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In this episode, Richard and Ross take a look at another important skill for increasing our psychological flexibility: acceptance. This doesn't mean a passive acceptance of the status quo, or simply pushing through difficulties with gritted teeth. It means authentically accepting the discomfort and other stuff we don't like in situations, while taking helpful action to get through it. Once we make room for it, we don't have to struggle with it, or delay action until the discomfort has gone. We explore the various ways we raise this topic with our clients in coaching contexts, discuss how we bring acceptance to life in our own lives, and share some simple tips on how to develop this skill in your own life. Do get in touch with your questions and comments - we love to hear from our listeners. You can email us: podcast at worklifepsych dot com. Thanks for listening! Resources for this entire series on psychological flexibility can be found on this dedicated page on the WorkLifePsych website.
In this video, we continue our series focused on the skills that boost our Psychological Flexibility. This time round, Richard and Ross discuss the benefits of being clear on what really matter to us in life - our values. We look at what values are (and importantly, what they're not!), ways that we use values in our coaching practices with clients, and some simple ways to bring additional clarity to your own values. Remember, you can find all the resources for this series in one place, including all previous episodes, on the WorkLifePsych website: https://www.worklifepsych.com/PsychologicalFlexibility Thanks for listening!
In this second part of our series on how to develop your psychological flexibility, we look at the importance of being in the present moment, and minimising 'mental time-travel'. Richard and Ross look at some of the unhelpful ways our attention and focus are pulled from the here and now, along with some simple ways you can start to develop your capacity to just notice. We make the distinction between day-dreaming and all the benefits this can bring, and unwanted mental time-travel, where we can get taken to worrying imagined futures. It's the unwanted mental time-travel that takes us away from the present moment, and the opportunities for action it offers us. Don't forget, you can join us for a free online Q&A session on April 30th. Simply sign up for the WorkLifePsych online community to find all the details and RSVP for the event. It's free to join! All the resources for this series can be found at https://www.worklifepsych.com/psychologicalflexibility Thanks for listening!
We often talk about procrastination, but what exactly is it and how do you stop? In this episode, Richard distinguishes procrastination from laziness or busyness, and tells me that procrastination is about irrationally delaying something and with resultant consequences. Usually the cause is some sort of discomfort with the task required, and as a result we tell ourselves stories to try and justify to ourselves why we are not taking action. But we forget that sooner or later, the task will still need to be done. He advises people to notice when they find themselves in circumstances that lead to procrastination, to pause and notice what's going on (being honest with yourself), and then make a considered choice of what to do.Richard is a Chartered Psychologist and coach with over twenty years experience as a practitioner. He's the founder of WorkLifePsych, a team of accredited and experienced workplace psychologists, providing coaching and training to clients worldwide. He supports clients with their wellbeing, productivity and interpersonal effectiveness. He's also the host of the 'My Pocket Psych' podcast, all about the psychology of the workplace. You can connect with him on LinkedIn, and he has shared some practical resources for dealing with procrastination here.
Richard explores some of the stories we tell ourselves when we decide to procrastinate. The unhelpful, irrational stories that help us avoid some form of discomfort. In the next episode, we'll look at some simple things you can do to beat the procrastination habit. Full show notes for this episode are available at WorkLifePsych.com/podcast/141 Thanks for listening!
In this episode, we continue our focus on self-awareness and look at the power of journalling. Richard is joined by fellow psychologist Dr. Amy Redmond, author of ‘The Aha Journal'. Full show notes are available at WorkLifePsych.com/podcast/140 Thanks for listening!
In this episode, Richard and Pilar discuss some very common myths and misconceptions about coaching. Coaching is just about goals, right? And it's just a conversation. My coach will give me the advice I need! Just a few of the misconceptions we discuss. Get in touch with your own questions about coaching, or even some examples of coaching misconceptions you've come across. We love to hear from our listeners. Show notes for this episode are available at WorkLifePsych.com/podcast/131 Thanks for listening!
Welcome to another episode of 'My Pocket Psych', where Richard is joined by Dr. Rachael Skews. Rachael has just joined the WorkLifePsych team and discusses how she brings Acceptance and Commitment Theory (ACT) to life in her coaching practice. After discussing Rachael's career journey to date, Rachael and Richard discuss how different aspects within ACT support the coaching process and how it differs from 'traditional' goal-oriented coaching. They explore the benefits of values clarification, developing the ability to see thoughts for what they are, and taking meaningful action. Finally, they outline the free webinar about introducing coaching, scheduled for March 16th. Resources for this episode Rachael's online profile - https://www.worklifepsych.com/about-us/dr-rachael-skews/ Our page on Psychological Flexibility - https://www.worklifepsych.com/psychologicalflexibility Details of our free coaching webinar - https://www.worklifepsych.com/ConsideringCoaching
In this episode, Richard interviews Lucie Ilbury, an experienced occupational psychologist and member of the WorkLifePsych team. They explore the concept of derailment and the role that self-awareness plays in avoiding this very negative workplace outcome. While traditionally viewed as happening to the 'snakes in suits', derailment is much more complex and nunced and can occur due to a combination of personality, behavioural and systemic factors. Do get in touch with your follow-up questions: you can email us at: podcast at worklifepsych dot com, or send us a message on any of our social media accounts, including our new Facebook page: www.facebook.com/worklifepsychltd Thanks for listening! Resources for this episode Lucie Ilbury's online profile: https://www.worklifepsych.com/about-us/lucie-ilbury/
Welcome to episode 126, where Richard is joined by Dr. Sarah Strohmaier, an expert in the science of mindfulness. In this episode, they look at the practicalities of adopting mindfulness practices and how even very brief mindfulness exercises can be beneficial. Despite the term being over-hyped in recent times, the evidence for its impact is quite clear. They also discuss the upcoming masterclass Sarah is running for the WorkLifePsych online community. If you have follow-up questions, you can drop us an email: podcast at worklifepsych dot com Resources for this episode Follow Sarah on twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahstrohmaier Community Plus - our premium online personal development community: https://www.worklifepsych.com/communityplus 'First steps in mindfulness' community masterclass: https://www.worklifepsych.club/posts/28289941?utm_source=manual Blog post: 'Five common myths about mindfulness debunked' https://www.worklifepsych.com/five-common-myths-about-mindfulness-debunked/ Podcast episode: 'Does mindfulness work?' with Sarah Strohmaier https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/ep-085-does-mindfulness-work-with-sarah-strohmaier/ Podcast episode: Mindfulness interventions at work, with Antonia Dietmann https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/ep-075-mindfulness-interventions-at-work-with-antonia-dietmann/ Blog post: Mindfulness - how to avoid mental time-travel https://www.worklifepsych.com/mindfulness-how-to-avoid-mental-time-travel/ Blog post: Planning, predicting or playwriting? https://www.worklifepsych.com/planning-predicting-or-playwriting/
A very special episode! Richard and Pilar discuss the recent launch of the latest initiative from WorkLifePsych: Community Plus. It's the premium level membership of our existing WorkLifePsych online community and features a plethora of events to address all aspects of your personal development journey. In this episode, we look at why Richard launched it, who it's aimed at, and what you can expect from it. You can find out more by visiting worklifepsych.com/communityplus or, if you're already a member of our online community, just click on the 'Groups' menu and you'll see the Community Plus button. Please get in touch with your questions and comments - we love to hear from our listeners. You can message us on Twitter @MyPocketPstch or send us an email to podcast at worklifepsych dot com. Thanks for listening!
In this episode, Richard and Pilar look at the essentials of any productivity toolkit: a place to keep tasks, a place to keep track of commitments and a place to keep notes. With so many apps available, we'll look at some of our favourites and explain how they can support your productivity. They go from the totally free through to apps that need some investment. We'd love to hear about your productivity app recommendations and why they help you get your important stuff done. You can get in touch on Twitter @MyPocketPsych or send us an email at podcast at WorkLifePsych dot com. Thanks for listening! Resources mentioned in this episode Task management apps Apple Reminders: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reminders/id1108187841 "How to level up Apple Reminders": https://youtu.be/qwM8TlR8fk0 Todoist: https://todoist.com Things 3: https://culturedcode.com/things/ Microsoft ToDo: https://todo.microsoft.com/tasks/ Omnifocus: https://www.omnigroup.com/omnifocus/ Trello: https://trello.com Remarkable tablet: https://remarkable.com Calendar apps Apple's calendar app: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/calendar/welcome/mac Google Calendar: https://www.google.com/calendar/about/ Microsoft Outlook: https://outlook.live.com/owa/ Fantastical: https://flexibits.com/fantastical Schedule Once: https://www.oncehub.com You can book me: https://youcanbook.me Blog post about the Eisenhower matrix: https://www.worklifepsych.com/whats-the-difference-between-urgent-and-important/ Notes apps Microsoft OneNote: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/microsoft-365/onenote/digital-note-taking-app Apple Notes: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/notes/id1110145109 Google Keep: https://www.google.com/keep/ Evernote: https://evernote.com Craft Docs: https://www.craft.do Bear Notes: https://bear.app Zoho notebooks: https://www.zoho.com/notebook/ Pocket: https://getpocket.com/
Welcome to episode 117, where we take a look at the importance of rest - for our productivity, our effectiveness and our wellbeing. It's easy to take it for granted and ‘squeeze' if in where we can. But being intentional about rest and breaks from work can pay dividends. Rest isn't optional, it isn't the last thing we should think of. Or only consider when we're too tired to continue or when everything else on our todo list is done. Rest doesn't have to mean sleep, either. We can take a break from work activities and engage intentionally with leisure activities. Going for a walk. Gardening. Reading. The bottom line is that we need to prioritise rest as we do everything else we hold as important. Making space and time for rest allows us to flourish in the other domains of life. We'd love to hear how you take breaks and what rest looks like to you. Contact us on Twitter (@MyPocketPsych) or send us an email: podcast at WorkLifePsych dot com). Thanks for listening! Resources for this episode Shane O'Mara's book “In Praise of Walking” - https://amzn.to/3vVtO6W Community post about the importance of rest - https://www.worklifepsych.club/posts/24498264?utm_source=manual Link to Claudia Hammond's book - ”The Art of Rest” - https://amzn.to/3BUhIP6 Link to episode on fresh starts - https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/096/ Join our online community here: https://www.worklifepsych.club
Welcome to episode 115, where we take an introductory look at the concept of Personal Knowledge Management. This concept has evolved in response to the very real contemporary experience of information overload. When knowledge workers globally are inundated with information from the moment they wake up, how do we decide what to pay attention to? What should we keep for later? And how can we overcome the limitations of our memories, to ensure we can use this knowledge at a later date? Richard and Pilar take a look at the core ideas of knowledge management, how it can be helpful and how you can make a start. We'd love to hear how you address this challenge and how you deal with the ‘firehose of information' that comes your way each day. Send us a message on Twitter or drop us an email (podcast at WorkLifePsych dot com). We always love to hear from our listeners. Thanks for listening! Resources mentioned in this episode: ‘Building a Second Brain' - Tiago Forte: https://www.waterstones.com/book/building-a-second-brain/tiago-forte/9781800812215 Readwise - https://readwise.io Obsidian notes app - https://obsidian.md
Welcome to the latest episode, where Richard and Pilar discuss delegation and the obstacles we need to deal with. While we might rationally understand the need for, and benefits of, delegation - lots of things can get in the way. Whether it's our beliefs about delegation, our workload, the competence of others or fear about it all going wrong - there's a lot we can do to cultivate a delegation habit and start to enjoy its benefits. If you've enjoyed this episode, let us know! And if you have questions about delegation, get in touch, You can email us at: podcast at worklifepsych dot com, send us a message on Twitter (@MyPocketPsych) or even leave us a voicemail. We love to hear from our listeners. Thanks for listening! Resources mentioned in this episode The WorkLifePsych online community: https://www.worklifepsych.club Our effectiveness training courses: https://www.worklifepsych.com/solutions/effectiveness/effectiveness-courses/
Hello and welcome to episode 110 of my pocket psych, the podcast all about the psychology of the workplace. In this episode, we take a look at the concept of coping. Simply put, this is any of the things that we do in response to challenges, setbacks and adversity. Sometimes we use coping strategies and techniques intentionally. We decide to respond in a particular way. And sometimes the ways we cope with things going wrong are automatic, not really part of our conscious awareness. It's important to know that not every way that we try to cope with challenges it's going to help us. Indeed, some ways of coping may actually make the problem worse. In this episode we take a look at how we can make sense of coping, and how we can cultivate new healthy and sustainable coping strategies. Resources mentioned in this episode WorkLifePsych online community: worklifepsych.club Our April meet-up, on self-limiting beliefs: https://www.worklifepsych.club/posts/21632077?utm_source=manual
Welcome to episode 108 of My Pocket Psych, where we take a look at some of the ways we've tripped ourselves up when it comes to productivity. Richard and Pilar take a look back at the lessons they've learned about getting stuff done in their careers and how it made a difference. Public humiliation aside (!!) we want to illustrate that knowing isn't enough - we have to put our knowledge to use and practical application. We'd love to know what kind of journey you've been on when it comes to your personal development. What unhelpful habits have you dropped? What are you still wrestling with? You can let us know on twitter (@MyPocketPsych), by email (podcast at worklifepsych dot com) or by leaving us a voicemail. . And of course, don't forget that WorkLifePsych Club is our free online community where the focus is definitely on personal development. You can join us there to continue this conversation. Thanks for listening! Resources mentioned in this episode: Worklifepsych.club - our online personal development community Worklifepsych's productivity page - our approach to productivity at work
Welcome to episode 103, where we take a look at personality - and the double-edged sword that comes with measuring it. While it's great to build our understanding of our personality, the tool used, the way it's used and the quality of the information shared from it can all combine to make the experience sub-optimal. There's a big difference between the kind of personality ‘quiz' you take online for entertainment and the scientifically rigorous assessment you'll complete at work. But some less rigorous ones do make it into the workplace, and even the best assessments can be mis-applied. We can also over-simplify what comes out of a personality assessment - and these over-simplified models can take the form of self-limiting beliefs. Our main message? View personality assessment as a starting point for your development, not a fence you need to stay behind. We're all much more complex and interesting than a series of points on a graph! We'd love to know what you think of personality assessment at work. Have you found it useful? Did it support your self-awareness and development? Get in touch via Twitter (@MyPocketPsych), email (podcast at worklifepsych dot com) or leave us a voicemail (https://camflare.io/studio/61308a654fd12/) Resources mentioned in this episode: 'What is coaching?' video on WorkLifePsych.tv: https://youtu.be/-2GBZ-PEEtY Link to Blog post about new year's resolutions: https://www.worklifepsych.com/coursecorrection/ Episode 096 about fresh starts: https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/096/
Welcome to the final episode in our series all about coaching. This time, Pilar and Richard look at the role of managers in coaching and how they themselves can coach their team members. In some ways it's more difficult than being an external coach and requires a lot of objectivity and focus from the managers. But it pays off in the long term. We're rapidly approaching our 100th episode and we'd love to hear from you. What questions do you have about any of the topics we've covered? How have you put what you've learnt into practice? What are your most favourite episodes or topics? Get in touch on Twitter @MyPocketPsych, leave us a message on our. contact form at worklifepsych.com/contact or, leave us a quick voicemail via this new link: https://camflare.io/studio/61308a654fd12/ Resources mentioned in this episode Coaching with WorkLifePsych: worklifepsych.com/coaching WorkLifePsych Effectiveness courses, including coaching skills training: https://www.worklifepsych.com/solutions/effectiveness/effectiveness-courses/ Ep 094: Coaching for effectiveness: https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/094/ Ep 093: Coaching for wellbeing: https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/093/ Ep 092: Coaching for productivity: https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/092/ Ep 091: Common coaching pitfalls: https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/91/ Ep 090: How to approach coaching: https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/90/
This latest episode in our series on coaching looks at how coaching can support the key interpersonal skills and attitudes to support our effectiveness at work. Pilar and Richard look at the topics that come up in effectiveness-related coaching contexts and the ways in which these translate into performance at work. In a future episode, we'll answer all your questions about coaching, so please get in touch with anything you've always wanted to ask. Either on Twitter or on our contact form. Thanks for listening! Resources mentioned in this episode Coaching with WorkLifePsych: https://www.worklifepsych.com/coaching Ep 090: How to approach coaching - https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/90/ Ep 091: Common coaching pitfalls to avoid - https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/91/ Ep 092: Coaching for productivity - https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/092/ Ep 093: Coaching for wellbeing - https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/093/
In this fourth episode of our latest series on coaching, Richard and Pilar look at a very important topic: how coaching can support our wellbeing. We explore some of the common wellbeing topics, as well as how an ACT perspective can help coachees make the changes they really value. Resources mentioned in this episode: Coaching with WorkLifePsych: https://www.worklifepsych.com/coaching Ep065: Employee wellbeing with Dr. Kevin Teoh: https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/ep-065-employee-wellbeing-with-dr-kevin-teoh/ Ep018: The importance of sleep: https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/ep-018-wellbeing-the-importance-of-sleep/
In this second part of our latest coaching series, we look at some of the common pitfalls that coaches and coachees can encounter when working together. Pilar and Richard look at the importance of taking time to reflect between sessions, of honesty and openness and of being clear on the coaching focus. If you have questions about coaching, we'd love to hear from you. We'll be addressing listeners' questions in a later episode of this series, so either message us on Twitter or send a long note via our contact form at WorkLifePsych.com/contact. Resources mentioned in this episode Episode 090: How to approach coaching: https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/90/ What is coaching? Getting unstuck: https://www.worklifepsych.com/what-is-coaching-getting-unstuck/ Coaching with WorkLifePsych: https://www.worklifepsych.com/coaching
Welcome to episode 88 (a pleasingly round number), where Pilar and Richard take a look at email and how it's so easy to mis-use. There are heaps of traps we can fall into when it comes to email and the resulting chaos in our in-boxes can be stressful and take us away from our real priorities. Our core message is to examine your automatic behaviour when it comes to email and explore other ways you can respond to that 'ping'. Resources mentioned 'A world without email' by Cal Newport: https://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Without-Email-Reimagining-Overload-ebook/dp/B08DTRMBZ3/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+world+without+email&qid=1622107063&sr=8-1 Schrodinger's email blog post: https://www.worklifepsych.com/schrodingers-email-using-your-technology-with-intention/ The WorkLifePsych online community: https://www.worklifepsych.club
Welcome to episode 87, where Richard is joined by fellow occupational psychologist, James Beevers. They take a look at an important workplace topic: our tendency to sometimes overplay our strengths. James outlines his own background and interests, before explaining how overplayed strengths can manifest, and what we can do about it. Many thanks to James for his time and expertise. Resources mentioned in this episode James Beevers on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-beevers-38a9545/ WorkLifePsych.club: https://www.worklifepsych.club
Welcome to episode 85, which is all about mindfulness. Richard is joined by Sarah Strohmaier, a mindfulness researcher, who helps us bust a few myths and misunderstandings about the topic. Sarah’s research has looked at the impact of mindfulness in the workplace and she makes a very clear case for the ‘little and often’ approach. And don’t forget, Sarah will be joining us at our next WorkLifePsych community meet-up on April 28th. Completely free, but you’ll need to join our community at www.worklifepsych.club Resources mentioned in this episode: www.worklifepsych.club - our online community Sarah’s Twitter profile: https://twitter.com/sarahstrohmaier Sarah’s page at Canterbury Christ Church University: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/science-engineering-and-social-sciences/psychology-and-life-sciences/psychology/phd-profiles/sarah-strohmaier.aspx Sarah’s paper on the effect of mindfulness practice length: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-020-01512-5 www.worklifepsych.club - our online community Sarah’s Twitter profile: https://twitter.com/sarahstrohmaier Sarah’s page at Canterbury Christ Church University: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/science-engineering-and-social-sciences/psychology-and-life-sciences/psychology/phd-profiles/sarah-strohmaier.aspx Sarah’s paper on the effect of mindfulness practice length: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-020-01512-5
Welcome to episode 083, where we turn our attention to workplace wellbeing, joined once again by Dr. Kevin Teoh. Richard and Kevin explore why organisations sometimes focus on the wrong thing when it comes to wellbeing at work and make some simple recommendations on how to get the basics right. Thanks to Kevin for his time and expertise! Resources mentioned in this episode Dr. Kevin Teoh's online profile: https://www.bbk.ac.uk/our-staff/profile/8007522/kevin-teoh Dr. Kevin Teoh on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevinteohrh HSE Management Standards: https://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/standards/ WorkLifePsych's Wellbeing Services: https://www.worklifepsych.com/wellbeing Workplace wellbeing: Get the basics right https://www.worklifepsych.com/workplace-wellbeing-get-the-basics-right/
Welcome to episode 082, where we explore how our sometimes automatic use of technology can prevent us from being our best selves. We look at how a more intentional relationship with our technology can free up time, attention and energy for the activities that are more aligned with our values. Richard and Pilar discuss the 'stickiness' of certain social media apps and how sometimes, reaching for a device is our way of avoiding something uncomfortable. We look at ways to break this habit (if you want to!) from both a tactical and a more strategic perspective. If you have any tips you'd like to share with our listeners about cultivating a more intentional relationship with technology, do get in touch! And, of course, we'd love to continue the conversation with our listeners over at WorkLifePsych.club, our free online community all about personal development. Resources mentioned in this episode WorkLifePsych.club - our free online community: https://www.worklifepsych.com/announcing-worklifepsych-club/ How to make your iPhone less of a distraction (Tom Frankly): https://youtu.be/Idh24Mc72mg Tony Crabbe's book: Busy: How to Thrive in a World of Too Much
Brought to you by Virtual Not Distant (https://virtualnotdistant.com) in London, in today's "what's going on?" series Pilar Orti and Maya Middlemiss discuss: 02:08 The state of remote work right now Pandemic working is not remote working But this wasn’t what I meant, when I said working from home was great! Older employees are adapting to remote work better than younger workers 17.10 Location independent lifestyle Hawaii's Remote Work Program Comes With Free Flights Repeople (Nomad City) 23.38 New tech for remote ‘Moodbeam’: A wristband that tells your boss if you are unhappy. The Future Of Trello Is On The Horizon: Take a Sneak Peek and Going Beyond The Board: A Whole New Trello Is Here. Healthy Happy Homeworking mailing list: Don't be a Zoom Zombie!) The launch of Microsoft Viva - the 'employee experience platform'. 45.37 Virtual not Distant news A LinkedIn discussion which became a blog post, Making the Most of Virtual Facilitation: Using the Asynchronous Space Maya's community for homeworkers: Healthy Happy Homeworking Facebook group, Richard MacKinnon's WorkLifePsych.club These are not Virtual Not Distant communities, but we’re always listening to you too.
Welcome to episode 81 of My Pocket Psych, where we explore the topic of boundary management when working from home. It can be tough to navigate the boundaries of our personal and professional lives at the best of times, but working from home can bring some additional complications. In this episode, we look at the role of pragmatism and flexibility, how physical boundaries can be helpful and how interdependence with colleagues shouldn’t be forgotten. If you’re home-working - permanent or occasional - let us know how you manage your personal boundaries. Send us a message on Twitter @MyPocketPsych, or a longer message on our contact form at worklifepsych.com/contact And of course, you can now join WorkLifePsych.club and join the discussion there! Resources mentioned in this episode: WorkLifePsych.club - www.worklifepsych.club Interview with Dr. Ciara Kelly - https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/ep-080-leisure-rest-and-recovery-when-working-from-home/ My interview for Yahoo Finance on Asynchronous Interviews: https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/work-career-asynchronous-video-interviews-jobs-employees-skills-003207114.html BBC news article on wristband: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55637328
Welcome to this latest episode in our series all about working from home. Richard is joined by Dr. Ciara Kelly, and they discuss the role of leisure, rest, hobbies and recovery when it comes to work in general and working from home specifically. We'd love to hear how you're using your leisure time and if the present pandemic situation has changed any of this for you. Do get in touch via Twitter @MyPocketPsych or via the contact page on our website: https://www.worklifepsych.com/contact Resources mentioned in this episode: WorkLifePsych.club - https://www.worklifepsych.club Dr. Ciara Kelly - https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/management/people/academic-staff/ciara-kelly
Welcome to the second episode in our series on effective working from home. This time, we turn our attention to the importance of maintaining a focus on our physical wellbeing - something that can sometimes get lost in the focus on other aspects of this working from home experience. We look at the role of safe and ergonomic workstations, of rests and break, of physical movement and exercise and of course sleep and diet. Do please get in touch with your questions and comments, via Twitter (@MyPocketPsych) or our contact page at WorkLifePsych.com/contact. Thanks for listening! Resources mentioned in this episode Using the Narita Express train as a flexible workplace: https://soranews24.com/2020/11/25/tired-of-teleworking-from-home-get-a-change-of-atmosphere-by-working-in-an-express-train/ Our Wellbeing Essentials webinars: https://www.worklifepsych.com/solutions/wellbeing/wellbeing-courses/#wellbeing-essentials HSE protecting homeworkers toolkit: https://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/workers/home.htm
Welcome to episode 76 and the start of our new series focusing on working from home. Each episode will look at the experience from a different perspective, offering insight to individuals, managers and organisational leaders. Do get in touch with your working from home questions, either on Twitter (@MyPocketPsych) or the contact form on our website (WorkLifePsych.com/contact). Resources mentioned in this episode: Richard's interview with Shield GEO about overwork: https://shieldgeo.com/how-to-manage-overwork-stress-and-work-life-balance-within-remote-teams/ Richard's interview with the World of Work podcast all about procrastination: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/procrastination-w-dr-richard-mackinnon/id1446563591?i=1000497718219 Psychological Flexibility training: https://www.worklifepsych.com/psychologicalflexibility
In this episode, Richard is once again flying solo, looking at the topic of life after coaching ends. It's crucial that coach and coachee are clear on the finite nature of the coaching relationship and that the coach does what they can to reduce the chance of dependency on coaching. Richard explores what that can look like and what kinds of skills coachees can apply to other contexts once they've finished coaching. Please do get in touch with your questions and comments about coaching, especially if you're thinking of working with a coach or indeed, you are a coach and want to add to our perspective. Resources mentioned in this episode: Episode 67 - What to expect from coaching: https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/ep-067-what-to-expect-from-coaching/ Episode 68 - How to get the most from coaching: https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/ep-68-how-to-get-the-most-from-coaching/ WorkLifePsych approach to coaching: https://www.worklifepsych.com/coaching
Welcome to this special episode all about working from home during this global health crisis. The Coronavirus represents an unprecedented challenge to how we live our lives, so Richard and Pilar look at both the wider context and some tips for successfully navigating working at home with others - all while managing life's other roles. We hope that all our listeners remain well and we thank you for your continued support. please get in touch with your questions and suggestions via Twitter or our contact page: WorkLifePsych.com/contact
Welcome to episode 51 and we return to the topic of task management covered in episode 49. This time, Richard and Pilar look at the different factors to take into account when selecting a task management app. There are so many of them out there, it can be an exercise in confusion! Also covered in this episode, Richard’s involvement in the recent Dropbox Connect event in London and a discussion on the use of ‘teletherapy’ to combat workplace burnout. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, whether it’s your first or your fifty-first, do leave us some feedback and rate us on iTunes. You can get in touch with us via Twitter @MyPocketPsych or leave a longer message via Worklifepsych.com/contact. We welcome all feedback, suggestions and questions. Resources covered in this episode: DropBox Connect event: https://dropboxconnect.co.uk Teletherapy on the rise: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/10/teletherapy-on-the-rise-as-employees-try-to-cope-with-247-workday.html?__source=twitter%7Cmain How to choose a task management app: https://www.worklifepsych.com/how-to-choose-a-task-management-app/
Welcome to episode 49, where we take a look at why it can be useful, but difficult, to look at our jobs as a series of tasks. We explore why it’s crucial to distinguish between tasks ands projects and how to deal with those pesky tasks that keep re-appearing on your to-do list. We’ve all got them, right? As ever, we love to hear from our listeners, so let us know how you manage your tasks and what works for you. You can send us your questions and comments via Twitter @MyPocketPsych or via our comments form at WorkLifePsych.com/contact Thanks for listening! Resources mentioned in this episode: Productivity news - A distraction-free iPhone home screen: https://thesweetsetup.com/nick-sweetmans-distraction-free-home-screen/ Wellbeing news - Pilar's interview with WorkingMum's website: https://www.workingmums.co.uk/mentally-healthy-remote-working/ - NewScientist on the health benefits of napping: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23030750-800-how-can-i-nap-like-a-pro/?utm_medium=SOC&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1568105594 The challenges of task management - How to deal with tasks that keep re-appearing on your task list: https://www.worklifepsych.com/the-mystery-of-the-re-appearing-task/
Welcome to episode 48, where we’re once again joined by Paul Smith from Wise Amigo. We discuss both digital and analogue approaches to managing your personal development and how a simple piece of paper can be a valuable development tool. Do let us know what you think about analogue and digital approaches, your preferred method and why it works for you. You can tweet us @MyPocketPsych or send us a longer message via WorkLifePsych.com/contact Thanks for listening! Resources mentioned in this episode: Productivity news https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/aug/05/eight-hacks-my-quest-to-be-more-productive?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Writers' procrastination: https://writershelpingwriters.net/2019/10/writerly-procrastination-why-it-happens-how-to-break-free-of-it/ Wellbeing news iOS31 includes trend data on you health metrics - more useful than absolute figures? https://www.macrumors.com/guide/health/ 7th to 11th Oct is National work-life week - https://www.workingfamilies.org.uk/campaigns/national-work-life-week/ (important to keep the focus going all year round) Interview with Paul Smith WiseAmigo: https://www.wiseamigo.com WiseAmigo in the app store: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/wiseamigo/id1221375911 Paul Smith on Twitter: https://twitter.com/paulsmithie
Welcome to episode 47 of My Pocket Psych, where we explore the impact of using analogue tools in a digital work. Why Do some people prefer to use pen and paper when there are a range of digital alternatives? Which works best? In which contexts? Also, Richard reviews 'The Bullet Journal' - an approach to using notebooks to manage focus, productivity and wellbeing. Resources mentioned in this episode: WorkLifePsych’s 5th Birthday: https://www.worklifepsych.com/five-years-in/ Wellbeing news Stop keeping your phone by your bed: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/aug/25/my-life-better-stopped-keeping-phone-by-bed The efficacy of smartphone based therapy interventions: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wps.20673#.XXZJ-OJyZZw.twitter Effectiveness news DropboxConnect: https://dropboxconnect.co.uk TUC research into the availability of flexible working arrangements: https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/news/articles/most-staff-say-flexible-working-not-available Shake Shack in Las Vegas trialing 4-day weeks for managers: https://www.nrn.com/fast-casual/shake-shack-tests-four-day-workweek-managers Productivity news Apple's new Reminders App coming on Sept 19th: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205890 Analogue in a digital world Students seem to prefer pen and paper: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/pen-and-paper-beats-computers-retaining-knowledge#survey-answer Are we more likely to lie in email than in a handwritten note? https://digest.bps.org.uk/2010/04/08/people-lie-more-in-email-than-when-using-pen-and-paper/ Writing vs laptops in academic settings: https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/sites.udel.edu/dist/6/132/files/2010/11/Psychological-Science-2014-Mueller-0956797614524581-1u0h0yu.pdf A replication study that contradicts the 2014 study: https://www.learningscientists.org/blog/2019/2/21-1 Benefits of the approach - writing vs keyboard: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110119095458.htm The Bullet Journal Method: http://www.bulletjournal.com
Welcome to Episode 46, where we take a look at the last five years of WorkLifePsych. Pilar gets to ask Richard everything she ever wanted to know about him and Richard just about manages to talk about himself (for a change!). We also look at a recent productivity workshop Richard ran in Dublin, the benefits of developing focus on the task at hand and highlight the benefits of…walking. Again, sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to WorkLifePsych's success these past five years: clients, colleagues, friends and family. It's been a blast! If you have follow-up questions or comments, including suggestions for future topics, tweet us @MyPocketPsych or send us a longer message via worklifepsych.com/contact. We always love to hear from our listeners. And with our 50th episode fast approaching, get in touch with your feedback on how you've used what you've learnt from previous episodes. Get in touch to tell us what's been useful and what you've put into practice. Use the hashtag #MPP50 on social media so we can find you! Resources mentioned in this episode Productivity News Ep 046 ‘My phone! Where’s my phone?"https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/ep045-my-phone-wheres-my-phone/ Mind2.0 podcast about 'Deep Work' with Cal Newport: https://pca.st/1Z7YoG Pillars of Productivity workshop: https://www.worklifepsych.com/pillarsofproductivity/ Effectiveness News Coach on Campus: https://www.worklifepsych.com/coachoncampus/ Wellbeing News 'In Praise of Walking' by Prof Shane O’Mara: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Praise-Walking-science-walk-good/dp/1847925014/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22FYPIRH9UFXT&keywords=in+praise+of+walking&qid=1567151441&s=gateway&sprefix=in+praise%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-1) ‘Work fuel with Collette Heneghan’: https://pca.st/episode/3af43393-acd9-4ee0-8959-fd23f778068d
This podcast came about after I was listening to Richard MacKinnon’s podcast ‘My Pocket Psych’ which resonates 100% with me. We met and discussed coaching and how one wants to live one’s life passion. He set up his own company 5 years ago, Worklifepsych and hasn't looked back. I am setting up my own coaching and consulting business, Ballueder Partners, as my main occupation. Being a coach based on 15+ years experience gives you credibility in terms of what you do, and we further discuss, how this helps others to become successful and achieve their dreams. That's what life is all about. I was particularly impressed when we discussed what it means to be successful for Richard. We went deep into psychology and motivational theories around values, avoiding discomfort and how to live in the here and now, rather than being too future focused. We even get some time at the end discussing productivity tools, and below is a link to a blogpost he wrote on how to choose a task management app. For me this was a great discussion, just at the right time as I start formalising my coaching business and taking on first clients to be coached. Thank you Richard for being my guest, and if you want to find out more about him, please follow any of the links below. Twitter @WorkLifePsych @Dr_MacKinnon Web Worklifepsych: https://www.worklifepsych.com Trusted Coach Directory: https://trustedcoachdirectory.com/coach/executive-coach--london-dublin--richard-mackinnon/ Content Psychological Flexibility: https://www.worklifepsych.com/psychologicalflexibility The role of values: https://www.worklifepsych.com/getting-clear-on-values/ Avoiding discomfort: https://www.worklifepsych.com/avoiding-discomfort-the-comfort-trap/ How to choose a task management app: https://www.worklifepsych.com/how-to-choose-a-task-management-app/ This podcast is hosted by Volker Ballueder (Ballueder Partners), a coach, consultant and growth expert – he also wrote a book on productivity and life improvement #BeBetter. In 2019 he will publish another book based on his successful podcast Stories of Success, so stay tuned. If you are interested in being coached by Volker Ballueder or you are interested in discussing consulting work, please reach out to him via email! Check out the new episode of Stories Of Success podcast!
Welcome to episode 41 of My Pocket Psych. In this episode, Richard and Pilar ask the fundamental question: does coaching work? And as you might imagine, it's not a yes/no answer. We also cover wellbeing, productivity and effectiveness news and reflect on what a positive coaching experience is really about. Resources covered in this episode: Productivity news: - Psychology for Business meetup in Dublin: https://www.meetup.com/Psychology-for-Business/ Wellbeing news: - WorkLifePsych wellbeing training courses, including 'Resilience 101': http://www.worklifepsych.com/solutions/wellbeing/wellbeing-courses/ - Stress at work linked to poor management: https://www.hrreview.co.uk/hr-news/rise-in-stress-at-work-linked-to-poor-management-new-research-finds - It Doesn't Have to be Crazy at Work by Jason Fried: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0008323445/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_9g29CbT5GWXZ0 - Screen use and sleep in teenagers, The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/may/20/limiting-screen-use-may-improve-teenagers-sleep-blue-light?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Effectiveness news: - The latest episode of WorkLife with Adam Grant covers some really common myths and fads in the workplace. A great episode for non-psychologists to hear some critique of common misunderstandings: https://pca.st/E3EP Pilar recommends Zig Zag: https://pca.st/episode/91404aee-cf10-4128-9b0a-3a3787961ff9 Does coaching work? - Science for Work summary of the evidence for workplace coaching: https://scienceforwork.com/blog/workplace-coaching-success/
Welcome to final episode in our series on the 'Pillars of Productivity'. This time, we look at the role of Pragmatism. This represents the helpful flexibility that's required when we face changes to our plan or working in a way that we don't believe suits us. It therefore needs to live in harmony with the structures and processes we've created for ourselves. Resources mentioned in this episode: Productivity news: Our 'Pillars of Productivity' training is available in-person and via self-directed learning route. You can find out all about it at WorkLifePsych.com/pillarsofproductivity Wellbeing news: The 'Personal Development at Work' Meetup page can be found at https://www.meetup.com/Personal-Development-at-Work/ Our last meetup was all about building personal resilience. Effectiveness news: You can find out all about 'Coach on Campus' at: https://www.worklifepsych.com/coachoncampus
Welcome to episode 38, where we look at another of our principles of Productivity. This time, our attention turns to the role of Persistence - keeping going when we’re faced with discomfort, challenges and setbacks. It’s another episode without Pilar, but I’m delighted to be joined by Paul Smith from WiseAmigo. Paul is a fellow psychologist and the founder of an app and system to support personalised development planning and tracking. As ever, ‘My Pocket Psych’ is brought to you by the development experts at WorkLifePsych. To learn more about we can help you and your organisation with coaching, training and development, visit us at worklifepsych.com. To send us feedback or questions, simply message us on Twitter @MyPocketPsych or send us a longer message via the form at worklifepsych.com/contact. Thanks for listening! Resources mentioned: Wellbeing news Dr. John O'Reilly, sleep medicine specialist (HR Review, April 5th 2019): What wellbeing programmes should address sleep. https://www.hrreview.co.uk/analysis/john-oreilly-why-wellbeing-programmes-should-address-sleep/115611 Productivity news My ‘Pillars of Productivity’ event in Dublin, May 14th, at PSI Headquarters. 6:15pm start. https://www.psychologicalsociety.ie/event/Pillars-of-Productivity Effectiveness news David D'Souza, Feb 2019: The thought-terminating cliches of work: https://daviddsouza.com/2019/02/25/the-thought-terminating-cliches-of-work/ Interview with Paul Smith WiseAmigo: www.wiseamigo.com Our ‘Personal Development at Work’ meetup: https://www.meetup.com/Personal-Development-at-Work/ Episode 012 with Paul: https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/ep-012-consulting-a-wise-amigo/
Welcome to episode 37, where we look at the role of our individual differences in what makes us productive. In terms of the ‘Pillars of Productivity’ we’ve been examining over the last few episodes, this is represented by the principle called ‘Perspectives’. This is all about self-awareness - knowing how we’re likely to approach work and respond to events in our environment - and awareness of others when we work with them interdependently. As few people work completely independently, it’s key that we consider the needs and perspectives of others if we’re going to work productively with them. In this episode, Pilar and Richard review some recent news items, explore some recent workshops Richard ran in Dublin and outline what this principle of ‘Perspectives’ really means. Then, in an interview with occupational psychologist Justin McNamara, we look at personality in a bit more detail and explore how we can learn more about what makes us - and others - tick. As ever, ‘My Pocket Psych’ is brought to you by the development experts at WorkLifePsych. To learn more about we can help you and your organisation with coaching, training and development, visit us at worklifepsych.com. To send us feedback or questions, simply message us on Twitter @MyPocketPsych or send us a longer message via the form at worklifepsych.com/contact. Thanks for listening! Resources mentioned: Productivity news The ‘Personal Development at Work’ meetup: https://www.meetup.com/Personal-Development-at-Work/ Wellbeing news BPS Digest piece on mindfulness: https://digest.bps.org.uk/2019/03/19/episode-15-is-mindfulness-a-panacea-or-overhyped-and-potentially-problematic/ Interview with Justin McNamara Justin’s online profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinmcnamara/ ‘Don’t fence me in’ blog post: https://www.worklifepsych.com/dont-fence-me-in/
Welcome to another episode of ‘My Pocket Psych’, where this time we discuss: talking to your to-do list, keeping digital notes, welcoming a four-day week and how flexible working arrangements can reinforce gender stereotypes. Whew! All that and a look at the importance of a mindful focus on our tasks to support productivity. We'd love to hear about your productivity challenges or your tips for getting more of the right stuff done. And when it comes to the principle of presence, what interferes with your focus? What distracts you? You can tweet us your thoughts or questions @MyPocketPsych or send us a longer message via the contact page on WorkLifePsych.com 'My Pocket Psych' is brought to you by the development specialists at WorkLifePsych. We work at the intersection of wellbeing, productivity and professional effectiveness, providing coaching, structured development and training. Find out more at WorkLifePsych.com Resources we mentioned in this episode: Productivity news 'The case for digital notes': https://evernote.com/blog/the-case-for-digital-notes/ Use Alexa to add tasks to ToDoist: https://youtu.be/UPTvLDUylQA Wellbeing news Wellcome Trust 4-day week: https://amp.theguardian.com/money/2019/jan/18/tgi-thursday-major-uk-employer-mulls-four-day-week Flexible working can reinforce gender stereotypes: https://theconversation.com/amp/flexible-working-can-reinforce-gender-stereotypes-109158 Effectiveness news The importance of trust in leadership when it comes to organisational change: https://scienceforwork.com/blog/trust-in-leadership-change/ Personal Development at work meetup: https://www.meetup.com/Personal-Development-at-Work/events/258786299/ Speaking at the CIPD Festival of Work in June (12/13): http://www.festivalofwork.com Presence and Psychological Flexibility The importance of Presence when it comes to productivity: https://www.worklifepsych.com/free-resources-on-psychological-flexibility/ https://www.worklifepsych.com/psychologicalflexibility
Welcome to a bumper episode of My Pocket Psych. We’ve got a great interview with psychologist Nicky Hemmings, reviewing the themes we’ve seen getting attention in 2018. Before that though, we have the announcement of our new website, some great listener feedback, thoughts on creating a productive 2019 and an update on where to find our show notes. Lots of links to external resources this episode, so enjoy the reading! Richard & Pilar’s conversation Our recent blogpost on Business Travel: Surviving Business Travel - WorkLifePsych Sign up for our newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/c8K5JP Interview with Nicky Hemmings (Part one) Nicky Hemmings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolahemmings Mental health Thriving at Work report: Thriving at Work: a review of mental health and employers Mental Health at Work: https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk Report on International Business Travel: https://www.kingston.ac.uk/news/article/2121/09-nov-2018-international-business-travel-increases-risk-taking-and-puts-strain-on-mental-health-research-from-kingston/ (And don’t forget we interviewed Dr. Rachel Lewis about this research in episode 29) WorkLifePsych’s Wellbeing Courses: https://www.worklifepsych.com/solutions/wellbeing/wellbeing-courses/ Flexible and Remote Working WorkLifePsych’s productivity Courses: https://www.worklifepsych.com/solutions/productivity/productivity-courses/ Our blog post about the CIPD Northern Ireland Conference: https://www.worklifepsych.com/astronauts-dinosaurs-and-neuroscience-101-in-belfast/ Sleep NHS How to Get to Sleep: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/how-to-get-to-sleep/ BITC Sleep and Recovery Toolkit: https://wellbeing.bitc.org.uk/all-resources/toolkits/sleep-and-recovery-toolkit Prof. Shane O’Mara: https://www.tcd.ie/Neuroscience/partners/PI%20Profiles/Shane_OMara2.php WorkLifePsych’s Wellbeing Courses: https://www.worklifepsych.com/solutions/wellbeing/wellbeing-courses/ Our new Personal Development at Work Meetup Sign up for the group here: https://www.meetup.com/Personal-Development-at-Work/
Welcome to episode 29 of 'My Pocket Psych'. This time round, we're focusing on business travel and how to survive it. Richard is joined by Dr. Rachel Lewis, whose research into the effects of business travel has recently been in the news. We discuss both why business travel can be bad for us, but also what we can do about it. Big thanks to Rachel for making the time to join us. Meanwhile, Richard shares his day at the CIPD Northern Ireland Conference in Belfast and we discuss our experience of developing a more mindful and aware relationship with our mobile devices. Resources mentioned in this episode: Dr. Rachel Lewis, Kingston Business School International SOS press release on the business travel research: 'Uncovered: the behavioural and psychological effects of international business travel' Psychological implications of business travel study report CIPD Northern Ireland Conference site Richard's blog post about the conference, 'Astronauts, Dinosaurs and Neuroscience 101 in Belfast'. 'My Pocket Psych' is brought to you by WorkLifePsych, the experts in people development. Let us know what you think about the show via Twiter @MyPocketPsych or on our contact form on the website.
Welcome to episode 28. This time, Richard and Pilar discuss how managers can be coaches in the workplace - what coaching demands of them and what kind of training and support they need. Essentially, managers can be great workplace coaches, but it requires them to get out of their comfort zone and from time to time, adopt a very different style. This can contribute to the development of a coaching culture, a theme we'll return to in a future episode. Managers who use a coaching approach also face unique challenges which are not necessarily shared by coaches who come from outside the organisation. We also discuss Richard's mindful trip to the dentist (!!!), recent events in Dublin and our upcoming refresh of the WorkLifePsych website. As ever, do get in touch with your questions or comments. You can use Twitter (@MyPocketPsych) or send us a message via our contact form at worklifepsych.com/contact My Pocket Psych is brought to you by WorkLifePsych, the development professionals. We provide coaching, training and structured development programmes to help individuals, teams and organisations develop productivity, wellbeing and professional effectiveness in the workplace. Find out more at www.worklifepsych.com Resources mentioned in this episode: The Irish International Business Network - https://www.iibn.com/about/ The Psychology for Business meetup, Dublin - https://www.meetup.com/Psychology-for-Business Blog post: 'Mindfulness: how to avoid mental time travel' - https://www.worklifepsych.com/wellbeing-2/mindfulness-how-to-avoid-mental-time-travel Podcast episode 004: 'Do I need a coach?' https://pca.st/kUIo
Welcome to episode 27 of My Pocket Psych, the podcast all about the psychology of the workplace! This time round, Richard and Pilar look at clearing up some misconceptions about coaching. We differentiate it from mentoring and psychotherapy and consider what you might want to look for in a prospective coach. We also chat about recent presentations Richard gave in Dublin and St. Andrews, plug is workshop at November’s CIPD Northern Ireland Conference. And of course, we discuss our challenge - using Apple’s Screentime functionality to see how we’re using our devices. Please get in touch with your questions about coaching and your own development, via either Twitter @MyPocketPsych) or our comments form (WorkLifePsych.com/contact). My Pocket Psych is brought to you by the development specialists at WorkLifePsych. We work at the intersection of wellbeing, productivity and professional effectiveness, providing coaching, structured development and training. Find out more at WorkLifePsych.com Resources mentioned: CIPD Northern Ireland Conference: https://events.cipd.co.uk/events/cipd-northern-ireland-annual-conference-2018/ Stress awareness week: https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/international-stress-awareness-week-2018/ My Pocket Psych episode 13: Stress at work: https://pca.st/4C3N Blog post: “Don’t try to be bullet proof - on honesty in coaching” https://www.worklifepsych.com/coaching/dont-try-to-be-bullet-proof-on-honesty-in-coaching/ Blog post: “Considering coaching? Five questions to think about before pressing ‘go’” https://www.worklifepsych.com/coaching/considering-coaching-five-questions-to-think-about-before-pressing-go/ What to expect from coaching: https://www.worklifepsych.com/coaching/what-to-expect-from-coaching/ BPS Register of coaching psychologists: https://www.bps.org.uk/lists/coach
Welcome to episode 26 of ‘My Pocket Psych’. This time round, Richard and Pilar discuss some recent news coverage about how we manage our ‘digital wellbeing’ and screen time and discussions about the benefits of a shorter working week. Do we really need a ‘mini phone’ to accompany our main phone? Do we need to spend less time in front of screens? And should we all be aiming for a four-day working week? We turn a critical eye on these stories and consider the importance of evidence as well as job design and cultural norms when it comes to work-life boundaries and working hours. Our shared challenge for next time is to review the Screentime function of your iPhone and share with us what kind of insight it’s giving you. Categories only - we don’t need to know how much time you’re spending on dating apps! As ever, let us know what you think about the episode - questions, comments and feedback about the challenge. You can send us something pithy via Twitter at @MyPocketPsych or something longer via the comments form at WorkLifePsych.com/contact If you're enjoying the podcast, please consider rating us on iTunes! ‘My Pocket Psych’ is brought to you by the development experts at WorkLifePsych - providers of coaching, training and development programmes. You can find out all about our development solutions by visiting WorkLifePsych.com. Thanks for listening! Resources covered this episode: Apple's new 'Screentime' functionality in iOS: https://support.apple.com/en-ie/HT208982 The new phone from Palm with a 'life mode': https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/15/17974850/new-palm-smartphone-android-lifemode-time-well-spent-verizon “Should work emails during commute should count as work?” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-45333270 “What would happen if we banned weekend work emails?” http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20180830-what-would-happen-if-we-banned-work-emails-at-the-weekend?ocid=ww.social.link.twitter Ellen Ernst Kossek's interview re technostress: https://takegiantleaps.com/technostress-management-establishing-work-life-boundaries-in-a-24-7-world/ The great episode of 'Reasons to be cheerful' all about working a four-day week: https://pca.st/0IN0
In this episode of 'My Pocket Psych' (our 25th!!!), Richard and Pilar discuss the factors that can hold us back from taking action on our own development. These include fear of discomfort, a tendency to procrastinate or a lack of clarity on what really matters to us. Our discussion is framed around three recent blog posts Richard wrote for the WiseAmigo blog. We also discuss Richard's visit to Bucharest, his terrible sleep habits and the new 'Coach on Campus' coaching proposition from WorkLifePsych. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback or questions, you can send us a message via WorkLifePsych.com/contact or on Twitter @MyPocketPsych. My Pocket Psych is presented by Dr. Richard MacKinnon and Pilar Orti and brought to you by the people development specialists at WorkLifePsych. To find out more about our coaching, training and development solutions, simply visit us at WorkLifePsych.com. Resources mentioned in this episode: The new 'Coach on Campus' solution from WorkLifePsych: https://www.worklifepsych.com/coaching/coach-on-campus/ Richard's posts on the WiseAmigo blog: https://blog.wiseamigo.com/taking-action-on-your-development-1/ Our podcast episode all about values (it starts with a discussion about work-life balance!): https://pca.st/2Ybj Our episode all about procrastination: https://pca.st/87Uk A blog post about Richard's presentation on skills for the future at the recent WiseAmigo event: https://blog.wiseamigo.com/future-of-work/
Welcome to episode 24! This time, Richard is joined by Dr. Amy Redmond, who is an expert in workplace innovation. We discuss how innovation is different to creativity and how to foster a culture of innovation in teams. If you'd like to know more about Amy and her work, you can follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AmyRedmond17 where she'd be delighted to answer your questions about this topic. My Pocket Psych is brought to you by WorkLifePsych, the experts in workplace development. You can find out all about our services at worklifepsych.com. If you have comments or questions about this episode, please get in touch - either via worklifepsych.com/contact or on twitter @MyPocketPsych. Thanks for listening!
In this episode, Richard and Pilar follow on from episode 21's discussion about flexible working arrangements. This time, the focus is on home working, whether it's an occasional thing or a regular fixture of your working life. How do you avoid the pitfalls and drawbacks of carving out a space in your home for your work life? We love to hear from our listeners, so please get in touch with your questions and comments via Twitter @MyPocketPsych or via with website: www.worklifepsych.com/contact 'My Pocket Psych' is brought to you by WorkLifePsych, the experts in people development. You can learn more about us at www.worklifepsych.com Episodes are presented by Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon and Pilar Orti. Thanks for listening! Resources mentioned this episode Our next challenge: improving your nighttime routine to get more and better sleep. Listen to episode 18 for some suggestions on what you can do and let us know how you get on! Our next PsychFlex 101 breakfast briefing takes place in London on Sept 19th. You can reserve a place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/psychflex-101-an-introduction-to-psychological-flexibility-tickets-46844339681 WiseAmigo's event on skills for the future workplace is in London on Sept 27th and you can reserve a free place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/future-of-work-developing-people-tickets-44974358517?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
In this week's (very hot and very sleep-deprived!!) episode of My Pocket Psych, Richard and Pilar turn their attention to flexible working, starting with the question "What exactly *is* flexible working?!" As it can take so many forms, we look clarify some of these and explain their benefits and impact, as well as looking at the concept from the perspective of individual employee, manager and organisation. It's a topic we'll definitely return to, so do get in touch with your questions! Further reading and resources: We reference the CIPD factsheet on flexible working, with you can find here: https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/fundamentals/relations/flexible-working/factsheet# You can find out all about the PsychFlex 101 taster event in London scheduled for September 19th via the Eventbrite page: http://worklifepsych.eventbrite.com Show-notes will also be posted on our new podcast site at: http://mypocketpsych.com My Pocket Psych is brought to you by WorkLifePsych, the experts in coaching, training and development. Each episode is co-hosted by Dr. Richard MacKinnon and Pilar Orti. If you have questions, comments or ideas for future episodes, get in touch via Twitter (@WorkLifePsych) or via our contact form worklifepsych.com/contact. Thanks for listening!
We're already halfway through 2018 - so how are you feeling about the goals you set for yourself at the start of the year? In this episode, Richard and Pilar explore the reasons why you mightn't have made as much progress on those goals as you would like, while suggesting some approaches you can take to move things forward. Other updates: Headspace is now available via Alexa: https://www.headspace.com/alexa The PsychFlex101 taster session in London on 19th Sept: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/psychflex-101-an-introduction-to-psychological-flexibility-tickets-46844339681 'My Pocket Psych' is brought to you by WorkLifePsych, the experts in people development. Each episode is presented by Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon and Pilar Orti.
In this episode, Richard and Pilar discuss the concept of the 'psychological contract' and its relevance to motivation, relationships and happiness at work. If you'd like to know more about the concept, you can visit: The CIPD factsheet on the topic - https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/fundamentals/relations/employees/psychological-factsheet And you can find out all about Denise Rousseau and the research she's carried out on this topic - https://www.heinz.cmu.edu/faculty-research/profiles/rousseau-denisem We mentioned the recent updates to iOS that allow users to track their usage (and that of their children). You can find out more here: https://www.apple.com/uk/ios/ios-12-preview/ 'My Pocket Psych' is brought to you by WorkLifePsych, the experts in people development. Each episode is presented by Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon and Pilar Orti.
In this episode, Richard & Pilar wrap up our focus on wellbeing with a discussion on the importance of sleep. It's something that we simply can't do without, yet many of us feel we're not getting enough. We look at the impact of sleep disturbance, along with what you can do to improve the quality of your own sleep. The books Richard mentioned - but for some reason, didn't make a note of when preparing for this episode! - are: - Dreamland: Adventures in the strange science of sleep, by David K. Randall - When: The scientific secrets of perfect timing, by Dan Pink And if you're interested in attending our upcoming Psychological Flexibility workshop in Dublin on June 25th, click here for more information: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/psychflex-101-workshop-an-introduction-to-psychological-flexibility-tickets-45720991717 'My Pocket Psych' is brought to you by the development experts at WorkLifePsych. Each episode is presented by Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon and Pilar Orti.
We continue our exploration of the theme of wellbeing, this time looking at the impact of being 'always on' - continually connected to work through technology. Richard and Pilar discuss the pros and cons of some approaches to managing our relationship with technology, after which, Richard interviews Laura Willis from Shine Offline. Laura works to help people develop a more effective and positive relationship with their information technology and describes how she came to set up the business and make some personal changes along the way. 'My Pocket Psych' is brought to you by WorkLifePsych, the experts in people development: coaching, training and structured development programmes. Each episode is presented by Dr. Richard MacKinnon, managing director of the business, along with Pilar Orti - an expert in remote and virtual work and founder of Virtual not Distant. You can find out about all the events, webinars and workshops we're running via http://worklifepsych.eventbrite.com, including our PsychFlex 101 workshops in London on June 11th and Dublin on June 25th.
This episode, we continue our look at wellbeing and discuss the role of values in a coaching context. Our discussion includes an interview with Dr. Rachael Skews from the Institute of Management Studies, Goldsmiths University of London, whose recent PhD examined the impact of coaching using a psychological flexibility model. We also outline our planned free webinars on Psychological Flexibility - you can reserve a place by clicking here - https://psychflex101.eventbrite.co.uk You can find out more about the Goldsmiths IMS at https://www.gold.ac.uk/institute-management-studies/ and follow Rachael on Twitter at http://twitter.com/RachaelSkews And if this is the first time you’ve listened to the podcast (welcome!), you can learn more about Psychological Flexibility by visiting our website and downloading our free guide - this can be found here: http://www.worklifepsych.com/psychologicalflexibility 'My Pocket Psych' is brought to you by WorkLifePsych, the experts in Coaching, Training and Development Programmes in the workplace. The podcast is presented by Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon, the managing director of WorkLifePsych and Pilar Orti. Thanks for listening!
Thanks for downloading the latest episode of 'My Pocket Psych'. This time, Richard is once again joined by Nicola Tatham, Occupational Psychologist and Psychotherapist. We look at the topic of stress at work, exploring what causes us to feel 'stressed' and the impact it has on us. We also look at what we can do about stress and suggest some changes you can make to how you cope with pressure at work. You can learn more about Nicola online via Twitter @Freedom_Nicola and via her website: Freedom Therapy. 'My Pocket Psych' is brought to you by WorkLifePsych, the experts in Coaching, Training and Development Programmes in the workplace. The podcast is presented by Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon, the managing director of WorkLifePsych and Pilar Orti.
In this episode of 'My Pocket Psych', we introduce a new segment to the show: Psychologists at Work. This is the first in a series of interviews with practicing occupational psychologists, exploring what they do for their clients and how they apply psychology in the workplace. Dr. Richard MacKinnon interviews Paul Smith, the founder of Wise Amigo, an app to help you plan your personal and professional development. Paul explains how he got into psychology, why he launched the app and how he thinks it can support its users. You can find out all about Wise Amigo via their website (https://www.wiseamigo.com), contact them via Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/wiseamigo) and access the app on the iTunes app store - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/wiseamigo/id1221375911?mt=8 'My Pocket Psych' is brought to you by WorkLifePsych, he experts in people development. We provide coaching, training and development programmes to clients all over the world supporting their productivity, effectiveness and wellbeing at work. To learn more, simply visit www.worklifepsych.com. Thanks for listening!
This episode sees us finishing our series on Productivity at work. Richard and Pilar look at the value of setting appropriate goals. We examine them in terms of how they can align with our values and our roles in life and their motivating impact. We look at what makes a 'good' goal and how you can find meaning in a goal that has been set for you by someone else. We end the episode by exploring some common productivity myths. We hope you've enjoyed this series and have found some practical tips and advice you can implement. Let us know how you're getting on via twitter (@WorkLifePsych) or via our website (www.worklifepsych.com/contact). Resources we mentioned: Blog post on productivity myths from Trello: https://blog.trello.com/5-common-productivity-myths-to-stop-believing?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=jan2018_newsletter1 Goal monitoring article from 'Science for Work': https://scienceforwork.com/blog/goal-monitoring/ 'My Pocket Psych' is brought to you by WorkLifePsych Ltd, experts in coaching, training and structured development programmes. The podcast is presented by Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon, managing director of WorkLifePsych and Pilar Orti.
This week, Richard and Pilar continue their discussion about productivity at work and how we can use apps to help us stay on top of priorities. After discussing some of the factors that can help you identify an app to manage your tasks and projects, Richard walks us through a selection of apps, discussing their relative strengths. It's not a finite list, but a great place to start. Resources mentioned in this episode: The WorkLifePsych newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/c8K5JP Apps we discussed in this episode: Apple reminders - https://support.apple.com/en-ie/HT205890 Remember the Milk - https://www.rememberthemilk.com ToDoist - http://todoist.com/ Evernote - http://www.evernote.com Google Keep - http://keep.google.com Trello - http://www.trello.com Things - https://culturedcode.com/things/ OmniFocus - https://www.omnigroup.com/omnifocus 'My Pocket Psych' is brought to you by WorkLifePsych Ltd and presented by Dr. Richard MacKinnon and Pilar Orti. To get in touch with us simply tweet us (@WorkLifePsych) or drop us a line via our website (http://www.worklifepsych.com/contact). We love to hear from our listeners!
This is the second in a series of discussions about productivity in a demanding world. This time, Richard and Pilar turn their attention to how we can better prioritise the work that comes our way. Fundamentally, prioritisation helps us guide our attention - which is already limited! Without considering prioritisation, we simply end up doing the next thing that crosses our path - and this might not be helpful or appropriate at the time. We walk through the ‘Eisenhower Matrix’ - a simple tool for identifying a task’s importance and urgency. Further reading: A blog post on WorkLifePsych where you can see this matrix: http://www.worklifepsych.com/productivity/whats-the-difference-between-urgent-and-important/ A video from Trello, also discussing the advantages of this approach to prioritisation: https://blog.trello.com/eisenhower-matrix-productivity-tool-trello-board About My Pocket Psych My Pocket Psych is the podcast from WorkLifePsych. We hope you’ll finish each episode learning something interesting about how we think and behave at work, and feel motivated to make a personal change. Or share what you’ve learned with someone else. Our goal in creating this podcast is to make the psychology of the workplace accessible and interesting, helping people move from merely surviving work to thriving at work. We want to demystify important concepts and give you, the listener, some practical insight you can apply in the real world. No nonsense, minimal technical jargon and a podcast you’ll want to come back to in the future. You can find out all about our coaching, training and development programmes by visiting our website at www.worklifepsych.com and by following us on Twitter @WorkLifePsych.
In this first episode of 'My Pocket Psych', Dr. Richard MacKinnon and Pilar Orti explain what the podcast will focus on and clarify exactly what it is that an occupational psychologist does. (And no, it's not "reading your mind at parties".) 'My Pocket Psych' is all about the psychology of the workplace. Each episode, we'll look at a different concept or challenge from a psychological perspective and share our views on how you can move from merely surviving work to thriving at work. 'My Pocket Psych' is brought to you by WorkLifePsych Ltd. You can find out all about our services at www.worklifepsych.com and follow us on Twitter via @WorkLifePsych.
visit www.virtualnotdistant.com In today’s episode, Richard A. MacKinnon explains the concept of psychological flexibility and how we can change our behaviour to be values-led rather than emotion-led. If you enjoy this episode, check out the ten episodes of the Management Café podcast and Evidence Talks. http://www.worklifepsych.com/ Richard on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WorkLifePsych Psychological Flexibility – it can be developed. The fact that professionals are being trained in this skill shows that we are acknowledging the wholeness of people coming to work. Emotions! Values! Can we talk about these at work? So, what is psychological flexibility? A set of skills that support each other (thinking and behavioural skills) that allow you to step aside from troubling thoughts and emotions and not let them take over the situation. Values-led action rather than emotions-led action. Are emotions heightened when we go remote? Letting our values guide us. Checking assumptions before we let our emotions guide us. Behaving in alignment with our values. “I don’t need to be angry.” We’re not talking about not having emotions. “Defusing” thoughts and emotions to identify the thoughts. The concept of “rigid self” – here comes the “flexibility” in psychological flexibility. Letting go of thoughts. Showing up. Get moving in the direction of your values When working at home, we run the risk of disconnecting from our values as well as from our organisation. Discomfort in change. What else does WorkLifePsych do? http://www.worklifepsych.com/ Check out episode 81, also with Richard, this time talking about his work at the Future Work Centre. https://www.virtualnotdistant.com/podcasts/futureworkcentre