Key Insights for Leaders from the World Congress on Positive Psychology, 2019

Last week I was lucky enough to attend the World Congress on Positive Psychology 2019, held right here in Melbourne. With 1600 delegates from over 60 countries, spanning 4 days of presentations, workshops, keynotes and more, it was a feast of fascinating research; a meeting of hearts and minds as we explored together, what it takes to live a flourishing life. In a whirlwind of learning, connections and meaningful conversations, I found new inspiration to keep moving forward and sharing the practices of Positive Psychology with clients and in my life, too. And I am always fascinated to see what the latest science says, about how to create environments where teams and individuals can thrive in organisations. I'd like to share three key insights for Leaders that I took from the gathering, and will be striving to apply in my own work. I hope you find these bite-sized morsels of PP useful for your Leadership practice, to help you and your team shine a little bit brighter!

Insight one: Mindfulness REALLY Matters for Wellbeing. Dr Itai Ivtzan's workshop on Positive Mindfulness opened up a stunningly simple realisation I have never had before - Mindfulness is NOT just a treatment for what hurts, but can be used proactively to BUILD WELLBEING. As a frequent practitioner, I know that when I practice regularly, life just seems somehow "better". I notice that over time, the longer I build up a run of regular practice the more I feel at ease in this complex, fast-paced world of ours. Mindfulness definitely helps me "de-stress" when I need it - and I'm not the only one - but its life-enhancing effects are also increasingly well documented and should not be ignored. Yes - Mindfulness practice is useful to help us regulate stress and deal with difficult times, but equally it can increase overall health and psychological wellbeing in someone who is already doing "just fine". If you're looking for a way to enhance your daily experience of positive emotions, a sense of purpose and meaning, increase trust, empathy and your sense of humour, as well as reaching greater levels of insight about yourself and acceptance of your life's journey, then the research says that cultivating a regular Mindfulness practice is a sure-fire way to make what is already great even better. Just another reason to enjoy exploring - and find a Mindfulness practice that's right for you!

Insight two: Want to Prevent Burnout? Get Systematic About Building Resilience! According to Dr Denise Quinlan and Dr Lucy Hone of the NZ Institute of Wellbeing & Resilience, Leaders could afford to take a much more systematic view of building our own resilience and wellbeing for when the tough times hit. They recommend an active practice of consciously doing the things that "fill our tank", not just to feel good when we have the time, but to buffer us against the somewhat inevitable blows of life that may come in the future. Aside from helping us navigate difficult times better, there is one aspect of resilience that I realised is particularly relevant for Leaders; high levels of resilience help us to reach out in a positive way (trying new things, reaching out to new people, exploring un-known territory). In a world where definitions of Leadership are a dime-a-dozen, I prefer to stick to a simple one: Leaders Go First. If you, as a Leader in business or life, are constantly exploring new territory, lighting the way so that your team can follow, then you will need an extra dose of resilience to ensure you're reaching out effectively, buffered against burnout. So - how to develop more wellbeing and resilience, to help us be more effective and better protected? The pair prefer a systematic approach to building wellbeing - like any other improvement, build little by little, plan - and stick to - the activities that build you up - and practice a polite "no" that you can use when your plate is too full. They left us with a takeaway too good to ignore: at the intersection of 1. The Things That Matter and 2. The Things You CAN Control, is a tiny proportion of what you can meaningfully affect. Concentrate on THAT - and work to gracefully let go of everything else. "Ruthlessly prioritise" your To-Do-List, and identify what you CAN meaningfully affect; then find an effective way of making peace with the things that you cannot. Simple huh? (I get the feeling this will become a personal favourite!)

Insight three: Mental Health MUST Remain Top of Mind for All. Dr Martin Seligman's rousing keynote address made the clear call - we MUST do better at relationships of all kinds, if we want to reverse the unprecedented levels of ill mental health amongst our youth. According to Martin, rates of suicide, anxiety, depression and anger are at an all-time high, despite the fact that we also live at a time of unparalleled material wealth, worldwide. Looking at what has changed significantly in the past decades to cause this, he has come to the conclusion that how we relate to each other is a major factor that has shifted - and that the quality of our relationships and connections is KEY to our wellbeing. Speaking in tandem with her husband during this presentation, Dr Mandy Seligman says that this then begs the question - how do we bolster and buffer each other through life's ups and downs, better? How can we bring better quality relationships to life in all the places we belong - our families, our friendships - and even our working relationships? A complex question, but with some clear and simple directions to explore: 1. Express Gratitude frequently - because it acknowledges others' contributions and allows people to feel seen and heard. 2. Do your best to appreciate and acknowledge the STRENGTHS of the people around you - they all contribute something unique - so take the time to consider what is strong in each of your people. 3. Enable people's passions - so that they can feel they have a place in the world and that their unique skills and interests are worthwhile.

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With so much on their plates, modern Leaders need tried-and-true, research-backed ways to operate and make a difference. I am so encouraged by gatherings like the World Congress, where people from all walks of life come together to find the answers, steeped in science. Two questions still ring in my ears, asked by Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh in his presentation about best-practice in learning, and I will leave you with them now, as I think they are particularly relevant for Leaders:

How can we make people's lives better?

How are we in the service of others?

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I'm Catherine Bell and I am the Director of Bell Training Group. We specialise in Positive Psychology Solutions for the Workplace through Workshops, Professional Coaching and Speaking. Find out more here: www.belltraininggroup.com.au