Happier At Work

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 membershi

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 thei

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 effe

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 boar

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 -

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

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 Irela

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

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

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, regulator

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

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 wildernes

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

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 sh

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.

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

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

Casey Ryals and Aoife O’Brien speak about his new book Last to Least. Casey shares some wonderful insights about how we can lead ourselves better. Leadership books often cite the importance of leading ourselves before we can lead others, however they don’t address the way to do this. Casey wants to share with the world this new way of thinking and being. He encourages us to make decisions based on our character, or who we are (want to be!) rather than rash decisions and instant gratification. His framework starts by looking at the purpose (why), then the ‘who’ (identitity), before addressing the ‘how’. Casey Ryals, most recently, is the author of the new published book, Last to Least. For the last decade Casey has helped clients THINK about possible future outcomes, DECIDE how to plan, and MAKE the next wise move. For 7 straight years his insurance agency has been #1 in production in the entire company. He also has a paving and grading company, Ryals Brothers, that just became a million dollar business after

Pattie Grimm and Aoife O’Brien speak about empowering women at work. Recent studies from McKinsey & Lean In and IBM show that one in four women is considering leaving or stepping back from work duties due to Covid-19. This particularly impacts on women in leadership positions. In this podcast, we discuss ways for women to empower themselves as well as others. Pattie Grimm shares her 5 step approach: 1 Be Strong; 2 Stand Up; 3 Stand Out; 4 Put Yourself First on your List; 5 Rise Up. We speak about supporting not sabotaging other women, business strategy, and returnship programs. With over 25 years of experience, Pattie is an empowerment expert for organizations, leaders, and women. Her presentations/interviews are empowering, educational, and engaging. Pattie was a senior leader for several Global Fortune 100 companies. She owns a company focused on empowering women to be the best they can be. She is an author/speaker/ podcast guest/trainer/coach/ women’s advocate. Pattie was recognized by Executive

Chris Pinner and Aoife O’Brien speak about all things wellbeing at work. We speak about getting leadership buy-in to the wellness programmes in organisations, the basics of wellbeing at work and what that means, the importance of investing in addition to role modelling in an organisation, using statistics versus stories to share about wellbeing at work, e.g 90% of CEOs are investing in wellbeing initiatives, mental wellbeing declined during lockdown, how can senior leaders in your organisation share stories from their own wellbeing journey? How can you tailor your wellbeing approach? Focus on movement, nutrition and mental wellbeing. Set clear boundaries. Use mindfulness and journaling as a way to make space for your own wellbeing. Start small, start today! Chris is the founder of employee wellbeing company Innerfit. Chris started his career in Banking and Management Consultancy, where projects regularly demanded working weekends, 12+ hour days and the odd 36-hour shift. Since founding Innerfit, Chris has