You’ve heard us say it before – and we will definitely say it again: positivity boosts employee wellness. Practicing positivity and optimism has been linked to numerous health benefits, increased productivity, and less stress. Optimistic employees are also happier and more involved in their work, so it’s really a win-win all around.
Whether you’re the employee or the employer, you can make a difference by being a positive presence in your workplace. Promoting positivity on a daily basis will help your employees or co-workers start looking on the brighter side of things. After all, positivity is contagious!
Here are seven tips to help you promote positivity in your workplace:
Show gratitude. Seeing the positive qualities in others helps bring out the positive qualities in yourself. Gratitude expands your happiness and can transform your way of thinking. Gratitude is especially helpful in the workplace because it helps develop respect, trust, and mutual appreciation among peers. Help spread gratitude by complimenting colleagues and spreading random acts of kindness.
Use positive messaging. Remember that words are powerful. Positive messaging means using words that are laced with optimism. Communicating in a positive and constructive way will change the way your listeners receive your feedback. Your communication should be personal, encouraging, passionate, and empowering. Plus, a positive message will always have more impact.
Practice thankfulness. We all crave some recognition or praise for our efforts. A simple “thank you” really does go a long way. Make it a habit to thank someone for their work at least once a day but remember to keep it genuine. Part of practicing thankfulness is learning to realize when you are thankful for something. Did a colleague’s idea from a meeting truly inspire you? Did someone go out of their way to make your day even just a little bit easier? Send them a quick email or stop by their desk and let them know.
Appreciate the little wins. It’s easy to celebrate a major milestone but remembering to celebrate the steps along the way can be difficult. Every goal requires smaller steps of action, and most of the time those actions get overlooked. Remember to always appreciate the little wins and give recognition to the employees who might be “behind the scenes” of a big accomplishment.
Smile. Even when you don’t feel like it. The simple act of turning your frown upside down can help boost positive thoughts and feelings. Smiling tricks your mind into feeling happier. A genuine smile is also crazy contagious. Even if a sale just fell through or numbers are down, smiling at your co-workers helps remind them–and yourself–that everything will be okay.
Develop relationships. Fostering healthy work relationships is essential for a positive work environment. Find ways to create relatedness among your colleagues. Social gatherings and regular check-ins at work are great ways to develop healthy relationships with employees, co-workers, and supervisors. Be careful not to get tunnel vision when it comes to creating work relationships. For the most positive work environment, you want to develop trust and respect for all levels of superiority within your company.
Know your mission. Your company or team mission is extremely important. Understanding the “why” behind what you do helps spread positivity – even on the worst workdays. When the office is down in the dumps and needs a positive pick-me-up, remind yourself and your team of the “why” behind your company and your jobs.
Positivity is powerful because it increases your coping abilities and builds resilience. You will have days when promoting positivity and a positive attitude seem next to impossible, but it’s important to remember that you have the power to see the good in any situation. Spreading positively will not only strengthen your mindset, but it will help build the mindset of those around you.
