Positive Thinking in the workplace

How to Stay Positive Thinking in the Workplace 

“A man is but the product of his thoughts; what he thinks, he becomes”. Mahatma Gandhi

Positive thinking is expecting, talking and visualizing with certainty what you want to achieve, as an accomplished fact. A positive attitude brings strength, energy and initiative. The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.

Workplace diversity is one thing that should be appreciated. We are all different in various dimensions; in age, ethnicity, gender, physical abilities / qualities, race, educational background, geographic location, income, marital status, military experience, parental status, religious beliefs, work experience, and job classification.

Some of us do not like the work/ job that you do, a colleague at work, the environment at work, stressful workloads, the deadlines to beat, the pressure to perform, your boss e.tc. In a way keep in mind the 90/10 Principle. 10% of life is made up of what happens to you …90% of life is decided by how you react…… Having a positive attitude at work makes the time you spend at work more pleasant and calm, but staying positive is sometimes difficult. In fact, sometimes it can seem like Mission Impossible. Instead of falling victim to the negative work attitudes that surround you, make an effort to buck the trend.

Look for the good in your co-workers and your workplace. By learning how to communicate with co-workers effectively, you will gain recognition as a force of positive attitude in the workplace.

Be Appreciative

It is always nicer to get a pat on the back rather than to get stabbed in the back. If you're wondering "how do I change my negative attitude," start by observing how you communicate with co-workers. If you practice asking useful questions, giving accolades and being gracious at work for two weeks, you'll notice a difference in the people you work with and in your own feelings about work

How to Communicate With Co-workers Effectively:

1. Give thanks. Thank co-workers for the work they do that makes your job easier - including the peers, managers and office assistants. Even thank the security guard for making you feel safe at work. Cultivate a thankful, positive attitude in the workplace, and in return you'll notice a change in how co-workers treat you.

2. Acknowledge a job well done. One of our favourite ways to create positive energy at work is to give a "Most Valuable Player" award. Once a month, stage a vote for the office MVP - asking each voter to include why their nominee should get the award. You can even have employees vote on what the award will be, from premium parking to a tiara or crown.

3. Celebrate. Take the time to celebrate birthdays, holidays, life changes and achievements. Not sure how to celebrate? Bring in a Nerf football; bake cookies and bring them to work; or put up a graffiti poster where people can leave positive comments.

Recharge Yourself

A favourite quote of ours is "A dead battery can't charge a dead battery." Stop complaining about negative work attitudes and lend your own energy to creating a more positive attitude in the workplace. Be the office live wire! How to Communicate with Co-workers Effectively:

1. Be enthusiastic. Enthusiasm is infectious. If you're going to spend eight hours a day at work, why not make it more than just tolerable. Make an effort to smile, laugh, and enjoy your job. If you work to create a more positive attitude in the workplace, others will follow.

2. Practice random acts of kindness. Each day try to do something kind and helpful. Offer to cover for a co-worker so they can attend their kid's soccer game, bring a busy colleague a cup of coffee, or volunteer for a project. You don't have to create elaborate situations, just keep your eyes out for opportunities to do a good deed.

3.  Look for opportunities to have fun. We all know someone who can make anything fun--and make time fly. Be that person. It's amazing how a joke here and a silly celebration there can breathe life into a stale office. Before you know it, other people will start coming to work with more bounce in their step.

Avoid Negative Work Attitudes

Negative work attitudes create a vicious cycle that can rob energy from an organization. If you're famous for your awful moods and stinging commentary, try something new.

How to communicate with Co-workers Effectively:

1.  Resist sarcasm. One of us grew up on the East Coast where sarcasm seems to be as natural as breathing. It's tough to break the cycle of sarcasm, but it's worth the trouble. If you're feeling sarcastic, challenge yourself to come up with something clever to say that energizes the positive attitude in the workplace, rather than depleting your co-worker’s energy.

2. Look for the good. It's easy to get caught in an office drama trap. Instead of blaming and gossiping, focus on the good qualities of your co-workers. You'll be surprised by how much of a positive attitude in the workplace this will create and how much more productive you and your co-workers will be.

3. Stab 'em in the front. This came from one of our uncles. He was fond of saying, "Friends stab friends in the front." Again, resist the temptation to stab co-workers in the back. Instead, challenge yourself to be honest with co-workers without being mean.

There are times when we must go through negative situations. Maybe people say something negative about us, or they show rejection or even resentment against us. In such situations, it may be difficult to stay positive. We may be inclined to react negatively to them. That won’t do us any good though; doing so will just make the situation worse. People may behave even more negatively to us. Our day would be filled with anger and disappointment. At the end, nobody wins.