Coaching For Happiness: Understanding The Drivers of WellBeing And Success

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Coaching For HappinessUnderstanding The Drivers
of Well-Being And Success

• Presented by
• Jill Macnaught
• Psychologist and Executive Coach
• Principal of
• CENTRE FOR COACHING POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
• Director of
• The Executive Coach
• 2nd Health Coaching Symposium
• Newcastle, NSW 13th October 2006

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Outline of Session

• Review Key Principles Of Positive Psychology
• Applied Positive Psychology - Coaching
• The Notion Of Human Strengths
• Visions and Goals
• Important Principles Of Goal Striving and Goal
  Attainment
• Psychological Well-Being
• Values
• Understanding Happiness
• Research with Positive Emotions
• How To Build Positive Emotions Help People be
  Happier
• Building Happier Workplaces
• Questions

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What is Positive Psychology?

• Positive Psychology asks seven types of
  inter-related questions.
• 1.Existential questions
• What makes life worth living?
• What does it mean to live a life of dignity and
  significance?
• Why should I strive in the face of suffering and
  death?
• What are the positive givens of human existence?

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What is Positive Psychology?

• 2.Structural questions
• What are the defining characteristics or criteria
  of positive mental health or physical health?
• What are the essential components of quality of
  life?
• What are the components of the good life?
• What constitutes happiness?

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What is Positive Psychology?

• 3.Functioning questions
• What makes us fully functioning individuals?
• What contributes to optimal functioning?
• What are the functions of meaning seeking,
  meaning making and values clarification in
  optimal functioning?

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What is Positive Psychology?

• Meaning and purpose
• necessary conditions for
• happiness
• and
• positive mental health

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What is Positive Psychology?

• 4. Process questions
• What makes life worth living?
• What does it mean to live a life of dignity and
  significance?
• Why should I strive in the face of suffering and
  death?
• What are the positive givens of human existence?

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What is Positive Psychology?

• 5. Outcome questions
• What are the outcomes and correlates to answers
  to the above questions?
• How do we measure these outcomes in a reliable
  and valid way?

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What is Positive Psychology?

• 6. Societal questions
• What kind of community and society will support
  individual positive psychology?
• How can we create such a social ecology?

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What is Positive Psychology?

• 7. Cultural questions
• What are the cultural differences to the above
  questions?
• What are the cultural universals?
• Ref Wong, Paul (1998) The Human Quest for
  Meaning

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The Post Growth Society

• Instead of higher incomes, the central objective
  of a post growth society is to provide
  opportunities for human fulfilment and
  self-realisation. Pursuit of wellbeing which
  for many will require abandonment of the money
  obsession and rejection of the pursuit of
  identity through consumption would allow the
  emergence of authentic (rather than manufactured)
  individuality and the flowering of human
  potential.
• Clive Hamilton (2003) Growth Fetish p. 240

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History of Positive Psychology

• Rogers (1951) The fully functioning person
• Jahoda (1958) Mental Health
• Allport (1961) Mature Individuality
• Erikson (1963) Stages of Development
• Maslow (1954-1971) Self Actualisation
• Vaillant (1977) Positive Defenses
  Exceptional Performance
• Deci Ryan (1985) Self Determination Theory
• Csikszentmihalyi (1990) Flow Optimal Experience
• Ryff Singer (1996) Psychological Well-Being
• Seligman (1991-2006) Learned Helplessness,
  Optimism

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Four Major Imperatives of Positive Psychology

• Rise to lifes challenges, make the most of
• setbacks and adversities
• Engage and relate to other people
• Find fulfillment in creativity and productivity
• Look beyond oneself and help others to find
  lasting meaning, satisfaction, and wisdom in
  life
• (Keyes Haidt, 2004)

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Purpose of Positive Psychology

• Positive Psychology aims to understand the human
  strengths that enable individuals and human
  communities to thrive
• How do we cultivate what is best within ourselves
  and enhance our experiences of life and work?

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Applied Positive Psychology

• Applied positive psychology, which includes
  coaching, is the application of positive
  psychology research to the facilitation of
  optimal functioning
• (Linley Joseph, 2004).

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What is Coaching?

• One unifying definition
• Coaching is a collaborative process of
  facilitating a clients ability to self-direct
  learning and growth, as evidenced by sustained
  changes in self-understanding, self-concept and
  behaviour.
• Stober, D. Parry, C. (2003)

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Coaching Psychology

• Coaching Psychology is for enhancing well-being
  and performance in personal life and work domains
  underpinned by models of coaching grounded in
  established adult learning or psychological
  approaches.
• (BPS Coaching Psychology Interest Group, 2005)

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In Essence..

• Coaching moves the client from awareness to
• responsibility to action and to results!
• Awareness Responsibility Action
  Results

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Levels of Coaching

• Four Levels Of Coaching
• Level 1 Primary Skills method used is that of
• instruction
• Level 2 Secondary Skills method used in
• facilitation
• Level 3 Developmental method used is insight
  and awareness
• Level 4 Transformational method used is
  critical
• reflection
• (Carroll, M. 2004)

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Positive Psychology Coaching

• Focus is on
• Strengths
• Visions and Goals
• Values
• Growth and Wellbeing

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Positive PsychologyA Study of Human Strengths

• The notion of good character has been revived
• Defined as six virtues all of which have a set of
  underlying strengths
• Virtues identified are common to all
  philosophical and religious traditions

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The Six Virtues

• Wisdom and Knowledge
• Courage
• Love and Humanity
• Justice
• Temperance
• Spirituality and Transcendence

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What is a Strength?

• A natural capacity for behaving, thinking or
  feeling in a way that allows for optimal
  functioning and performance in the pursuit of
  valued outcomes
• (Linley Harrison, 2006)

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Strengths Based Psychology

• I do not believe that you should devote overly
  much effort to correcting your weakness. Rather,
  I believe that the highest success in living and
  the deepest emotional satisfaction comes from
  building and using your signature strengths.
• Martin Seligman

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Building Strength and Virtue

• What are your signature strengths?
• VIA survey - Identify your Signature Strengths
• Go to www.authentichappiness.org

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The 24 Strengths Sit Under Virtue Clusters

• Wisdom and Knowledge
• Curiosity/Interest in the World
• Love of Learning
• Judgment/Critical Thinking/Open-Mindedness
• Ingenuity/Originality/Practical
  Intelligence/Street Smarts
• Social Intelligence/Personal Intelligence/Emotiona
  l Intelligence
• Perspective

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Research on Strengths

• Key strengths associated with well-being
• Hope
• Love
• Zest
• Gratitude
• Curiosity
• (Peterson, Park Seligman, 2004)

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Research on Strengths

• Key strengths associated with goal success
• Patience the ability to dwell gladly in the
  present moment (Roberts, 1984)
• Prudence the use of reason to correctly
  discern that which helps and that which hinders
  realising the good (Jeffries, 1998)
• Perseverance the ability to keep commitments,
  to be steadfast, to endure despite obstacles, to
  make sacrifices, and to resist temptations to
  give up (Brickman, 1987)
• (Keyes Haidt, 2003)

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Visions to Goals
FUZZY VISION
SMART Goals
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A Vision of the Future

• Benefits of developing a fuzzy vision are
•  Utilises the attentional bias i.e. primes us
  to identify opportunities to ensure goal
  attainment.
• Allows brain to disengage from worry and anxiety
  about the future allows mindfulness.

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Exercise on Visioning

• Work in pairs
• One of the pair is to share a concern
• Other is to explore the concern listen,
  question for understanding
• Create a shift in the conversation - Question
• Develop a picture of the desired scenario
• CURRENT REALITY DESIRED REALITY

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Setting SMART goals

• Twenty years of research in psychology on goal
  setting has identified that our chances of
  success are enhanced when our goals are SMART
  (Locke, 1996)
• Specific and Stretching
• Measureable, Monitorable
• Attractive Authentic
• Realistic
• Time-framed

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Personal Goals - Positive Living

• Personal goals represent the proactive efforts of
  individuals to satisfy their needs and to shape
  their lives in positive new directions
• By helping people better identify and pursue
  personal goals, we support them in the ultimate
  pursuit of happiness.
• Refs Locke,.E.A. (1996) Locke, E. A. Latham,
  G. P. (2002)

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Self Concordant Goals

• The more clients short-term personal projects
  reflected their underlying values and interests,
  and were relevant to possible futures, the more
  they were likely to attain their goals and
  experience success.
• (Sheldon, K. et al. 2002)

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Self Concordant Goals

• A persons goals may not represent that persons
  authentic interests and values
• Goals are self-concordant when they are pursued
  because of either intrinsic or identified
  motivation

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SELF-INTEGRATED VS NONINTEGRATED ACTION
INTRINSIC
EXTERNAL
Environmental Pressures
NONINTEGRATED ACTION
Developing Interests SELF- INTEGRATED
ACTION Core Values
Internal Sanctions
IDENTIFIED
INTROJECTED
Ref Sheldon, K.M. Elliott, A. J.(1999)
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The Self-Concordance Model

• This model begins when people select and commit
  to a set of goals. May involve poor goal
  selection.

Goal Self-Concordance X Goal Attainment
Goal Self- Concordance
Sustained Effort
Goal Attainment
Need Satisfying Experiences
Changes in Well-Being
Goal striving is affected by degree to which
goals are self-concordant. Ref Sheldon, K.
M. Elliott, A. J. (1999)
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Goal Striving, Need Satisfaction and Longitudinal
Well-Being

• Greater goal striving toward intrinsic vs
  extrinsic goals (self-concordant goals)
• Attainment of self-concordant goals leads to
  greater well being
• Goal attainment associated with stronger feelings
  of autonomy, competence and relatedness (need
  satisfaction) this leading to greater
  well-being
• Success breeds more success
• Refs Sheldon, K and Elliot, A. (1999) Sheldon K
  Houser-Marko, L. (2001)

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Outcomes Well-Being

• Structure of Psychological Wellbeing
• (Positive Functioning Optimal Performance)
• Autonomy
• Environmental Mastery
• Personal Growth
• Positive Relationships with Others
• Purpose in Life
• Self-Acceptance
• (Ryff, C.D. Keyes, C.L.M., 1995)

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Values Vision

• It is important that the clients core values are
  being lived in that future.
• The importance of crystallisation
  prioritisation of values
• Identify your own core life values
• Develop a fuzzy vision
• Setting self-concordant goals (SDT)

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Values

• Values are who we are
• Values Identification (Life Work)
• A Peak Moment in Time What were the values
  being honoured?
• Suppressed Values
• Values Matrix

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Exercise Personal Strivings

• Task Generate one (1) of your personal strivings
  and respond to a series of items in relation to
  each.
• Think of your personal strivings as objectives
  (goals) that you are typically or
  characteristically trying to attain in your daily
  life.
• Ref Sheldon, K. M. Elliot, A. J. (1999)

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Paradox of the Growth Society

• In the past 50 years the standard of living has
  increased dramatically
• There has been no similar increase in happiness

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What Do We Mean By Happiness?

• Is it the pleasurable life or is it the good
  life?
• Is it momentary or enduring?
• Are some destined to be happier than others?
• Is it determined by good luck and/or circumstance?

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The Three Happy Lives

• The Pleasant Life
• The Engaged Life
• The Meaningful Life
• Seligman, 2002

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The Pleasant Life

• A life that successfully pursues the positive
  emotions about the past, present and future.
• Past satisfaction, contentment, pride
• Future optimism, hope, confidence
• Present bodily pleasures (warmth, touch)
• higher pleasures (elation,
  relaxation)

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The Engaged Life

• Using your signature strengths in all aspects of
  your life work, love, parenting, friendships
  etc
• Its about finding purpose and meaning

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The Meaningful Life

• Using your signature strengths in the service of
  something larger than you
• The notion of legacyour contribution to a better
  future

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What Determines Happiness?
?
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Psychological Well-Being (Happiness) Work
Performance

• High psychological well-being associated with
• - superior decision making
• - effective interpersonal behaviours
• - higher objective performance ratings
• Higher PWB also shown to directly lead to an
  increase in productivity

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Broaden and Build Model

• Positive emotions expand the thought-action
  repertoire
• Interest fosters the desire to explore,
  assimilate new experiences
• Joy creates the urge to play, think outside the
  box, be creative
• These outcomes bring meaning to the work of
  employees not just a job!

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Benefits of Positive Emotions

• Smiling Happiness
• Longer life expectancy
• Less self-focused, more empathic, kind
• and generous
• Better relations, strong friendships
• Better health
• Greater personal well-being

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Benefits of Positive Emotions

• Optimism (Problems transient, specific,
  controllable)
• Longer life expectancy (19)
• Better health, more energy
• Higher persistence, productivity and income
• Greater personal well-being

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Benefits of Positive Emotions

• Physical Benefits
• Increase immune function
• Improved resilience to adversity
• Reduced inflammatory response to stress
• Increased resistance to viruses
• Lower cortisol

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Benefits of Positive Emotions

• Psychological Benefits
• Increase intuition and creativity
• Cognitive flexibility, speed and accuracy to
  stress
• Integrate more sources of information
• Widen our attention
• Take a long term perspective

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Human Consequences of Happiness - Summary

• Increased capacity to thrive, mentally flourish
  and psychologically grow
• Outcomes
• - more proactive
• - resilient to adverse situations
• - less prone to stress symptoms
• - better physical health
• Moderates job satisfaction and job performance
  

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Techiques Which Make People Lastingly Happy
Less Depressed

• Using signature strengths in a new way
• Savouring a beautiful day (present)
• Gratitude visit (past)
• Count your blessings (3 good things in life)
• Letting go of grudges
• One door closes, another door opens (future)
  crisis opportunity
• You at your best (Best Possible Self Exercise)
• Cognitive restructuring for resilience
  realistic or positive attribution for adversity

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How To Build A Happier Workforce

• Composition
• selecting and placing people into
  appropriate positions (Are they playing
  from their strengths?)
• Training
• to assist people to fit jobs more
  closely
• teach self-monitoring to enhance positive
  mood and emotion (e.g. learned optimism)
• Situational Structuring
• change work environment to more closely
  fit the needs of employees (e.g. social
  support)
• A culture that supports ethics and character
  building

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Well Being in the WorkplaceA Summary

• Work is a pervasive influential part of the
  individual the communitys well-being.
• The well-being of employees their satisfaction
  with their work workplace affect citizenship at
  work, turnover rates performance ratings.

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How does this fit your vision?

• Happy/Productive Workers
• Serene/Thoughtful Workers
• Caring/Helpful Workers
• Joyous/Honest Workers
• Exhilirated/Creative Workers

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Questions?Thank Youemail
jillmacnaught_at_bigpond.com