playing to your strengths, the importance of reflection, values, and the importance of connection in building trust. A leader must: inspire trust; clarify the purpose; align the systems; unleash the talent. Above all, a leader is someone who others want to follow!https://www.stephennaughton.com/good-boss-bad-boss-podcasthttps://www.s

22: Fiona English on Meaning at Work by Aoife O'Brien

This episode features Bernard Jackman, former Irish international and Leinster rugby player whose story of success and failure – of bouncing back – makes him an engaging and entertaining speaker who can talk with authority, ease and humour about what success looks like and how to take responsibility for, and create, your own success.Bernard and I discuss what leadership means, what makes a good leader, and recipes for success. Leadership starts with purpose, clear communication of that purpose, a strategy and plan in place to achieve that, and a clear culture of behaviours to enable the strategy. This is all made possible by clear communication channels and providing feedback as to where you are versus where you need to be.https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernardjackman/https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5771014-the-talent-code

In this special episode of the podcast, I speak with a range of people about their experience of imposter syndrome. Louise Goss is founder of Homeworker magazine, Adrian Whelan is a Senior Vice President and Head of Regulatory Intelligence for Investor Services at Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH), Andrea Mara is a crime fiction author, Peter Hill works in analytics in the fast moving consumer goods industry in Sydney, Korina Duffy has her own business Korina Duffy Fitness. All of them share their own experience of imposter syndrome: how it shows up and what we can do about it.Imposter syndrome can show up in many ways. Trying to be perfect (perfectionism) or overcompensating because you think you don’t know enough and you’re going to be “found out”; procrastinating doing things because nothing you do is ever good enough; you think that “other people” know much more than you do, and you compare yourself to the anonymous masses; you’re trying to be a superhero and be the expert at absolutely everything; you’re afr

This episode features Sara Lasker of Healthy & Hygge. We talk all things Hygge, considered a defining characteristic of Danish culture. Hygge is associated with cosiness and an overall sense of harmony with your environment leading to greater wellbeing. We discuss how it’s not just a winter phenomenon, how to be more Hygge, and what that looks like specifically in work.Health is more than just the number on a glucose meter. As one of the first people in the world dually certified as a Master Certified Health Education Specialist and Certified Diabetes Educator, Sara works to help people find harmony in all areas of wellness: Occupational, Social, Spiritual, Intellectual, Physical, Emotional, Environmental, and Financial. She has worked in education, government, medical clinics, non-profits and worn many titles in life Daughter, Diabetes Advocate, Counsellor, Teacher, Wife, Medical Assistant, Coach, but those do not define her just like a number should not define you!www.healthyandhygge.comwww.onetonline.o

This episode features Kate Maree O’Brien, leadership expert. We talk all things boundaries – how to recognise when your boundaries are unclear or non-existent, what lies beneath that behaviour, and how to untangle yourself from that web. People pleasing leads to over-functioning, which in turn leads to under-functioning of those around you. Are you taking things on for other people that they really should be doing for themselves? Turn unspoken agreements into spoken boundaries. We train people how to treat us. Don’t be afraid to say “no” when you mean it, it won’t damage the relationship. Take some time to really understand your needs, and communicate them. Never “let this one slide” or say to yourself “just this once” – it’s a slippery slope! Remember your “why”!Kate Maree O’Brien lives and breathes personal leadership. She’s the founder of SHE - Australasia’s largest women’s leadership and empowerment event – and over the last 15 years, has personally smashed through major glass ceilings – again and again a

This episode features Brigid Farrell from All Talk Training. We discuss how to improve your communication, specifically in a cross-cultural environment. We speak about the importance of self-awareness and empathy, the impact of culture on our communication, and the importance of ensuring you have been understood.Brigid Farrell, founder of AllTalk Training, works with companies who operate internationally and have culturally diverse teams, helping them to eradicate communication issues that arise due to differences in language and culture. Having spent several years abroad, Brigid has observed countless instances of communication breakdown due to cultural misunderstandings. In addition to this, her work training businesspeople in English has also afforded her extensive insight into the areas that lead to miscommunication in international business. This experience led Brigid to identify a pressing need - the development of communication training for those working within diverse teams. This training offers prac

This episode features Jason Cooper an Advanced Mind, Business & Sales Coach/trainer. We discuss how to improve your performance, especially at work. We speak about authenticity; being true to yourself. Showing vulnerability to build a rapport with others. This builds trust, shows the true side of you, and makes you less superhero and more human! Being ok with not “knowing it all” and seeking help from others. Having a growth mindset, using feedforward instead of feedback. Visualisation as a great tool for achieving what you want. How to move away from multi-tasking so you can be more productive and get more done.Jason Cooper is an Advanced Mind, Business & Sales Coach/trainer and uses tools and techniques of NLP, Neuroscience, Psychology and other tools and processes to help people and teams achieve sales success. He has over 20 years of sales and marketing experience - from large multinationals to small, aggressive, online tech startups. Jason specializes in business sales skills development within t

This episode features Pauline Rohdich from Just Pause, a rapid transformation therapist. She speaks about how changing our thoughts can have a dramatic impact on our life; mastering your mind can allow you to take your power back. Often we are living inside repeated patterns of behaviour, and holding ourselves back from reaching our true potential; living a “diluted” version of ourselves. 50% of our happiness is from genetics, 40% from our habits and beliefs, and only 10% is due to circumstances (although this is what most people try to change). If you have a belief that is holding you back, ask yourself “who am I without this belief?” “who can I be?” Pauline is the creator of Just Pause, a transformational business with a mission to remind each person that they have the power to change their life and cultivate unconditional happiness. She is an advanced RTT Clinical Hypnotherapist, Life Coach, Happiness Trainer, Yoga & Meditation Teacher, and NLP Practitioner. Growing up, Pauline always had a strong con

Emiliana and I discuss all things happiness at work! The PERK framework - purpose, engagement, resilience, kindness. The importance of kindness in the workplace for business outcomes, especially when it comes to teamwork. How to communicate effectively and deal with conflict at work. The importance of mindfulness and gratitude at work. How there needs to be a culture and mindset shift away from the idea that work is bad and you can't be happy at work.Emiliana Simon-Thomas, PhD, is the Science Director at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. Trained in neuroscience and social psychology, she runs the student research fellowship program, directs key science initiatives, and teaches the The Science of Happiness, a massive open online course on the edX platform that has enrolled over 600,000 people worldwide. She also teaches the Science of Happiness at Work Professional Certificate Series on edX, and serves as an expert voice on the biology and psychology of well-being around the world. Her work highlights

Adrian Whelan from Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH) and I speak about inclusion in the workplace, among lots of others things. Being your authentic self at work, how to speak up, getting a mentor, the idea of "normal" (what is normal?), the key to fitting in at work, "giving it a go", self-awareness, reflection, creating a feedback culture, high performers, the "getting out of bed" test and how a diversity and inclusion policy results in better business outcomes.Adrian Whelan is a Senior Vice President and Head of Regulatory Intelligence for Investor Services at Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH), based in Dublin. In this role, he is responsible for articulating the impact of regulatory change on asset managers and the industry in which they operate. Mr. Whelan is the lead contributor to BBH’s On The Regs blog, where he regularly shares insights on global regulatory topics. He joined the firm in 2011.Mr. Whelan is active in the Investment Company Institute, the International Securities Lending Association, Irish Fund

In this episode, I speak with Treasa Spragg from Revolution Project Ltd all about the importance of sleep for our overall health and happiness in work. We talk about moving away from the “sleep when I’m dead” mentality, the importance of sleep cycles, prepping for social occasions/ late nights, being kind to your body, practical tips anyone can use to improve the quality of their sleep. Decide for yourself how you want to feel, make the necessary changes, and don’t forget to catalogue the changes (including how you feel). 2 key takeaways: no blue light (TV, phone, tablet etc) for 1-2 hours before bed – find other things to do instead like reading a book, chores you usually don’t get to, vision boards. No coffee after 12 midday.Treasa Spragg’s main mission in business is to make people happier and healthier. Treasa firmly believes that we all have intrinsic value with something unique to offer to the world but knows how difficult it is to show up and be our best selves when we’re low on resources with many of

In this episode, I speak with Louise Goss from The Homeworker magazine about Working from Home. This episode is for remote workers, freelancers, entrepreneurs, flexible workers. Whether you love it or hate it, we discuss some very practical tips that you can implements to make working from home much better, productive, and happier. Things like: leave the house, schedule your day, don’t forget to schedule breaks too, listen to your body, acknowledge your achievements, don’t compare yourself to others. Stay motivated by remembering your why – who are you serving and how are they benefitting? Collate feedback and testimonials. Remember you have a choice – if you’re in a slump, you have the freedom to do something else. You will gain clarity through action – just take those small steps.Louise Goss is an award-winning journalist and the founder and editor of The Homeworker magazine. The Homeworker is a new publication that promotes a healthy mind, body and business and is dedicated to helping you thrive when you w

In this episode, I speak with Bettina Arnafjall from Women’s Career Lift. We discuss how, as women, we tend to get in our own way when it comes to managing our careers. It’s important to take stock of our achievements and communicate them effectively. Collect positive feedback and bring good news to your manager; be in the driving seat of your own career. If you’re not happy at work, stop complaining and take action. We also chat about raising your visibility, how to deal with mistakes, and the gender pay gap.Bettina has 8 years of experience as a hiring manager and also works as a freelance women’s career coach offering support with job applications (resume, cover letter, job interviews) while working full time. She is known for her curiosity, her desire to see and understand the big picture, her hands-on mentality, her project management talent, her laser sharp focus and her capability to achieve her targets. Website: www.womenscareerlift.com

In this episode, I speak with Bill Phillips about Timeshifting. We discuss how our happiness depends on how we construct our own realities. Time is an illusion, how to take a deep breath to get into the present moment and temporarily out of the “rat race”. We often find ourselves limited or controlled by time, and get stressed when we try to resist what’s happening to us. Be present in the moment, savour the moment, choose how you want to feel by identifying the thoughts that are driving your feelings. Having thoughts vs thinking – we can deliberately let thoughts go, and the more you practice, the better you will get.Bill Phillips is an accomplished and experienced international facilitator, training and learning specialist, team-builder and coach. One of his strengths is that he creates a positive thinking environment and inspires people to take action and get results. For the past 3 decades Bill has facilitated learning internationally, both on his own account and as a sub-contractor, with organisations i

In this episode, I speak with Gerry Duffy about Goal Setting. We discuss the importance of writing down your goals, being in control of your own future, getting clear on why you want to achieve your goals (start with why!), contracting in advance to avoid setbacks, being specific. What you do every day is more important than what you do once in a while. What does success look like to you? Try a “check-in Wednesday” How to stay motivated after the routine of the everyday has kicked in. The importance of setting smaller goals. Change your language around goal setting.Gerry Duffy is a professional speaker in the areas of Leadership, Goal Setting and Public Speaking. With a CV that has seen him work with over 800 companies and organisations since 2010 and a personal passion that has seen him complete many extreme sporting challenges (including running 32 marathons in 32 consecutive days) Gerry brings a mixture of corporate insights as well as personal success to his inspirational keynotes, workshops and corporate

In this episode of Happier at Work podcast, I speak with Andrew Barnes. Andrew’s company Perpetual Guardian sparked global media fascination with its flexible work model after it successfully trialled and implemented the four-day week, resulting in a 20% lift in employee productivity, a 27% reduction in work stress levels, and a 45% increase in employee work-life balance. The four-day week concept has proven to be extraordinarily popular around the world. Media coverage of the four-day week has reached 4.5 billion people in 70+ countries through more than 3,500 news articles and 11,500 social media posts.Andrew and I speak about the practicalities of implementing a 4-day week, input vs output, the impact on work as well as home life, which industries would benefit from a 4-day week and how healthier, happier people produce better results.You can find more details about the 4-day week here:https://4dayweek.comAccess the whitepaper here:https://4dayweek.com/access-white-paperSee Andrew’s announcement of the tri

In this episode, Simon Haigh and I talk about resilience, our “capacity to cope with life” or how we manage our emotional and behavioural responses. It is further broken down into self-resilience, societal resilience, and life resilience. Self-resilience is about accepting yourself as you are, unconditionally. Knowing that we are not limited. Permission to feel our feelings, think, choose how to respond and live in the moment. Life is uncertain, so it’s about learning to live with ambiguity. You choose what you choose, there is not right or wrong answer.Societal resilience is about building meaningful relationships with clear boundaries. “We become who we tolerate”. Communication is key, and avoid rushing into relationships, ask yourself “do I respect this person?” “Do I trust this person?” “do I like this person?”Being self-aware is key. As is being willing, open-minded, and honest (including with yourself). Ask yourself “what will benefit me today?” Strive for progress, not perfection. “Did I try my best?”S