Rachel Powell, Chief People Officer, Xero, explains how she's hoping her return to study a Masters in Positive Psychology will prove once and for all that happiness fuels success
Like many people, when I started out in my career I believed what we are taught to believe... if I worked hard enough and long enough this would lead to success and therefore happiness. Alas I came to realise this happiness formula just wasn’t adding up.
A turning point came when I flipped this approach on its head and realised that in fact it is happiness that fuels success. Even more importantly, that we can actively change our mindsets to focus on personal growth and happiness and that this is the elixir to success at work and in life.
This has led me to where I am today, going back to university to study a Masters in Positive Psychology and integrate this realisation into my leadership style and the work I do with the People Experience (HR) team at Xero.
Why positive psychology?
Something instantly inspired and resonated with me when I first explored what I like to describe as the ‘scientific study of human flourishing’. Whilst traditional psychology has a tendency to take a deficit-based approach (it’s about fixing or curing a problem), positive psychology is the exact opposite. It’s about actively shifting our brains into a ‘positive gear’, and having a clear understanding of the values, strengths and passions that drive us. Rather than asking ‘what is wrong?’ it asks ‘what is right?’ in our effort to experience authentic happiness, personal wellbeing and ultimately reach our potential.
The ‘happiness pie’
I always think the ‘happiness pie’ is a simple and effective way to highlight the importance of taking a positive approach. Positive psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky found in a study that whilst 50% of our happiness is a result of our genes (our happiness ‘set point’) and 10% is dictated by circumstances beyond our control, a huge 40% of our happiness is self determined. This means through our intentional activities, mindsets and behaviours we can turn things around to be happier.
This study helps to remind us that there’s so much we can do in the workplace to cultivate and maintain a state of positivity and well-being to ensure our people can flourish.
Embedding this approach at Xero
Since I joined Xero in 2016, here are a few of the ways we’ve been embedding positive leadership and wellbeing across the organisation:
Our People Experience strategy offsite
When I first brought my People Experience (HR) leadership team together from across the globe for our strategy offsite we used the ‘appreciative inquiry model’ which engages people in self determined change. This positive psychology framework uses the ‘4 D’s cycle’ which includes Discover the best of what is and why, Dream what could be our future, Design a plan to get us there, and Deliver on what we need to do to make it stick.
Strengths-based training
Up until more recently we used the DiSC tool but we have now also started using Alex Linley’s Strengths Profiler to help our people understand and unlock their strength performance and potential. It’s a valuable tool because it not only identifies strengths that energise us but highlights those that might be overplayed and therefore need to be moderated to achieve sustainable well-being and performance. Other tools that are equally as beneficial include VIA and Gallup
Our approach to diversity and inclusion
We’ve recently developed a diversity and inclusion workshop that we’re rolling out across the business globally. An important part of this workshop has been training where we explore how ‘unconscious bias’ works in the brain and what people can do to counteract negative bias and create more positive and collaborative connections.
Redesign of our leadership development offering
And finally we know that positive leadership is one of the most important parts of ensuring the happiness and high performance of our people. We’ve therefore put a lot of time and energy into embedding positive leadership principles across the three levels of our leadership program, including servant leadership, strengths-based approach, and the science of wellbeing.
There’s so much more I could share about the limitless potential and power of positive psychology. But I just want to finish on a personal note with some of the simple ‘happiness habits’ I practice each day that make up the 40% of my happiness pie:
Exercise — I always start the day with me. I do yoga, go for a run or simply take the dog for a walk. This helps me focus on staying in the present and enjoy what is ‘mindful happiness’ for me.
Meditation — Take time out to breathe! I try to spend 10 minutes each day to meditate, and it really makes a difference. And I always say it’s the power of 50 - once you’ve got that many under your belt you really start to feel the benefits.
Random acts of kindness — Stop and do something to make someone else feel good - a thoughtful text or thank you to a friend, some genuine feedback to a colleague, or giving back to the community in some meaningful way.
Set goals — I set my key goals for the day, week, month and year (often writing them on post it notes on the run!) as I know that a sense of accomplishment is such an important part of well being.
Being grateful — And I always try to finish the day by thinking about 3 things I’m grateful for. It might be the awesome people I get to work with at Xero or as simple as unplugging from technology at the end of the day and having a whole 8 hours to recharge!
.jpg)
About the author
Rachel Powell is Chief People Officer Xero
