Time and again, TED Talks are my go-to source for inspiration and learning, and to provide a much-needed shot of positivity. So now seems as good a time as any to share my (current) top 5 TED Talks to provide a little year-end light.

1. David Pogue, “Simplicity Sells”

This was one of the very first TED Talks from back in 2006. In it, the New York Times journalist discusses the rise of technology and our frustrations with poorly-designed interfaces. It is a reminder that whatever service we are providing, customer experience needs to be at its heart. Although almost 10 years old, this funny and engaging talk is still very relevant today.

2. Shawn Achor, “The Happy Secret to Better Work”

In this uplifting talk, psychologist Shawn Achor presents the idea that being happy at work makes us more productive. According to the research he unveils, the so-called “happiness advantage” makes people 31% more so – which is quite significant. At 12 minutes, this short, entertaining talk is a boost of positivity in itself.

3. Richard St. John, “8 Secrets of Success”

If you’re really pressed for time, this talk lasts just three minutes, but is packed with invaluable insights into the reasons for success – an elevator pitch for success, if you will!

4. Margaret Heffernan, “Dare to Disagree”

Another title for this talk could be “always question.” So often in the workplace, there can be a temptation to always agree and not raise questions, be it to simply get things done quickly or to avoid seeming difficult. But in this fascinating talk, Margaret Heffernan uses the example of a pioneering scientist whose statistician partner took on the role of working to disprove her theories – and when he couldn’t, showing that they were right. Great food for thought.

5. Arianna Huffington, “How to Succeed? Get More Sleep.”

Finally, in this short talk Arianna Huffington outlines how much more productive and creative we can all be by simply getting a better night’s sleep.

If you have any TED talks that you’ve found for work inspiration, we’d love to hear from you. As ever, please get in touch.