Day 1

Introductions and objectives

Foundations of positive psychology

Humanistic psychology

Cognitive-behavioural approach

What is happiness in the workplace?

• pleasure; engagement and flow; meaning

The benefits of happiness at work – research evidence

Strengths of character

• strengths, virtues and talents
• what are your strengths?
• how do you use your strengths and how do they make you feel?
• utilising strengths at work; utilising strengths in new ways

Work and the ‘attentive optimist’.

Day 2

Review of Day 1

Positive psychology in practice

• case study examples of applying strengths at work
• case study exercises

What you can and cannot change

• the task, the role and the role-holder – find opportunity in structure
• strengths-based approaches and intrinsic motivation – getting people to want to do what they have to do

Excelling with what is there rather than being average with what is not – positive psychology, transformational leadership, and coaching

Meaning and happiness

• Seligman’s ‘third pillar’
• the positive organisation – how to change from a deficit model to a strengths model; the positive environment

Positive interventions within the workplace – positive selection and positive development

Review and action planning

• mapping how your strengths can be applied in your role
• identifying strategies to identify and develop strengths in others
• moving towards a strengths culture

Review and action planning.