From Functioning to Flourishing

Fear

Why Your Brain Resists Workplace Change

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on May 12, 2025

Your brain's threat response can hijack innovation. These five science-backed practices can restore psychological safety when everything feels uncertain.

Your brain's threat response can hijack innovation. These five science-backed practices can restore psychological safety when everything feels uncertain.

Career

Do You Feel Like You're About to Lose It at Work?

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on April 20, 2025

Overwhelmed, irritable, or on edge at work? You’re not the only one. Discover tiny, evidence-based nudges to steady yourself—and others—when emotions run high.

Overwhelmed, irritable, or on edge at work? You’re not the only one. Discover tiny, evidence-based nudges to steady yourself—and others—when emotions run high.

Motivation

How Some Teams Thrive Under Pressure

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on April 8, 2025

When workplace challenges mount, some teams crumble while others rise. Studies show three small psychological safety actions can transform potential breakdown into breakthroughs.

When workplace challenges mount, some teams crumble while others rise. Studies show three small psychological safety actions can transform potential breakdown into breakthroughs.

Burnout

The Workplace Conversations No One Wants to Have

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on March 24, 2025

The most damaging workplace issues are often the ones no one discusses. Learn how to create the right conditions for honest conversations that address what's really happening.

The most damaging workplace issues are often the ones no one discusses. Learn how to create the right conditions for honest conversations that address what's really happening.

Workplace Dynamics

Why Most Workplace Mental Health Programs Fail

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on March 10, 2025

Why do so many workplace mental health efforts fall short? What the most successful workplaces are doing differently.

Why do so many workplace mental health efforts fall short? What the most successful workplaces are doing differently.

Relationships

The Valentine's Gift 78% of Women Secretly Crave

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on February 13, 2025

Nine out of ten women exhaust themselves trying to be "good girls" in their relationships. New research reveals why dropping that perfect facade leads to deeper love.

Nine out of ten women exhaust themselves trying to be "good girls" in their relationships. New research reveals why dropping that perfect facade leads to deeper love.

People-Pleasing

When Your Need to Please Backfires

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on November 5, 2024

Tired of shape-shifting to keep everyone happy? Discover how the secure attachment 4S framework can help you stop people-pleasing and start building genuine connections.

Tired of shape-shifting to keep everyone happy? Discover how the secure attachment 4S framework can help you stop people-pleasing and start building genuine connections.

Boundaries

Avoid This Common Boundary-Setting Mistake

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on September 30, 2024

Explore the differences between setting boundaries, making requests, issuing demands, and complaining. These 6 steps can help your brain confidently set boundaries that stick.

Explore the differences between setting boundaries, making requests, issuing demands, and complaining. These 6 steps can help your brain confidently set boundaries that stick.

Relationships

How to Safely Connect With Others

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on September 12, 2024

Are you able to live in the secure relating sweet spot, even when your relationships become challenging? Here are seven tiny nudges to improve your relationships.

Are you able to live in the secure relating sweet spot, even when your relationships become challenging? Here are seven tiny nudges to improve your relationships.

Trauma

Can You Name Your Pain?

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on August 29, 2024

Personal Perspective: How might you sit with uncomfortable emotions? Can you listen with curiosity and kindness, instead of judgment?

Personal Perspective: How might you sit with uncomfortable emotions? Can you listen with curiosity and kindness, instead of judgment?

Relationships

Are You Securely Attached to Yourself?

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on August 13, 2024

When it comes to your relationships, regardless of your attachment style, can you find the "sweet spot" of secure relating? Tips to help you and others.

When it comes to your relationships, regardless of your attachment style, can you find the "sweet spot" of secure relating? Tips to help you and others.

Anger

Why Do We Feel the Need to Be "Good Girls"?

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on July 28, 2024

Do you find yourself, even as an adult, still struggling to meet an impossible set of expectations? Where do these beliefs come from, and why are they so hard to escape?

Do you find yourself, even as an adult, still struggling to meet an impossible set of expectations? Where do these beliefs come from, and why are they so hard to escape?

Self-Help

Do You Need Fierce Self-Compassion?

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on June 25, 2024

Could you use a little self-compassion? Kristin Neff shares the kind way to set boundaries and stand up for yourself.

Could you use a little self-compassion? Kristin Neff shares the kind way to set boundaries and stand up for yourself.

Leadership

The Psychologically Safer Alternative to Performance Reviews

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on March 21, 2024

If the annual performance review period brings stress and dysfunction to your workplace, you're not alone. Fortunately, there's a better way.

If the annual performance review period brings stress and dysfunction to your workplace, you're not alone. Fortunately, there's a better way.

Career

How Well Do You Thank Your Team?

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on March 7, 2024

We all have the same basic psychological needs for respect. Yet, how we would like these needs to be met can make ensuring adequate recognition difficult for a leader.

We all have the same basic psychological needs for respect. Yet, how we would like these needs to be met can make ensuring adequate recognition difficult for a leader.

Career

Do You Wish You Had More Job Control?

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on February 26, 2024

What can we do to improve low job control in our workplaces, even when our choices about the tasks we must complete are limited?

What can we do to improve low job control in our workplaces, even when our choices about the tasks we must complete are limited?

Career

Are You Struggling With a Lack of Role Clarity?

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on February 20, 2024

When it comes to completing work, we all want to do well. Succeeding, however, depends on having a set of measurable outcomes that deliver value for our clients and organization.

When it comes to completing work, we all want to do well. Succeeding, however, depends on having a set of measurable outcomes that deliver value for our clients and organization.

Leadership

What’s the Business Case for Workplace Trust?

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on November 15, 2023

With the costs of burnout starting to add up to billions of dollars each year, leaders need to be more accountable than ever for the mental health and well-being of their people.

With the costs of burnout starting to add up to billions of dollars each year, leaders need to be more accountable than ever for the mental health and well-being of their people.

Positive Psychology

How to Prevent Psychosocial Risks While Promoting Well-Being

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on October 26, 2023

As millions of people grapple with burnout, a focus on improving psychosocial (emotional and social) safety has gained prominence across workplaces.

As millions of people grapple with burnout, a focus on improving psychosocial (emotional and social) safety has gained prominence across workplaces.

Career

Do You Draw on This Wellbeing Super Tool at Work?

Michelle McQuaid Ph.D. on September 12, 2023

Have you ever wondered what people with the highest levels of wellbeing at work do differently from the rest of us?

Have you ever wondered what people with the highest levels of wellbeing at work do differently from the rest of us?