120: The journey to self-mastery and success with Sharath Jeevan

‘’I think the role of the leader now is to create that environment where everyone can feel deeply connected and motivated, where they feel that they’re able to bring their full talent and potential to work under a clear organisational direction.’’ – Sharath Jeevan.

Joining Aoife on the podcast this week is Sharath Jeevan, chairman, author and a world-leading expert on intrinsic motivation, direction and potential. Through his work and writing, Sharath is on a mission to solve motivational challenges, support leaders to build workplace cultures worth bottling up and celebrating, and help leaders navigate direction and unleash people’s fullest potential.

In this episode, Sharath explores the journey to self-mastery and success, how the most powerful motivation comes from within and how organisations can stand out and create wonderfully unique cultures. We also learn the importance of creating emotional safety and showering kindness on ourselves and others. Listeners will receive valuable tips on establishing deep customer relationships and client retention along with brilliant advice on how you can become a positive role model not just in business but at home too. Key points throughout the episode include:

- An introduction to Sharath Jeevan.
- The difference between intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation.
- Tackling a motivational crisis with three key pillars: purpose, autonomy and mastery.
- The power of SME: How smaller businesses can compete with global giants.
- The extreme approaches to micromanagement.
- A breakdown of purpose: the Big ‘P’ and Little ‘P’.
- Translating a business role into a mission statement.
- The nurturing approach to leadership and the importance of empathy in the workplace.
- The wicked issue of a performance-based workplace culture.
- The benefits of continuous learning through reflection.
- The art of self-mastery: how to become the master of your life.
- The zigzag of life: Redefining failure and growing through setbacks.
- The relationship between mastery and feedback.
- What Happier at Work means to Sharath.

Sharath was awarded an OBE in the 2022 Queen’s New Year’s Honours for founding and leading STiR Education, arguably the world’s largest intrinsic motivation initiative. STIR re-ignited the motivation of 200,000 teachers, 35,000 schools and 7 million children in emerging countries.

THE LISTENERS SAY:
Do you have any feedback or thoughts on this discussion? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you!

Resources:

Listen back: Why delivering effective and constructive feedback at work is so vital with Aoife O’Brien.
https://happieratwork.ie/85-why-delivering-effective-and-constructive-feedback-at-work-is-so-vital-with-aoife-obrien/

Book: Intrinsic – A manifesto to reignite our inner drive by Sharath Jeevan.
https://www.intrinsic-labs.com/book

Book: Drive by Daniel H. Pink
https://www.danpink.com/books/drive/

Article: Business Insider on Mark Zuckerberg and Meta
https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-upping-goals-thin-out-meta-staff-2022-7?amp

Connect with Sharath Jeevan:
https://www.intrinsic-labs.com/sharathjeevan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharathjeevan/
https://twitter.com/sharathjeevan_

Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien:
https://www.happieratwork.ie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien
https://www.twitter.com/HappierAtWorkHQ
https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie
https://www.facebook.com/groups/happieratworkpodcast