Positive Psychology at Work: How Positive Leadership and Appreciative Inquiry Create Inspiring Organizations

Positive Psychology is a rapidly growing branch of psychology focused on ways to enhance human wellbeing, happiness, and longevity. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a well–established organizational development methodology that fosters the same attributes.
By drawing together the most up–to–date research from these previously distinct fields, Positive Psychology at Work introduces a powerful new approach to achieving organizational excellence while revealing new perspectives on the challenges of leadership. Keeping technical psychology jargon to a minimum, the author provides organizational leaders and managers of all levels with an understanding of positive psychology theory and practice and shows how its techniques can be applied to their specific workplace settings. The book reveals the most recent research and practice findings on such topics as positivity, flourishing organisations, flow, strengths, positive energy networks, transformational collaboration, psychological capital, and authentic leadership.
Chapters address specific workplaces, relationships, leadership and change, engagement and performance, decision–making, communication, and organisational transformation. Brief case studies and a series of helpful practical tips throughout the book illuminate key points and further enhance clarity. Accessible and enlightening, Positive Psychology at Work offers ground–breaking insights into hottest topics in today′s rapidly changing business environment.

Spis treści:
About the Author.
Book Contributors.
Preface.
Acknowledgements.
The Short Version of This Book.
1. Introduction to Positive Psychology.
Positive Psychology is Not Positive Thinking.
How Positive Psychology Differs from Positive Thinking.
The Ethical Bias of this Book.
Key Themes of the Book.
2. Positive Workplaces.
Introduction.
What is a Positive Workplace?.
H ow Does Positive Organizational Behaviour Turn into Positive Organizational Performance?.
Organizational Culture.
The Organization as a Complex Adaptive System.
Why is Culture so Hard to Change?.
How to Create Positive Workplaces.
Summary.
Further Reading.
3. Positive Engagement and Performance.
Introduction.
Active Engagement at Work.
Strengths and Talents.
Flow.
Mindfulness.
Management Influence on Engagement and Productivity at Work.
Goal Seeking.
Goal Setting.
Goal Setting and Environment Contingencies.
The Meaningfulness of Work.
Strategies for Increasing the Meaningfulness of Work.
Summary.
Recommended Reading.
4. Positive Communication and Decision–Making.
Introduction.
Communication.
Connectivity.
Dynamic Patterns of Communication.
How to Build Positive Communication and Increase Performance.
Leadership and Positive Communication.
Best Self–Feedback.
Decision–Making.
Emotions in Decision–Making.
Micro–Decision–Making.
Other Factors that Enhance Decision–Making.
Moving from Decision–Making to Sense–Making.
Summary.
Further Reading.
5. Positive Leadership and Change.
Introduction.
Leadership.
Psychopathic Leaders.
Organizational Change.
Approaches to Change.
Leadership Change Behaviour.
Effective Leadership Behaviour.
Developing Strategy.
Summary.
Further Reading.
6. Positive Sustainable Growth.
Introduction.
Psychological Capital.
Appreciative Inquiry.
Positive Profusion Theory of Growth of the Positive Organization.
The Three–Circle Strengths Revolution.
Summary.
Further Reading.
7. Positive Relationships at Work.
Introduction.
Positive Team Working.
High Quality Working Relationships.
Summary.
Further Reading.
8. Positive Transformation.
Introduction.
Key Processes of Flourishing and Inspiring Workplaces.
Why Organizations Ignore the Transformative Collaboration Approach to Change.
Transformative Collaboration.
Patterns of Organizational Life.
Transformative Collaboration Approaches.
Summary.
Further Reading.
Other Things You Need to Know.
How to Live a Happy and Meaningful Life.
How to Have a Better Quality Old Age.
References.
Index.

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

Okładka tylna:
Positive Psychology is a rapidly growing branch of psychology focused on ways to enhance human wellbeing, happiness, and longevity. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a well–established organizational development methodology that fosters the same attributes.
By drawing together the most up–to–date research from these previously distinct fields, Positive Psychology at Work introduces a powerful new approach to achieving organizational excellence while revealing new perspectives on the challenges of leadership. Keeping technical psychology jargon to a minimum, the author provides organizational leaders and managers of all levels with an understanding of positive psychology theory and practice and shows how its techniques can be applied to their specific workplace settings. The book reveals the most recent research and practice findings on such topics as positivity, flourishing organisations, flow, strengths, positive energy networks, transformational collaboration, psychological capital, and authentic leadership.
Chapters address specific workplaces, relationships, leadership and change, engagement and performance, decision–making, communication, and organisational transformation. Brief cas e studies and a series of helpful practical tips throughout the book illuminate key points and further enhance clarity. Accessible and enlightening, Positive Psychology at Work offers ground–breaking insights into hottest topics in today′s rapidly changing business environment.