But what does a positive attitude have to do with the workplace?
A positive attitude in the workplace may not enhance your skills at work, but it will improve your value as an employee and the way you are viewed by others as an employee. It may positively encourage and motivate people to help you succeed and want to support you.
A positive attitude is important for many reasons, but one of the main reasons for having a positive attitude in the workplace is because it can rub off on everyone else. In fact, exuding positivity can be infectious and, over time, can influence your co-workers.
The importance of a positive attitude in the workplace
A positive attitude is something that goes deeper and has an effect beyond surface cheer. Negative attitudes promote fear, and a narrowing of focus and the mind, while positive attitudes do the opposite. No one should live in a constant state of “fight or flight”, but negative attitudes create exactly that scenario.
Studies have also shown that having a true positive attitude makes your view of life seem broad, full of possibilities. That view leads to actually living our life in a way that makes it natural to be exposed to and acquire new skills. What you give to others comes back to you. Positivity begets more positivity. Over time, you may find that even the most stubborn person in the office who refuses to enjoy something has a change of heart and changes to be more positive, all because you had such a great attitude.”
Most organizations are struggling to retain employees and more so the talented employees. It is said that a good work culture ensures employee retention. A workplace with employees having a positive attitude towards work and people thrives and guarantees employee retention. Positive attitude adds fun and joy to your workplace. Switching over to a positive attitude is a small change that can bring in big results.
Negativity or a negative attitude sucks our energy and brings our morale down. This then automatically affects our workplace motivation as well. Negativity leads to gossip and grapevine and thus reduces our efficiency and effectiveness. It a dangerous attitude that can make the workplace environment extremely toxic.
Rick Wilkins, an American management consultant, concluded after exhaustive research that “you have the full control over your thinking pattern; you have the total ownership of your attitudes. No one else on this planet has the power or authority to change your attitude without your permission. Your attitude allows you to become more empowering than money, to rise above your failures and accept others for who they are and what they say”
Nowhere is your positive attitude more required and appreciated by others than your workplace. There are sound reasons for this: about 8 to 9 hours of an employee’s waking hours are spent at the workplace. Without some positive vibes from positive people around, this time could become troublesome.
So we can conclude as:
- A positive attitude is the key that opens your mind and heart to better job performance, an enriching career and life. It has also proven to be the most important single factor that guarantees positive results.
- The more positive the workplace, the higher the departmental productivity. There will be more output, higher productivity, better quality, fewer mistakes and less complaint.
It would help to ask ourselves some key questions like:
What kind of workplace would you prefer to work in? A place where your colleagues give you negative vibes? Or would you rather work in a place where your teammates are gung-ho, upbeat, and enjoying life?
I am sure the answer will be the second option.
Some ways of ensuring a positive attitude at workplace are:
- Maintaining a calm attitude at all times.
- Keeping negative thoughts at bay
- Giving people a benefit of doubt and allowing them to make mistakes and learn
- Trusting people
- Always responding and not reacting
- Being non-judgemental
- Staying away from gossip and negativity