Listening is one of the most overlooked and unappreciated skills, in part, because most people think they do it well. In this presentation, Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener sheds new light on a familiar topic. He begins with surprising obstacles to listening well (including—believe it or not—the desire to connect with others!). From there, he reveals a simple idea to make listening more efficient and he presents 6 distinct skills that can improve listening.

Dr. Biswas-Diener can present this topic as a keynote or as an experiential workshop.

In a socially divided world, a note of welcome is breath of fresh air. In this presentation, Dr. Biswas-Diener presents his groundbreaking research on hospitality as both an attitude and a set of behaviors related to welcoming others into our space. This includes orienting new hires, greeting retail shoppers, and hosting a meeting, as well as more traditional examples such as hosting a dinner party or operating a hotel. Robert introduces research on hospitality: how it differs across cultures, how it affects happiness, and the types of people who do it well. He also focuses on practical skills people can develop in order to become more hospitable.

We live in an era in which loneliness is rising, disengagement at work is becoming the new normal, and quiet quitting is a household word. The need for wellbeing programming at work is more urgent than ever before. Unfortunately, many programs are stuck in outdates models or based on older research. In this presentation, Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener leverages his expertise as a wellbeing researcher with 28 years in the field to offer new insights. He begins by sharing research on the benefits of wellbeing and types of wellbeing. The bulk of this presentation is practical: Dr. Biswas-Diener shares new approaches to self-care, craftsmanship, and meaning. Together, these help people increase both resilience and engagement.