Positive Psychology at Work

Sarah Lewis is an Associated Fellow of the British Psychological Society, a Principal Member of the Association of Business Psychologists and the Managing Director of Appreciating Change, where she works as a facilitator and consultant. She is the lead author of Appreciative Inquiry for Change Management (2007).

“For these reasons, Lewis’s timely and accessible book will be useful to business leaders and introductory audiences interested less in the science behind positive psychology and appreciative inquiry than in its ready application to the organizational setting.”  (PsycCRITIQUES, 11 July 2012)"Overall, this is a very readable book, of more interest to the business and organisation leader than to the practising psychologist, for whom the lack of detailed referencing and methodological evaluation would be problematic. However, if, like me, you are not versed in the psychology of work or for that matter, positive psychology, but you do have a practical interest in how organisations (don't) work, maybe simply as an employee, then this book is a very readable introductory text with lots of ideas for activities and reflective activities as well as further reading." (BPS South-West Review, Spring 2012) "Highly recommended. Business collections serving lower-division undergraduates and above." (Choice, 1 November 2011)"Overall, I would recommend this book to postgraduate researchers, consultants and senior managers who are serious about wanting to invest the time to learn more about the use of positive psychology and appreciate inquiry to improve organisations." (The Psychologist, 1 October 2011)"I believe this book will quickly become a classic reference text. In just over 200 pages Lewis has produced a content rich, accessible work that readers will want to revisit regularly. And I’ve no doubt they will be pleasantly surprised at how much fresh information they glean each time they do." People Management, April 11"Overall, this is a very readable book, of more interest to the business and organisation leader than to the practising psychologist, for whom the lack of detailed referencing and methodological evaluation would be problematic. However, if, like me, you are not versed in the psychology of work or for that matter, positive psychology, but you do have a practical interest in how organisations (don’t) work, maybe simply as an employee, then this book is a very readable introductory text with lots of ideas for activities and reflective activities as well as further reading." BPS South-West Review, Spring 2012

• About the Author xiBook Contributors xiiiPreface xviiAcknowledgements xxiThe Short Version of This Book xxiii1 Introduction to Positive Psychology 1Positive Psychology is Not Positive Thinking 2How Positive Psychology Differs from Positive Thinking 3The Ethical Bias of This Book 6Key Themes of the Book 82 Positive Workplaces 11Introduction 13What is a Positive Workplace? 13How Does Positive Organizational Behaviour Turn into Positive Organizational Performance? 20Organizational Culture 23The Organization as a Complex Adaptive System 26Why is Culture so Hard to Change? 31How to Create Positive Workplaces 34Summary 37Further Reading 383 Positive Engagement and Performance 39Introduction 40Active Engagement at Work 42Strengths and Talents 42Flow 51Mindfulness 52Management Influence on Engagement and Productivity at Work 53Goal Seeking 54Goal Setting 56Goal Setting and Environment Contingencies 58The Meaningfulness of Work 63Strategies for Increasing the Meaningfulness of Work 64Summary 67Recommended Reading 694 Positive Communication and Decision-Making 71Introduction 71Communication 72Connectivity 74Dynamic Patterns of Communication 76How to Build Positive Communication and Increase Performance 78Leadership and Positive Communication 78Best Self-Feedback 79Decision-Making 83Emotions in Decision-Making 86Micro-Decision-Making 91Other Factors that Enhance Decision-Making 92Moving from Decision-Making to Sense-Making 96Summary 99Further Reading 1005 Positive Leadership and Change 101Introduction 101Leadership 102Psychopathic Leaders 107Organizational Change 124Approaches to Change 125Leadership Change Behaviour 130Effective Leadership Behaviour 131Developing Strategy 134Summary 136Further Reading 1376 Positive Sustainable Growth 139Introduction 139Psychological Capital 142Appreciative Inquiry 158Positive Profusion Theory of Growth of the Positive Organization 166The Three-Circle Strengths Revolution 168Summary 170Further Reading 1707 Positive Relationships at Work 171Introduction 172Positive Team Working 174High Quality Working Relationships 184Summary 192Further Reading 1938 Positive Transformation 195Introduction 197Key Processes of Flourishing and Inspiring Workplaces 197Why Organizations Ignore the Transformative Collaboration Approach to Change 199Transformative Collaboration 204Patterns of Organizational Life 204Transformative Collaboration Approaches 213Summary 221Further Reading 227Other Things You Need to Know 229How to Live a Happy and Meaningful Life 229How to Have a Better Quality Old Age 229References 231Index 239