2. Agenda
• Positive Psychology Overview
• Company Culture and Employee Relationship
• Are we a product of our thoughts?
• Psychological Capital (PsyCap)
• Critical Thinking
• Self-Affirmation
• PsyCap, Critical Thinking and Self-Affirmation: Basis for Improvement
• Let’s Try It!
5. Current Perception
If I work hard I will be successful, If I am successful I will be happy
New Perception
If I am Happy, I will work harder, then I will be successful
6. Organizational Culture & Happiness
• Human Capital (employees) are incredibly
expensive
• Factors effecting employees:
• Stress
• Emotion
• Motivation
• Skill
• Etc.
• People spend a substantial amount of time
working, yet 69% are dissatisfied at work
Dissatisfaction
Stress
Decreased
Performance
Problem!!!
Satisfaction
Engagement
Achievement
Remember Seligman? (i.e. PERMA)
7. Organizations Effects on Employees
Leadership
Focus on
Employees
Organizational
Virtues
Employee
Performance
& Happiness
• Sunil Ramlall (2008)
• Strong correlation between Positive
Organizational Behavior and Employee
Performance
• Tangible Financial Implications!
• Toor & Ofiri (2010)
• Leadership with high levels of Positivity
energize their teams
• More creative and effective solutions
• Less absenteeism
• Increased Engagement
8. A Change in Perspective
• Money et al. (2009)
• Elevated positivity correlates with
Organizational Commitment
• Organizational commitment has
major implications on employee
motivation
• A simple shift in perception leads to
drastic changes in engagement,
meaning, and motivation
• Shawn Achor (2010)
• Perception is everything!
• We are a product of our perception,
not our environment
• Better yet, we have the ability to
change our lens
• Daniel Gilbert, Harvard
Psychologist (2009) likewise shares
this view
9. Happiness and Perception are not Fixed!
• What makes some people:
• Happier
• More Successful
• Resilient
• Lucky
• Better at coping with Stress
90% of our happiness is based on our
perception! (Achor, S., 2010)
• We have the ability to alter our
perception (Neuroplasticity)
• Functions of positivity:
• Increased synapses firing
• Attention
• Engagement
• Retention
• Productivity
10. Broaden and Build
Positive
Perception
Openness
to
Experience
Increased
Exposure
New Skills
Validation
&
Expansion
Barbara Fredrickson (2001)
• Similar to Daniel Gilbert and
Shawn Achor:
• Happiness is not a product of our
success, but a byproduct
• We synthesize our own happiness, and
in turn success
• Furthermore, All agree we can
change our perception regardless
of age and current state
11. Individuals & Organizational Development
• Positive Organizational Scholarship
• Jane Dutton and Mary Glynn (2007) – PsyCap leads to Collective Improvement
• Individual Flourishing leads to Organizational Resilience, Innovation and Growth
• Alignment of individual virtues with organizational virtues
• Build capabilities, life focus, capacity building through cultivating strengths
• How to do so? Psychological Capital Development
• Creates an atmosphere conducive to learning and continuous improvement
12. Psychological Capital (PsyCap)
• Luthans et al. (2007)
• Composite Construct (HERO)
• Hope
• Self-Efficacy
• Resilience
• Optimism
• Synergistic Effect
“Whole is better than the sum of its parts”
• PsyCap development has a ROI
• Tangible benefits
• Soft Benefits
• In particular, Organizational Resilience
which strongly correlates with Bottom
Line Performance
• Dutton and Glynn – Realignment top
down and bottom up
13. Cross Cultural PsyCap
• Organizations are becoming more and
more diverse
• Maren Dollwet and Rebecca Reichard
(2014) – Across the world and cultures,
PsyCap is a valid predictor and effective!
• Better yet, cross culturally High PsyCap
with Diversity leads to improved
problem solving and innovation
• Cox & Blake (1991) PsyCap correlates
with Metacognition
• Metacognition leads to reduced:
• Ethnocentrism
• Sociocentricism
• Reduced Biases
• Correlates with Hope and
Psychological Wellbeing (Kiaei & Reio,
2014)
14. Critical Thinking
(Metacognition)
What purpose does it serve in
Organizations?
• Improved Creativity
• Metacognition
• Reception to Training
• Improved Retention
• Reduced Biases
• Improved Decision Making
Critical thinking is that mode of thinking —
about any subject, content, or problem — in
which the thinker improves the quality of his or
her thinking by skillfully analyzing, assessing,
and reconstructing it. Critical thinking is self-
directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and
self-corrective thinking. It presupposes assent
to rigorous standards of excellence and mindful
command of their use. It entails effective
communication and problem-solving abilities,
as well as a commitment to overcome our
native egocentrism and sociocentrism
15. Critical Thinking and Six Sigma
• Critical Thinking
• Objective Evaluation of Information
• Improving thought through empirical
validation and fact checking
• Reduced Biased Thinking
• Constant Reconstruction of thoughts
based on new information
• Effective in Human Resource
Development
• Six Sigma
• Objective Evaluation of Problems
• Metric Based Improvement Process
(DMAIC)
• Reduced Biased Thinking
• Kaizen – Continuous Improvement
• Statistical Business Tool to drive
Organizational Development
• Originally manufacturing, but is being
adopted to processes and HR
16. Self-Affirmation
• According to Steele (1988) Self-
affirmation Theory states that people
respond to situations in a way that
protects their sense of self through
affirming their own self-worth,
integrity and image.
• Essentially, when people are faced with
challenges they reflect on strengths
and values to overcome barriers
Challenge
Stress
Decreased
Performance
Failure
Decreased
Confidence
Workplace implications of a lack of self-affirmation skills
17. Positive Self-Affirmation
• Kost-smith et al. (2010) had
participants write about strengths
• 15 minute writing exercise lead to
improved Self-worth and Self-
Efficacy
• Cresewell et al. (2013) showed
improved positivity and creative
problem solving through self-
affirming positive traits
Challenge
Stress
Self-Affirm
Positive Traits
Overcome
Challenge
Increased
Confidence
Workplace implications of a positive self-affirmation skills
18. Self-Affirmation of PsyCap
Study 1
• Establish that Self-Affirmation could increase
levels of PsyCap
• Mixed Factorial Design:
• IV: Self-Affirmation vs. Non Self-Affirmation
• DV: Number of Questions correctly answered on
RAT
• Outcomes:
• Increased PsyCap
• Increased Creative Problem Solving
• Motivational Reponses
• Increased Attempts
Study 2
• Similar Design, Less Control
• A targeted Self-Affirmation intervention was
successful in increasing overall levels of PsyCap
and Motivation
• Lead to increased attempts on RAT
• Strongly correlates between:
• Hope and Motivation
• Self-Efficacy with Hope and Resilience
• Hope and Resilience
• PsyCap and Motivation and all components of PsyCap
19. See for Yourself!
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Version 1 Version 2
NumberofCorrectAnswers
Remote Associates Test Version
Self-affirmation
Non Self-affirmation
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Non Self-
affirmation
Female Non Self-
Affirmation
Male Non Self-
Affirmation
Self-affirmation Female Self-
Affirmation
Male Self-
Affirmation
Avg # Attempt
20. See for Yourself! Cont.
Groups
N
Avg #
Attempt
Average
PsyCap
Average
Motivation
Non Self-affirmation 6 16.17 39.33 2.83
Female 3 16.33 42.33 3.33
Male 3 16.00 36.33 2.33
Self-affirmation 15 27.20 47.73 4.33
Female 7 33.00 47.57 4.43
Male 8 22.13 47.88 4.25
Grand Total 21 24.05 45.33 3.90
The average number of questions answered correctly on the RAT as a function of
Group and Version
Remote Associates Test
Version 1 Version 2
Group M SE M SE
Self-affirmation (n = 12) 10.92 1.32 17.17 1.78
Non Self-affirmation (n = 10) 9.09 1.38 12.64 1.86
* Study 1 & Study 2 showed statistically significant
differences between groups
21. PsyCap Improvement
ANOVA
Sum of
Squares df
Mean
Square F Sig.
Attempted Between
Groups 521.719 1 521.719 2.487 .031
Within Groups 3985.233 19 209.749
Total 4506.952 20
PsyCap Between
Groups 302.400 1 302.400 6.137 .023
Within Groups 936.267 19 49.277
Total 1238.667 20
Motivation Between
Groups 9.643 1 9.643 7.002 .016
Within Groups 26.167 19 1.377
Total 35.810 20
Groups
Average
PsyCap
Average
Motivation
Non Self-
affirmation
39.33 2.83
Female 42.33 3.33
Male 36.33 2.33
Self-affirmation
47.73 4.33
Female 47.57 4.43
Male 47.88 4.25
Grand Total 45.33 3.90
22. Putting it all Together
Problems:
• Often taught in silos, not in
combinations with one another
• Hedonic Adaptation (Sheldon &
Lyubomirsky, 2012)
• Changing Peoples Thought Process
Solution:
• Teaching each component and how
they link together
• Critical thinking improves ability to
learn and reduce biases which makes
people more receptive to PsyCap
improvements to gain positive
benefits, then when faced with
challenges, individuals self-affirm
maintaining elevated positivity
23. Is Learning it Easy?, and Why
Learn it?
Well first it is a conscious thought
(metacognition)
Once you know your thoughts, write them
down, then identify bias and finally think of
how you could respond more positively by
self-affirming (PsyCap & Self-Affirmation)
Repeated practice will rewire the brain to
scan for the positive (Remember
Neuroplasticity?)
Specific Tangible Benefits:
• Creativity Thinking & Innovative
Behavior
• Employee Productivity
• Motivation
• Financial Improvement & Growth
Soft Benefits:
• Well-being & Satisfaction
• Organizational Commitment
• Attention
• Stress Reduction
24. Program Proposal
Baseline
•Applied
Potential Survey
•VIA Survey
Critical
Thinking
Psychological
Capital
Self-
Affirmation
Applying &
Sustaining
Measure
Results
Establish
Framework
for
Continuous
Measurement
Implement
Programs to
Maintain
25.
26. Conclusion
• Things you can do to improve your
well-being:
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Gratitude Journaling
• Thought Log
• And much more! Email me:
dustin.raymer@wilkes.edu
27. References
Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions. American
Psychology, 60, 410-421. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.60.5.410
Luthans, F., Youssef, C. M., & Avolio, B. J. (2007). Psychological capital: Developing the human competitive edge. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford
University Press
Lin, C., Chen, S., & Wang, R. (2011). Savouring and perceived job performance in positive psychology: Moderating role of positive affectivity.
Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 14, 165-175. doi:10.1111/j.1476-839X.2010.01340.x
Achor, S. (2010). The happiness advantage. The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work, Crown Business, New York.
Toor, S., & Ofori, G. (2010). Positive Psychological Capital as a Source of Sustainable Competitive Advantage for Organizations. Journal Of
Construction Engineering & Management, 136, 341-352. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000135
Ramlall, S. J. (2008). Enhancing employee performance through positive organizational behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 38, 1580-1600.
Money, K., Hillenbrand, C., & da Camara, N. (2009). Putting positive psychology to work in organisations. Journal Of General Management, 34, 21-36.
Gilbert, D. (2009). Stumbling on happiness. Vintage Canada.
Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American
psychologist, 56, 218.
Dutton, J. E., Glynn, M. A., & Spreitzer, G. (2007). Positive organizational scholarship. Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology. BlacNwell Publishing.
Available on the Internet: http://webuser. bupp. umich. edu/janedut/POS/Dutton&Sonenshein. Pdf.
28. References
Dollwet, M., & Reichard, R. (2014). Assessing cross-cultural skills: validation of a new measure of cross-cultural psychological
capital. International Journal Of Human Resource Management, 25, 1669-1696. doi:10.1080/09585192.2013.845239
Cox, T. H., & Blake, S. (1991). Managing cultural diversity: Implications for organizational competitiveness. The Executive, 45-56.
Kiaei, Y. A., & Reio Jr, T. G. (2014). Goal pursuit and eudaimonic well-being among university students: Metacognition as the
mediator. Behavioral Development Bulletin, 19, 91.
Halpern, D. F. (1998). Teaching critical thinking for transfer across domains: Disposition, skills, structure training, and
metacognitive monitoring. American Psychologist, 53, 449.
Steele, C. M. (1988). The psychology of Self-affirmation: Sustaining the integrity of the self. Advances in Experimental Social
Psychology, 2, 261-302.
Kost-Smith, L. E., Pollock, S. J., Finkelstein, N. D., Cohen, G. L., Ito, T. A., & Miyake, A. (2010). Gender differences in Physics
1: The impact of a self-affirmation intervention. Physics Education Research Conference, 1289, 197-200. doi:10.1063/1.3515197
Creswell, J. D., Dutcher, J. M., Klein, W. M. P., Harris, P. R., & Levine, J. M. (2013). Self-affirmation improves problem solving
under stress. PLos ONE, 8, 1-7. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0062593
Sheldon, K. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2012). The challenge of staying happier testing the hedonic adaptation prevention
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