Positive psychology has gotten a lot of attention recently as we learn more ways to utilize it throughout our everyday lives. One of the ways people are using it for the better is in the workplace — and it has shown a wide variety of benefits for employees, owners, and customers.
For those that are new to positive psychology, it’s a branch of modern psychology that focuses on redefining where happiness derives from. This form of psychology believes it’s our perspective and view on the world that determines our happiness, instead of our reality determining our happiness.
By living a more positive life, you make it easier to obtain happiness because you have a much more open mind that focuses on the good coming out of any situation. This is something that can be utilized in the workplace because happier employees are known to produce better work.
In fact, studies have shown that positive people are 31% more productive and three times more creative than someone who has a negative outlook on life.
Using Your Team’s Strengths
When you look around at your employees, you want to know that they are giving you their best work. If this is the goal, you need to learn what your employees are good at, what they love to do, and how that can translate to your company.
If you have an employee that loves to sell things doing a receptionist job, they’re likely not going to be engaged with their work. You won’t be utilizing them to their strengths and will lead to a decrease in productivity around the office.
This also goes for the managers and owners, as well. Learning to delegate your own strengths will help you find more happiness at work. Not to mention, there are going to be tons of people that enjoy doing the things you don’t enjoy doing.
Show Your Gratitude
A little bit of gratitude can go a long way, yet it’s something that’s often neglected inside the workplace. When we learn to be grateful for our current situation, we’ll start to be much happier with what our future holds.
This will typically start with the owners and managers, but is something the entire team can utilize throughout the day. Saying “thank you,” “please,” and showing you’re thankful for other people’s hard work or help will start to uplift everyone’s spirit in the workplace.
Changing Perspectives
It doesn’t matter how much we love our jobs, there will be tedious tasks and boring moments throughout the day. While this might be inevitable, it’s what we make of these moments that really counts.
Changing your perspective can turn any boring task into a memorable moment in your day. If you’re faced with something you don’t want to do, simply look at what good that task will do — for you, your co-workers, customers, whoever.
Life is a game of perspectives and when you learn to play it right, nothing will stand in your way.