Build Workplaces With Thriving People + Extraordinary Outcomes
Chris White 
My friend Vic Strecher has a simple acronym to help us remember elements of physical wellbeing: SPACE. Sleep. What was the quality and quantity of your sleep last night? Stop looking at digital screens or having alcoholic beverages too close to bedtime. Make sure that the room is darkened, and a comfortable temperature. Don’t allow … Read moreWant Wellbeing? Be a SPACE(R)!
Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference. The Serenity Prayer, Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) is the real title… Being frustrated with bureaucracy is part of the deal we make in working for a large, complex organizations. Even with the best … Read moreThe Change Agents’ Prayer
The purpose of the Center for Positive Organizations is very inclusive. I do not know anyone who doesn’t want to have a high-performing workplace with thriving people! Sadly, many people experience workplaces that are anything but positive. Indeed, a meta study by Christine Porath found that 98% of us have experienced incivility in the workplace. … Read moreThe First Step in Turning Around Organizational Culture
Why do we wait until people die to tell them about the difference they have made in our lives? Living Eulogies are a way of sharing our appreciation for the difference others have made in our lives… while they are still alive. Many people can imagine doing this for someone dear to us in our personal … Read moreBeing Our Best Selves
Our relationships are a key part of our wellbeing. Positive relationships can lift us up, help us live longer and happier lives. Conversely, negative interactions can really drag us down, and leave us spiraling for hours, days, or longer. My colleague Wayne Baker is a pioneer in energy network analysis in organizations. What does relational … Read moreDon’t Be Sucked In By Workplace Black Holes!
Team Building gets a bad rap. I have never been a fan of “fun” team building activities. Cooking a meal together or playing whirlyball are enjoyable activities, but I rarely leave feeling that I know the values or principles or characters of my teammates any better. We have fun but we don’t bond at any … Read moreHow to Run a Leadership Team Retreat
You had a work project you were passionate about once. Do you remember? You should do. You spent all your waking hours thinking about it. Developing the idea. Asking advice and help from others. Improving it, advocating for it. And then your idea was shot down. Not a hard no from a final decision maker. … Read moreStrategies to Sustain Yourself as a Change Agent
Sometimes culture change can seem overwhelming. It is so big and complex that we can be feel paralyzed, unable to take the first step. But small steps can make a big difference. Here are three ways to contribute toward flourishing in the workplace today. Begin meetings on a good note. Before jumping into the agenda, … Read moreThree Daily Habits for Positive Leaders
You feel misunderstood. You feel defensive. Your voice is quavering. Your pulse is racing. Your palms are sweaty. You feel an urge to fight, to convince the other person that they are wrong. Or to take flight: to simply to get out of the room as fast as possible. These are natural reactions when you … Read moreThe Way to Respond to Hard Feedback
Picture a fast flowing, deep river winding through a steep bank in a forest. There are many twists and turns. The water is raging and churning, yet it stays within the confines of the river banks. How do you get the water to flow where you want it to go? Think about the behavioral dynamics … Read moreLeadership in Turbulent Times