Apply Presentation - 30 minutes International Positive Psychology Association 8th IPPA World Congress 2023

To boldly go! Positive psychology coaching for career transition and management in the VUCA world (#42)

Clive Leach 1
  1. Clive Leach Consultancy Ltd, Findon Valley, West Sussex, United Kingdom

Background

In this VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) post-pandemic world it has never been more important to take a proactive approach to career transition and management. The threat of redundancy is a global concern and its impact on emotional, psychological and financial wellbeing invokes anxiety, fear and overwhelm. Loving a job, working hard and being loyal are no guarantees of job security or career progression (Leach, 2021).

Aims

This presentation will share how positive psychology evidence-based coaching (Falecki et al, 2018; Grant & O’Connor, 2018; Grant, 2012) supports people from all professional backgrounds to take a pragmatic and positive approach to redundancy and career transition. It draws on thousands of hours of real-world coaching practice and the integration of positive psychology theories and tools that have been shown to support people, in times of crisis, to buffer against risks of mental illness, bolster well-being and resilience, and build resources to enhance mental toughness and positive psychological growth (Leach, 2021; Waters et al, 2021, Mojtahedi et al, 2021, Zikic & Richardson,2007).

Method

Participants will learn how coaching helps coachees to ‘be VUCA’ supporting them to:

  • Sustain their Vitality, through enhancing positive energy and prioritising positivity
  • Increase Understanding of their values, strengths and achievements,
  • Consolidate their insights to help align to future meaningful career options and goals
  • Articulate their offer and value-add with confidence and authenticity.

Results

Real-life examples of coaching outcomes shared include:

  • Greater insight into the links between wellbeing, engagement and performance 
  • Increased resilience, mental toughness, optimism, control and self-efficacy 
  • Increased confidence to communicate professional brand through development of a powerful CV and LinkedIn profile
  • Learned optimism to overcome limiting beliefs that undermine networking and interviewing
  • Positive outcomes for meaning at work, job satisfaction, thriving at work, reward, work/life balance and enhanced family relationships

Conclusion

Participants will leave the presentation equipped and inspired to support others to build hope (Snyder, 2002) and go boldly in their future career development.

  1. Leach C.J.C. (2021) Positive Psychology Coaching for Career Transition & Management. In Smith, W., Boniwell, I. & Green, S. (Eds) Positive Psychology Coaching in the Workplace (pp 337-355). Springer
  2. Falecki, D., Leach, C., & Green, S. (2019). PERMA-powered coaching: Building foundations for a flourishing life. In S. Green & S. Palmer (Eds). Positive Psychology Coaching in Practice (pp. 103-116). United Kingdom: Routledge.
  3. Waters, L., Algoe, S.B., Dutton, J., Emmons, R., Fredrickson, B.L., Heaphy, E., Moskowitz, J.T., Neff, k., Niemiec, R., Pury, C. & Steger, M., (2021): Positive psychology in a pandemic: buffering, bolstering, and building mental health, The Journal of Positive Psychology, DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2021.1871945
  4. Mojtahedi, D., Dagnall, N., Denovan,A., Clough, P., Hull, C., Canning, D., Lilley, C., Papageorgiou, K.A. (2021) The Relationship Between Mental Toughness, Job Loss, and Mental Health Issues During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology 11 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.607246
  5. Grant, A. M., & O’Connor, S. A. (2018). Broadening and building solution-focused coaching: Feeling good is not enough. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, 11(2), 165-185.
  6. Grant, A. M. (2012). ROI is a poor measure of coaching success: towards a more holistic approach using a well-being and engagement framework. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, 5(2), 74-85.
  7. Snyder, C. R. (2002). Hope theory: Rainbows in the mind. Psychological Inquiry, 13, 249-275.
  8. Zikic, J., & Richardson, J. (2007). Unlocking the careers of business professionals following job loss: Sensemaking and career exploration of older workers. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 24, 58–73.
  • Please select up to 3 keywords from the following list to best describe your submission content: Career and Work, Coaching, Resilience and Posttraumatic Growth
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