The Happiness Lab

26/08/2025

24/08/2025

Bel's new boss 💙

After much anticipation (and many 'any baby news?' questions), we’re so excited to share that Bel’s beautiful baby boy ), Constance, made his grand entrance last week.

He’s happy, healthy, and already very loved.

Bel and her family are soaking up the newborn bubble and doing wonderfully. We’re absolutely thrilled for them. And yes, he was totally worth the wait.

22/08/2025

Ever heard of the Keeper Test?

It’s bold, confronting, and it might just be the clearest tool for building a high-performing culture.

Would your team pass?

20/08/2025

Ever been mid-conversation when you suddenly realise the other person’s eyes have dropped to their phone? Feels pretty crappy, right?

This week, in a workshop with a group of gritty, growth-minded leaders, we were talking about active listening when one leader bravely called something out -

'I’ve noticed how often we’re on our phones when we’re meant to be connecting and problem-solving together. It’s taking away from us really engaging with each other, and from getting important work done.'

It wasn’t a dig. It was delivered bravely, kindly, and honestly because she cares about her team operating at their best.

There were embarrassed laughs and nods in recognition. Because in a world built for distraction, we’re all guilty.

The fastest way to show someone they have your attention? Give them 100% of it. Nothing says 'I’m half here' like glancing at a screen mid-sentence.

So, how do you keep your phone from stealing your focus when you should be connecting with people at work?

My top tip: Put your phone away when someone needs you to listen. Out of sight or, at the very least, turn it face down. This is two seconds of effort that can shift a conversation from surface-level to something real.

What works for you?

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01/08/2025

Hot take: When we ask someone to step into leadership, we’re not just promoting them. We’re moving them into a whole new career.

Until we treat this transition as exactly that, a career change, we keep setting new leaders (and their teams) up to fail.

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22/07/2025

Leadership Icks.

You know the ones. The habits that are common but make you shudder.

From (unpopular opinion) calling your team a family to open-door vibes no one dares to test - here are our top 11 (because we couldn't, for the life of us, narrow it down to just 10).

What would you add to the list?

15/07/2025

On Friday we got to do one of my favourite things - hang out with the newest bunch of leaders at Hysata. Among other things, we explored what compassion really looks like in leadership.

The Hysata crew are super smart (like intimidatingly so), capable and already strong AF in compassion - it’s embedded in their culture. We get the lucky privilege of supporting them to sharpen this skill.

We unpacked a powerful idea from Brené Brown’s research -

'The most compassionate people are also the most boundaried.'

Without boundaries, compassion becomes martyrdom. We give too much, feel frustrated, and start the slippery slide into resentment. Nobody wins. True compassion honours others and ourselves.

Leadership isn't about being nice, it's about being clear, kind, and courageous. Boundaries are what make compassion in leadership (and in life in general) sustainable.

11/07/2025

Using the science of wellbeing to emerge from a crappy day. A reflection from Carlie x

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27/06/2025

No egos. No point scoring. Just mutual commitment to lifting each other up.

24/06/2025

'You’re not just born a great leader. You become one when you’re willing to keep learning, even when it’s uncomfortable'

Meet our founder, Carlie Belancic. She's a data-driven optimist, winter-swimming tragic, proud workplace psychology nerd and registered psychologist.

Her biggest leadership lesson is this: leadership isn't a promotion, it’s a career change.

And like any professional career, one in leadership takes continuous skill-building, self-awareness, and a willingness to get uncomfortable.

Carlie's purpose is to help leaders build what she likes to call 'leadership fitness', the practical skills that shape high-performing, human-centred workplaces.

When she's not dissecting leadership research, you’ll find her diving into the ocean, preferably in the depths of winter when it's extra zingy.

Her top strength? 'Relationship Deepener' which is just a fancy way of saying she doesn't do small talk. She's more of a 'what's been lighting you up lately?' kind of gal.

17/06/2025

Great leaders dig for conflict.

Not because they want to stir the pot but because they know it exists. And few things fester quite like unaddressed conflict.

Avoidance might feel polite in the moment, but it breeds resentment.

Don't wait for things to explode. Unearthing the unsaid is your first step to navigating it.

18/02/2025

Psychological safety and high expectations aren’t at odds. In fact, the best teams have both.

I've come across a theme in my work lately. There’s this idea that psychological safety = making people feel comfortable all the time. But that’s not what the research says.

Amy Edmondson’s work shows that true psychological safety isn’t about avoiding discomfort — it’s about making it safe to have high expectations of people, take risks, challenge ideas, and have the tough conversations that drive real growth.

If we focus only on being 'nice' and keeping the peace, we create a 'no development zone' where people hold back, feedback gets watered down, and performance suffers.

The best leaders don’t choose between psychological safety and high standards —they cultivate both.

Swipe through my carousel below to see how.