Martin E. P. Seligman Endorses New Book on Strengths WASHINGTON, June 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-iReach/ — Positive Business DC (PBDC) and Positive Psychology News (PPND) announced today that editors Shannon Polly, MAPP and Kathryn Britton, MAPP have published a new book with articles, research, monologues and poems as well as tangible techniques and exercises that help people leverage their character strengths for higher performance and happiness. The book honors the late Christopher Peterson who led the large team of psychologists that identified the 24 strengths that are the elements making up good character. His research has shown that these strengths are ubiquitous across culture and time. From Maasai warriors to Mother Teresa, we all have the same strengths to varying degrees. Proceeds from the book will go to the Christopher Peterson Memorial Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, a fund that… …

Positive Business DC today announced that Shannon Polly will lead a discussion on the book Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being by Martin E. P. Seligman for the book discussion group sponsored by Chesapeake Bay Organization Development Network (CBODN). Continue reading →

July 10, 2014, Washington DC – Shannon Polly will speak at the 2nd Canadian Conference on Positive Psychology, July 16th through July 18th. The conference is sponsored by the Canadian Positive Psychology Association (CPPA) and represents those engaged in academic and scientific research in the evidence-based field of positive psychology. PBDC is a supporting organization of the conference. Over 500 internationally renowned practitioners, researchers, educators, coaches and business consultants are expected to attend from all over the globe. The event is 3 days with a preconference starting on July 16 and the conference on July 17 – 18. The Conference is to be held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Ottawa. “I am very enthusiastic about this event. It’s exciting to be a part of the charter to help people increase well-being, happiness and resilience in their lives,” said Shannon Polly. “And… …

Positive Business DC (PBDC) today announced that Martin Best will offer a free webinar discussing how the world of business has changed and how leaders can thrive in this evolving environment. The webinar, slated for Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 4 p.m. EST, is the 11th event sponsored by PBDC to increase well-being in the workforce. The organization’s events are both live and online and the Meetup now has over 500 members. “As I work with business leaders, I often hear how much the landscape of business has changed… leaders are challenged to change their perspectives and skills,” said Martin Best, “And what leaders find most surprising and counterintuitive is how much traits like authenticity, empathy and creativity play in inspiring teams.” Martin Best is the founder of the Corporate Theatre in London, where he is renowned for his unique… …

It’s a common myth that you either have ‘executive presence’ – that essence that helps you to command a room – or you don’t. Washington, DC (PRWEB) May 22, 2014, Positive Business DC (PBDC) announced today thatShannon Polly will lead a webinar on teaching tangible techniques and exercises that help people cultivate presence. The hour-long webinar will also include information on what science is telling us about presence. Shannon Polly brings both her expertise as a professional actor, playwright and Broadway producer and her background in positive psychology as a teacher, facilitator and coach to this somatic approach to well-being and thriving. “It’s a common myth that you either have ‘executive presence’ – that essence that helps you to command a room – or you don’t,” says Polly, “but that is simply not true. As an actor, I know there are tricks and techniques, and as a Positive Psychology… …

“Happiness at Work” takes a close look at the effect workplace dynamics have on well-being, happiness, productivity, creativity, and revenue. During the webinar, Davis will disclose how to turn happiness into a key performance metric that produces bottom line results while increasing happiness in the workplace. Continue reading →

Original Release Washington, DC — March 18, 2014 - Positive Business DC today announced that co-founder Shannon Polly, MAPP, was selected to present at the International Day of Happiness free conference sponsored by en*theos, coinciding with the United Nations’ International Day of Happiness. en*theos, a popular website with over 275,000 members, was launched to help people optimize their lives and actualize their potential through providing the best content and tools on “Optimal Living.” The International Day of Happiness event is featuring 19 speakers with the respected Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) degree held by less than 300 people in the world. Those with a MAPP degree are considered experts in well-being and the application of positive psychology. “I am honored to be part of en*theos’ International Day of Happiness virtual conference. Their focus on empowering people to embrace their personal strengths and recognize their larger purpose in the world around them is inspiring” said Shannon Polly, MAPP. Polly, who… …

Positive Business DC Meetup Highlights Effective “Non-training” Methods for Engagement Original Release Washington, DC—February 05, 2014—Positive Business DC today announced that Halelly Azulay will speak at the February 11 Meetup in Arlington, VA. Azulay, author of Employee Development on A Shoestring, will offer a sampling of proven techniques from her book during the Meetup. Attendees will learn how to design a strategy to implement employee development methods that result in motivated, engaged employees without breaking the bank. “We’re extremely proud to be offering a program of this caliber,” say Donna Hemmert, Positive Business DC co-founder. “I have spent my career developing motivated, high performing teams and am always on the lookout for ways to improve the work environment and my team’s experience. Azulay’s research has produced some very interesting techniques and I’m delighted to share them with the Positive Business… …

Original Release Washington, DC (PRWEB) January 09, 2014 — Positive Business DC today announced that Margaret Greenberg and Senia Maymin, PhD will lead a webinar on the secrets of how to become a more productive leader. Co-authors of the book, Profit from the Positive: Proven Leadership Strategies to Boost Productivity And Transform Your Business, Greenberg and Maymin’s techniques have been adopted by leading companies as diverse as Google, VMware, SNL Financial, Aetna, and Intel. The one-hour webinar, scheduled for January 14 at noon EST, is Positive Business DC’s second online event. “We are honored to offer such groundbreaking material,” says Shannon Polly, MAPP, co-founder of Positive Business DC. “As a webinar, Profit for the Positive has been designed to give people tools that are ingeniously fast and simple to learn and implement. I’ve seen the tools in action, and they… …

Original Release Acclaimed actor, attorney, and corporate trainer, M.E. Hart takes center stage to show how positive diversity transforms company culture to increase happiness and productivity. Hart bases his insight on the latest research in the fields of Positive Psychology and Neuroscience, and the session promises to be fun, fast-paced, and illuminating. Washington, DC (PRWEB) October 30, 2013 — Positive Business DC today announced that M.E. Hart will share insight on how to embrace positive diversity to build teams based on mutual respect and authentic communication. During the November 7 Meetup, Hart will help session participants look beyond deeply ingrained stereotypes and labels and form strong, brilliant teams. The session is designed to give participants new strategies that help answer the question ‘Who is the best candidate for the job?’ By blending the science of Positive Psychology with the latest… …

“Improv for the Business Stage” gives people the freedom to be themselves at work. Kat Koppett, an expert in the fields of Organizational Psychology and Applied Improv, will share the secrets for improving culture, productivity, and well-being in the workplace while being comfortable and having fun along the way. Original Release October 29, 2013—Positive Business DC today announced that Kat Koppett will teach people how to use improv to produce positive business outcomes. The Webinar, scheduled for October 30 at noon EST is Positive Business DC’s first online event. Koppett holds a B.F.A. in Drama from New York University and an M.A. in Organization Psychology from Columbia University. She is recognized as an authority in the field of Applied Improv. Koppett’s book, Training to Imagine: Practical Improvisational Theater Techniques to Enhance Creativity, Teamwork, Leadership, and Learning is used by businesses… …

Shannon Polly to Present “Change Is Not A Dirty Word,” a look at how Appreciative Inquiry is used to evaluate past and present capacities to amplify organizational strengths, achievements, assets, unexplored potentials, and innovations. Original Release April 10—Positive Business DC today announced that Shannon Polly will share the methodology associated with positive organizational change known as Appreciative Inquiry (AI) as well as recent insights from AI Summits in Cleveland and Cincinnati. Polly, a Co-founder of Positive Business DC, holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, a rather rare degree that only about 300 people have earned to-date. Polly’s presentation, Change Is Not A Dirty Word, is the third in Positive Business DC’s Well-being in the Workplace Series, and is being held at at Canvas on April 24. Polly has been an assistant instructor in the… …

Original Release Start 2013 on Positive Note with Positive Business DC’s “Well-being in the Workplace Series” Washington, DC—January 23, 2013—Positive Business DC today announced that renowned author, Caroline Adams Miller, will disclose how setting goals leads to happiness and success during their January 31 Meetup. Miller’s presentation, Creating Your Best Life for Success, is the second in Positive Business DC’s Well-being in the Workplace Series, and is being held at TeqCorner in Tyson’s Corner, VA. Miller is the author of Creating Your Best Life, and is an internationally-known coach who speaks frequently on the topic of goal accomplishment and its connection with happiness. She is recognized as one of the world’s leaders on this research and how it can be applied to one’s life for maximum transformation and growth. “The research tells us that people who have a limited number… …

Original Release Washington, DC—November 28, 2012—Just a few weeks after its first event, Positive Business DC today announced the launch of its Web presence at http://www.positivebusinessdc.com. Positive Business DC endeavors to help companies increase well-being in the workplace, which has been proven to lead to increased life satisfaction and also improved creativity, productivity, reduced employee churn and greater profitability. The website will give the business community information about the group’s charter and upcoming online and offline events. “We feel fortunate to be located in the Virginia/ Maryland/ DC area, which is often a hotbed for starting and igniting social change. Washington, DC recently placed last on the Happiness Scale of US cities. Focusing on improving business culture here can help us increase the area’s overall wellbeing level,” states Donna Hemmert, co-founder of PBDC. DC ranked last recently, according to Kiip… …

Original Release Washington, DC—October 16, 2012—Positive Business DC today announced a speaker series designed to increase well-being in the workplace. The series will feature experts in the area of Applied Positive Psychology who will teach how the science of well-being can improve companies, corporate culture, and the bottom line. Positive Business DC’s inaugural event showcases Doug Hensch, coach and entrepreneur will share 5-1/2 Secrets of Resilient Entrepreneurs. The event and will be held at Teqcorner in McLean, VA on October 25, 2012. “When Washington DC placed last on the Happiness Scale of US cities we knew it was time to help our community improve the business climate,” states Shannon Polly, MAPP, President of Accentuate Consulting and co-founder of Positive Business DC. “We are excited by the opportunity to give local leaders tools to help them infuse well-being into their organizations… …