Yee-Ming Tan

On a busy street in central Hong Kong, a car pulled out of a building as I walked past it. The driver stopped the car and let me pass. He…

In my workshops, I find that Chinese executives are receptive to positive interventions but something about Chinese culture gets in the way of their pursuit of happiness, and until these…

Type in the word “happiness” on iTunes.com and you’ll discover a long list of apps on this topic.  There are two interesting apps developed based on positive psychology research: Live…

Barbara Fredrickson shared an intervention called positive portfolio during the first Positive Psychology World Congress last month in Philadelphia. I came home inspired to start my own portfolio. In her…

As I read Fredrickson’s book, I couldn’t help recalling a wonderful episode from my mini-vacation two weeks ago on a private rain forest island in Malaysia. I find restaurants a great place to practice positivity, and very often, receive great service in return. Positive customer behavior begets positive service. Here’s what I do in restaurants.

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Outliers, much of what he says about successful people is little more than common sense: that talent alone is not enough to ensure success, that opportunity, hard work, family, timing and luck play important roles as well. From a coach’s perspective, the point about luck, timing and opportunity has a special relevance to the pursuit of flourishing lives for Chinese people.

I found this quotation on a billboard in the City Hall Square in Copenhagen while on holiday there last month: “Replace fear of the unknown with curiosity.” Recognizing moments of fear or anxiety is simple enough but entering a state of curiosity is a real challenge for me, probably has something to do with my practical sensibility.

Do strengths translate well to workplaces in China? I recently came across an experience in which the strengths-approach was challenged. “This assessment doesn’t tell me my weaknesses, it only contains strengths. I don’t get it! How can I improve if I don’t know my weaknesses?” Chen shouted from the back of the room.

Yee-Ming Tan, MAPP ’07 , is an author and executive coach. Her practice provides coaching services and leadership development training to senior executives. Recent clients include Cathay Pacific, Goldman Sachs,…