Pilot PMR People

Creating an Atmosphere of Positivity

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How many times have you heard the question, “Is the glass half empty or half full?” It is probably one of the most popular questions that have been used to begin to discern if an individual is a pessimist or an optimist, but if positivity is integral to an individual's success and well-being, how can it be defined by a simple question? Today, we discuss the power of positivity for both personal and professional growth, and give you a few actionable tips on how you can begin to create a positive mindset and implement it in your workplace culture.
 
The Power of Positivity on the Brain
 
The brain is an incredible organ that gives us the ability to learn, dream, interact with others and grow both personally and professionally. What many people do not realize, however, is that the brain is always changing to adapt to our emotions, surroundings, and knowledge base. Positivity is therefore not a static emotion, but one that can be nurtured over time, allowing individuals to move out of a pessimist mindset and into a positive one! This can be achieved by taking 5 minutes each day to complete one of the following;
 
-Journal about your day, and how it affected your thoughts and emotions
-Replace negative thoughts with three positive ones
-Show gratitude to others
 
It has been found that after 21 days of completing one of these small tasks, the brain is essentially rewired to focus on the positive. This has been seen to impact the brain in incredible ways as well, as it;
 
-Stimulates the growth of nerve connections
-Increases productivity
-Allows for more in-depth analysis and thought
-Impacts perception of surroundings
-Allows for more happy thoughts

 

Is Your Workplace Positive or Negative?
 
We know that positivity is crucial for personal growth and can see how it can significantly affect the brain, but how does positivity impact the workplace?
 
Take a look at your workplace? Are individuals feeling excited about their work; ready to take on each new task while supporting colleagues and reaching both their personal and professional goals? Or, are individuals not meeting sales targets or deadlines and keeping to themselves, unable to handle new tasks or expand their knowledge? These are just a few differences that can be seen between a positive and negative workplace.
 
Research has found that when employees approach their work positively, not only are they capable of increasing their job performance, but they are able to be open-minded and are less likely to dwell on the negative. This not only boosts employee wellness, but it helps to impact the atmosphere of the workplace as individuals are choosing to approach their work positively instead of negatively.
 
Should your workplace be fostering positivity? Yes!  Shawn Achor shares the power of positivity, and what it can mean for the workplace, in his TedTalk
 
How to Create a Positive Workplace
 
Not sure where to start? Here are a few ways that your management and leadership teams can help to create a positive workplace culture. For more, click here.
 
Show gratitude. When we show gratitude to others or take time to be thankful for what we have ourselves, we can begin to replace any negative thoughts about personal circumstances, with positive ones. Showing gratitude to team members also helps to create a culture of appreciation, assisting individuals to feel valued and confident in their abilities.
 
Share positive messages. Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to remember positive experiences versus negative ones? Negative emotions tend to stick with us more than positive ones, which means that it is essential to always be sharing positive messaging throughout the workplace, several times a day! This can come in the form of motivational quotes, seeing those in leadership positions act positively towards those around them, and providing a space where individuals can go to collect their thoughts.
 
Acknowledge every win. No win is too small to be acknowledged and appreciated! To help foster positivity, create a system that allows every success in the company, whether it be a new client, a customer testimonial, reaching a certain number of followers on social media, etc., to be shared and celebrated by the team! When individuals are shown gratitude for their hard work and determination, or when the company as a whole can learn more about the overall success of the business, they can feel motivated to continue their work and replace any negative thoughts that they may have had, with positive reinforcement.
 
Creating a positive workplace culture is not something that can be implemented overnight as it requires meaningful changes to be made to how the company appreciates success, integrates positive messaging, and acknowledges the needs of team members. This could mean that new processes and procedures need to be taken on, or that an open-door policy should be put in place to allow individuals to express their concerns.
 
Implementing a positive mindset requires a shift in thinking. Although hard to do, it can significantly impact an individuals success, as well as a companies success for years to come!
 
How are you creating a positive workplace culture? We'd love to hear from you!