Happier At Work®

Are you running on fumes as the year comes to a close?In this solo episode of the Happier at Work podcast, Aoife O'Brien gets real about end-of-year exhaustion, sharing her personal experiences and lessons learned after a hectic, relentless year without a truly restorative break. Drawing from her own journey juggling business demands and book writing, plus research for her upcoming book, Aoife O'Brien explores why so many of us struggle to press pause, and how cultural norms, productivity mindsets, and always-on tech contribute to burnout. She offers practical psychological insights and actionable advice for prioritising rest, recovery, and self-support so we can finish strong and start the new year feeling truly refreshed.In This Episode, You’ll Discover:The causes of end-of-year fatigue: Many people feel depleted as the year wraps up, often because they haven’t scheduled proper restorative breaks.The pressure to stay busy: Social norms, the "Protestant work ethic," and hustle culture make it hard for us to take time off without guilt.The importance of scheduling breaks first: Prioritising holiday time and support for your business ensures you can fully detach and recharge.How to recognise when your body and mind are telling you to slow down, then take action before burnout hits.Related Topics Covered:Managing Workload, Workplace Wellbeing, Entrepreneurial Challenges Connect with Aoife O’Brien | Host of Happier at Work®:Website LinkedIn YouTube Related Episodes You’ll Love:122: Cultivating a Mindset for Success with Brennan Jacoby249: Embracing Failure & A Growth Mindset with Kelly MacDonald241: Exploring The Phases of Burnout with Aoife O’BrienAbout Happier at Work®Happier at Work® is the podcast for business leaders who want to create meaningful, human-centric workplaces. Hosted by Aoife O’Brien, the show explores leadership, career clarity, imposter syndrome, workplace culture, and employee engagement — helping you and your team thrive.If you enjoy podcasts like WorkLife with Adam Grant, The Happiness Lab, or Squiggly Careers, you’ll love Happier at Work®.Website: https://happieratwork.ie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HappierAtWorkHQ Mentioned in this episode:Thriving Talent BookBook

What if we reimagined work as a product, something employees subscribe to, rather than simply a place they show up?In this thought-provoking episode of the Happier at Work podcast, Aoife O'Brien sits down with Dart Lindsley, CEO and co-founder of 11fold and host of the Work for Humans podcast. Together, they explore the innovative concept of treating work as a product, challenging traditional management mindsets, and putting employees in the role of valued customers. Dart draws from decades of experience leading HR transformation at industry giants like Cisco and Google, explaining how “work as a product” unlocks more meaningful employee experiences and, ultimately, drives better business outcomes.In This Episode, You’ll Discover:Why “employees as customers” is not just a metaphor. Employees actively exchange value and have choices, demanding a product approach to work design.The limits of treating employees as assets or inputs, and the powerful shift to seeing them as subscribers who daily choose their work.How to recognise the difference between universal needs (like pay and fairness) and unique, individual motivators that require localized, team-based solutions.How managers can transition from controllers of assets to designers and brokers of meaningful work experiences tailored to each team member.Related Topics Covered:Future of Work, Workplace Motivation & Drivers Connect with Aoife O’Brien | Host of Happier at Work®:Website LinkedIn YouTube Connect with Dart Lindsley | CEO of 11fold and host of Work for Humans Podcast:WebsiteLinkedInPodcastRelated Episodes You’ll Love:Episode 184: A Framework for Building Happier Work Cultures with Aoife O’BrienEpisode 197: The Journey to Workplace Happiness with Rob DubinEpisode 272: Beyond Happiness at Work with Dr. Mark FabianAbout Happier at Work®Happier at Work® is the podcast for business leaders who want to create meaningful, human-centric workplaces. Hosted by Aoife O’Brien, the show explores leadership, career clarity, imposter syndrome, workplace culture, and employee engagement — helping you and your team thrive.If you enjoy podcasts like WorkLife with Adam Grant, The Happiness Lab, or Squiggly Careers, you’ll love Happier at Work®.Join Aoife O’Brien for weekly insights on leadership, workplace culture, career clarity, imposter syndrome, and creating work that works for you.Website: https://happieratwork.ie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HappierAtWorkHQ Mentioned in this episode:Thriving Talent BookBook

Are you stuck believing that people, or even you, can never change?In this solo episode of the Happier at Work podcast, Aoife O'Brien dives deep into the powerful concepts of fixed and growth mindsets, drawing on her own experiences and insights from Carol Dweck’s influential book, Mindset. Aoife shares candid reflections on how her default fixed mindset affected her professional choices, how she projected those beliefs onto others, and the pivotal shift that came with adopting a growth mindset. Her journey explores why leaders need to understand how their beliefs shape individual, team, and organisational success.In This Episode, You’ll Discover:The difference between fixed and growth mindsets, and their real-life impact on career decisions and leadership.How projecting a fixed mindset onto yourself or your team can limit growth, performance, and innovation.The role of psychological safety in enabling learning, healthy challenge, and speaking up without fear.Why leaders don’t need to have all the answers, and the value of adopting a coaching approach to empower others.Related Topics Covered:Psychological Safety, Thriving Talent Framework, Leadership Connect with Aoife O’Brien | Host of Happier at Work®:Website LinkedIn YouTube Related Episodes You’ll Love:122: Cultivating a Mindset for Success with Brennan Jacoby249: Embracing Failure & A Growth Mindset with Kelly MacDonaldAbout Happier at Work®Happier at Work® is the podcast for business leaders who want to create meaningful, human-centric workplaces. Hosted by Aoife O’Brien, the show explores leadership, career clarity, imposter syndrome, workplace culture, and employee engagement — helping you and your team thrive.If you enjoy podcasts like WorkLife with Adam Grant, The Happiness Lab, or Squiggly Careers, you’ll love Happier at Work®.Website: https://happieratwork.ie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HappierAtWorkHQ Mentioned in this episode:Thriving Talent BookBook

Are you ready to take charge of your happiness, both at work and in life?In this episode of the Happier at Work podcast, Aoife O'Brien sits down with Klaudia Mitura, Learning and Development Manager at the Science Museum Group UK and certified Chief Happiness Officer, to explore the science of happiness. Klaudia reveals how happiness isn’t just “fluffy”, it’s grounded in research and practical habits. She shares her personal journey, the breakthrough habits supported by positive psychology, and actionable ways listeners can boost their wellbeing, cultivate joy, and foster more meaningful work and life experiences.In This Episode, You’ll Discover:Happiness as a Science: It’s rooted in positive psychology and more than momentary joy, it’s also about overall life satisfaction.The difference between Day-to-day joy and long-term contentment. The surprising breakdown of what drives happiness, 40% comes from daily habits you control.Klaudia’s “Alphabet of Happiness”: Her tested collection of science-backed hacks for everyday joy.Related Topics Covered:Self-awareness, Purpose at Work, The Power of Choice, Achievement vs Happiness Connect with Aoife O’Brien | Host of Happier at Work®:Website LinkedIn YouTube Connect with Klaudia Mitura | Certified Chief Happiness Officer:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramKlaudia’s bookKlaudia’ Podcast: The Happiness ChallengeRelated Episodes You’ll Love:Episode 184: A Framework for Building Happier Work Cultures with Aoife O’BrienEpisode 197: The Journey to Workplace Happiness with Rob DubinEpisode 272: Beyond Happiness at Work with Dr. Mark FabianAbout Happier at Work®Happier at Work® is the podcast for business leaders who want to create meaningful, human-centric workplaces. Hosted by Aoife O’Brien, the show explores leadership, career clarity, imposter syndrome, workplace culture, and employee engagement — helping you and your team thrive.If you enjoy podcasts like WorkLife with Adam Grant, The Happiness Lab, or Squiggly Careers, you’ll love Happier at Work®.Join Aoife O’Brien for weekly insights on leadership, workplace culture, career clarity, imposter syndrome, and creating work that works for you.Website: https://happieratwork.ie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HappierAtWorkHQ Mentioned in this episode:Thriving Talent BookBook

Are you holding yourself back at work by seeking permission instead of stepping into your power?In this impactful solo episode of the Happier at Work podcast, Aoife O'Brien explores the subtle and not so subtle ways we ask for permission in our professional lives. Sparked by a personal conversation with her cousin, Aoife O'Brien reflects on her own tendency to seek approval, especially in seemingly small situations, and how this pattern may resonate with many listeners. Through honest reflection and practical strategies, she encourages us to identify the moments we hesitate, people-please, or wait for recognition, and to break the cycle by giving ourselves the permission we seek.In This Episode, You’ll Discover:The root causes of why we seek permission, including fear of judgment, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and cultural upbringing.How to embrace asking for forgiveness, not always permission, especially for low-stakes decisions.The importance of giving yourself permission and take control of your career journey, no one is coming to grant it for you.Related Topics Covered:Psychological Safety, Personal Responsibility, Imposter Syndrome Connect with Aoife O’Brien | Host of Happier at Work®:Website LinkedIn YouTube Related Episodes You’ll Love:Episode 219: How to Encourage Women Leaders to Speak Up with Carla MillerEpisode 223: Imposter Syndrome: The Invisible Barrier to Career SuccessAbout Happier at Work®Happier at Work® is the podcast for business leaders who want to create meaningful, human-centric workplaces. Hosted by Aoife O’Brien, the show explores leadership, career clarity, imposter syndrome, workplace culture, and employee engagement — helping you and your team thrive.If you enjoy podcasts like WorkLife with Adam Grant, The Happiness Lab, or Squiggly Careers, you’ll love Happier at Work®.Website: https://happieratwork.ie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HappierAtWorkHQ Mentioned in this episode:Thriving Talent BookBook