Most people go to work, although it’s a challenge to get there early in the morning, especially when traffic is very bad. There are risks and opportunities for separation that lead to conflict. These conflicts can occur at any time and are unavoidable – unless you focus on positivity.
A positive attitude is something that can be learned, and it can transform your workdays from boring tasks to more enjoyable ones, it can carry you through difficult times at the office.
Think about it – even if your workload is demanding, a positive attitude would be helpful in your job. It would also be easier to resolve a conflict because most people are easily influenced by people with pleasant personalities. Imagine how you’d feel if you achieved what you set out to do, and with a smile on your face too!
Why a Positive Attitude Is Important at Work
The most successful people in business are those who maintain a positive attitude. They’re usually happy, optimistic, and friendly. Successful people see challenges as opportunities to learn, improve and grow.
In the workplace, a positive employee is good at building relationships with colleagues and customers. They contribute positively to the overall performance of the team and to employee engagement. Their knowledge, experience, and positive thinking help them excel in their positions. They’re willing to take on new tasks and face challenges where they might make mistakes.
A positive attitude can be fostered by building a supportive and positive work environment that encourages collaboration among employees. You can also cultivate a positive environment by creating a pleasant work atmosphere that everyone can enjoy – your employees and your customers alike.
A Positive Attitude Is a Great Way to Improve Your Work Environment and Be More Productive.
If you’re feeling down, at least make an effort to be cheerful. Many studies show that people who’re cheerful at work are more productive than those who’re not.
When it comes to how you think, how you feel, and how you behave at work:
- Feel good. This is the first point you should consider, because it’s so easy to come into the office with disheveled hair and a grumpy face. You need to feel good before you can be productive – that means you need to work out and look good.
- Work hard, but play hard, too. This is about having fun in the office, not just playing games all day (although that’s great too). Just remember that the most important thing is to get your work done efficiently and effectively, which shouldn’t come at the expense of time spent with your friends or colleagues.
- It’s normal to experience stress at work. If you’ve been promoted, your company has just been bought out, or you’re facing a big project, you’re more likely than ever to feel restless.
But if you’re constantly worrying about what’s going wrong, you may not be able to focus on the things that are right.
Research has shown that people with an optimistic attitude have more success in the workplace than those who are negative and pessimistic. A positive team atmosphere, even if it’s behind closed doors, is important for all employees. The more productive and satisfied they’re, the more they contribute to the company’s success.
How to Work Positively in a Negative Environment
Even though negative situations are inevitable in some workplaces, it’s possible to get others to approach work in a more positive and optimistic way.
To do this, you need to be aware of how you present yourself and adjust your style to be more optimistic. When dealing with difficult people, pay attention to what they say and try to find something positive in it. When they complain, it’s easy to focus on their negativity – but when they talk about their kids or the weather, it’s easy to find something good in a bad situation.
Here are some tips on how to stay positive:
- Be positive yourself. Try to see the good parts of your job and your colleagues instead of focusing only on the negative aspects. Sometimes it’s best to just keep your head down and work hard so you don’t get labeled as a complainer or someone who brings negativity to the office.
- Stay away from gossip. Gossip is by definition negative and unproductive. And if you’re talking to people who aren’t at work (or at least don’t appear to be), you’re probably not spreading productive gossip anyway. If you’ve something constructive to say, it’s best to keep it brief and keep it to yourself – there’s no reason to share your story with others unless they ask you directly.
- Avoid mixing professional and personal life. If you have a problem in your personal life, it is best not to share it with your colleagues or your boss unless you know them well enough and are absolutely certain that it will be a good thing for your professional development.
- Take time for yourself. It may be tempting to focus entirely on work and put off self-care tasks, but that leads to stress and unhappiness. Instead, set aside some time each day for activities that will help you feel more confident and happy. When employee morale is high and they are confident and happy, they are better able to manage their work life. Schedule small breaks throughout the day – even if you do not need them. Taking a short walk around the office, listening to your favorite music, or making personal calls will keep you from getting burned out by the workplace culture.
- Take care of your mental health. Too much negative thinking can affect your mental health and interfere with your work. To keep a positive mindset, it’s important to sleep well and have a balanced diet. If you are constantly having a negative thought about your workplace or feel that your personal life is interfering with your work, your workplace may have a department that deals with employee morale, or maybe consider consulting applied psychology professional.
- Manage your expectations at work. It’s easy to worry about all the things that could go wrong, but you’ll be much more productive if you set realistic goals and stick to them. Don’t expect everything to be 100% perfect. If something can’t be perfect, make it workable by focusing on the positive outcomes instead of getting bogged down in the negative emotion.
- Draw boundaries. If someone around you is having a negative attitude, don’t take it personally. A positive work environment doesn’t mean that everyone always has a positive mindset. Don’t let negativity (or toxic positivity) get to you. If someone is negative about their job satisfaction or the lack of positive workplace culture, avoid adopting a negative attitude as well and try to focus on your positive energy. Negative emotion won’t take you anywhere.
- Be happy about it. Your job satisfaction may not always feel so good, and you may be experiencing stress all the time – but there is probably at least one good thing every day, and with a positive attitude you will recognize it. Look for those positive things and appreciate them.
What to Do in a Toxic Work Environment
I try to be a positive thinker no matter what work I’ve to do. I once worked for an organization where the workplace attitude was toxic. I tried everything from a positive attitude to positive psychology, but it was impossible to have a positive outlook about anything or even a positive interaction with a co-worker.
So I created my own positive work culture and looked for small positive outcomes in some of my daily tasks, even though I knew my work wouldn’t be rewarded, at least I learned how to create personal job satisfaction and positive emotion where there’s stress and a lack of workplace positivity.
Take Responsibility for Positivity
Positive interaction with your team is important, but remember that you aren’t always responsible for the bad or good attitude around you, but you are responsible for your own positive work culture and professional development. If you understand that, then you’re probably likely to have some positive outcomes.
- Practice gratitude. It may sound silly, but try writing down the three things you’re grateful for in a journal (or on a piece of paper) each day. This can be something as simple as a positive thought. It’s good training for your positive mindset.
- Positive response. When someone complains about something to you, try using phrases like “This could be an interesting story,” “It sounds like you have a busy day ahead,” or “I hope this works out for you.” The key is to use body language that conveys a feeling of positive thinking – lean forward, speak softly, and generally put yourself in a good mood.
- Make sure your coworkers know you’re ready to help them when they need it, rather than giving them the cold shoulder because their world just fell apart. You don’t want them to think badly of you, so make sure that you’re mindful of those around you.
- Know your value. Just because others in your workplace don’t make as much as you, doesn’t mean they aren’t doing a more valuable job than you’re. It’s easy to think that everyone else is equally valuable, but at the end of the day, your boss knows which employees are the most productive, and that’s what determines your paycheck.
- Visualize your success. Get a picture in your head of what you want. What would it look like? What kind of job would it be? What kind of income would you’ve? You need this vision to turn your positive thinking and goals into action.
- Think about your previous successes. Many people don’t believe they’re capable of doing anything, but they can if they set their mind to it. Think back to all the things you’ve done and accomplished. Remember those moments and keep them fresh in your mind so that they inspire you to achieve more.
- Be realistic about what’s possible. The first step is to know where you’re now so you can measure your progress toward your goal. Then think about what could happen if you really pushed yourself and achieved more than you think is possible. Write down anything that might keep you from achieving your goal – and use that list as a guide to get there.
- Find a mentor or role model who inspires you. The more you engage with your company’s culture, the better you’ll do. If your boss is only interested in making money, it may not be the best place for you. Even if there aren’t many opportunities at your company, look outside the company for other ways to boost your professional development.
- Reward yourself (and others) for getting things done. As you complete tasks such as research, presentations, emails, or other assignments, reward yourself with something you enjoy – a cup of coffee or a walk around the block. You’ll find that this small reward keeps you motivated when you’re working on something important that many people would rather avoid.
- Focus on what’s beneficial to you and your career. This means that you shouldn’t worry so much about whether everyone at work likes you that you start to think that every negative comment is a reflection on you personally. Don’t get caught up in things that are less important than your future career success.
- Stay in touch with people outside of work who’ve helped you in the past. Reach out to friends and former colleagues who’ve experienced similar workplace culture challenges and ask them how they overcame them. Learning from the experiences of others is one of the best ways to ensure you don’t repeat their mistakes.
- Surround yourself with positive coworkers. Workplace bullies are often the leaders of the group who benefit the most from spreading negativity. They’re good at it, too – they thrive on negative emotion, so they can often be found in the middle of an argument or trying to start one.
- But there’s no need to cower in fear. Instead, find a positive person to hang out with. The more you surround yourself with positive people who’ve your back and will stand up for you when someone else tries to make you feel bad, the better you’ll feel about yourself and your work environment.
- Positive people have good emotional intelligence and are better at communicating and are more resourceful, creative, and innovative than negative people. Positive people often go above and beyond the call of duty to help their friends and colleagues.
Recognizing the Qualities of a Positive Person in the Workplace
Positive people are spurred on by challenges and are motivated to do their best.
- They strive to understand the needs of their co-workers and make suggestions to them on how they can improve.
- They recognize that everyone has something to offer, even if it’s just a little information or an idea to improve processes.
- They don’t get frustrated when they make mistakes because they know that mistakes are part of learning.
- They know that work is about helping others and being dedicated to the tasks at hand, not just checking off boxes on a report card or meeting a quota.
- They’re more open and communicative.
- They speak up and ask questions, including about their work and the job in general.
- When asked to do something that takes them away from their regular duties, they’re more willing than others to say yes. Of course, they don’t mind taking on extra tasks; for a positive person, that’s just part of the job.
- They’re proactive, not reactive. Positive people are constantly thinking ahead, which can mean they take the initiative when needed, whether it’s suggesting new ideas or offering help when it’s needed.
- They’re more likely to share information, make suggestions and offer help.
- They’re also more likely to be seen as leaders. So if you’ve the opportunity to encourage them, you should do so.
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