Positivity in the workplace

Transcription

1 Positivity in the workplace The benefits and how to get more 1. Who s responsible for creating a positive workplace? The Benefits of Positivity for the Organization: 2. A summary of 225 academic studies found that happy employees have a. 31% higher productivity b. 37% higher sales c. 3Xs higher creativity 3. Research by Shawn Achor shows that employees who score the highest on providing social support a. Are 40% more likely to receive a promotion in the following year b. Report significantly higher job satisfaction c. Feel 10 times more engaged by their jobs than people who score in the lowest quartile. 4. A summary of academic studies found that happy people a. Secure more job interviews b. Are evaluated more positively by supervisors c. Have less job burnout d. Demonstrate higher work quality e. Are more dependable 5. According to analysis by Gallup, companies with highly engaged workforces outperform their peers by a. 147% in earnings per share and realize: b. 41% fewer quality defects c. 48% fewer safety incidents 1

2 d. 28% less shrinkage e. 65% less turnover (low-turnover organizations) f. 25% less turnover (high-turnover organizations) g. 37% less absenteeism 6. Happy CEOs had a. Happier employees b. Organizations with higher productivity and profitability c. Higher performance ratings from their boards 7. Our attitude and emotions are contagious. Studies of emotional contagion show that increasing our positivity has a direct impact on the people around us, and we have an even stronger influence if we are a leader. The Benefits of Positivity for the Individual: 8. Prof. Barbara Fredrickson s Broaden and Build Theory is based on studies that show positivity helps us broaden our thinking by taking in more information and builds our internal resources. Positive emotions carry the capacity to transform individuals for the better, making them healthier and more socially integrated, knowledgeable, effective, and resilient. 9. A review of academic studies found that happier people a. Have better social relationships b. Are more energetic and active c. Make better decisions d. Experienced less conflict and cooperated more e. Are more resilient when things get tough f. Are healthier g. May live longer h. Have fewer automobile accidents i. Have longer survival times with terminal illnesses 10. Prof. Barbara Fredrickson s Positivity Ratio Theory (# of positive experiences/# of negative experiences) says the flourishing range is ~ 3 9. A similar ratio has been found to hold true for our interactions at work (Marcial Losada) and our 2

3 personal relationships (John Gottman). What do you think your ratio is? Your team s ratio? How Individuals Can Increase Their Positivity Understanding Why It s Hard 11. Our brains are wired for survival. They are on hyper-alert for danger or potential problems and are highly sensitive to anything they perceive as threatening. As psychologist, Rick Hanson says, Our brains are like Teflon for the good and Velcro for the bad. 12. New studies in neuroplasticity show we can retrain and rewire our brains to make it easier for us to override our negative survival instincts and enjoy more positivity and well-being. According to Prof. Richard Davidson, Well-being is a skill. All of the work that my colleagues and I have been doing leads inevitably to this central conclusion. Well-being is fundamentally no different than learning to play the cello. If one practices the skills of well-being, one will get better at it. 13. Sonja Lyubomirsky reviews research indicating that we all vary in our ability to be positive. What are the three factors that influence this ability? 14. It s natural for our emotions to fluctuate. According to Darlene Mininni, our negative emotions are there to give us information. The trick is to get the information and not get stuck in the negative emotion. 3

4 15. The Positivity Ratio is a concept discovered by Barbara Fredrickson. Studies show a flourishing zone above a ratio of 3. Practicing Tools to Change 16. Categorize our worries. Make a list and label the ones within your control with an A and the ones outside your control with a B. What actions can you take for those with an A? 17. When we re upset, it triggers our Cortisol Cycle. Make a list of activities you could use to distract yourself from getting stuck in this downward spiral. 18. Remember to take several deep breaths when you are feeling stressed or upset to lower your blood pressure and slow your heart rate. 19. What are 2-3 good things that have happened in the past 24hrs? 20. List some ways you could easily add positive moments to your day. 4

5 21. Make a list of ways you can remember to focus on the positive and use these strategies. (ex. Passwords ( quotes, pictures, bracelet/ring, weekly tips) How Organizations Can Create a More Positive Work Environment: 9. What tangible factors do you currently address in your organization? Which ones could you improve on? a. Physical environment (work and break areas) b. Tools and resources c. Cognitive aids such as SOPs 10. What intangible factors do you currently address in your organization? Which ones could you improve on? a. Autonomy: Increase feelings of control and having choices b. Mastery: Increase opportunities to learn and grow i. Match people s jobs with their strengths c. Purpose: Increase feelings of purpose and meaning for their work d. Recognition: Increase appropriate recognition (5 Languages) e. Belonging: Increase opportunities to create feelings of belonging and connectedness 11. Consider starting meetings with something positive for more effective meetings and teams. 5

6 Bibliography: The Benefits of Frequent Positive Affect: Does Happiness Lead to Success?, Lyubomirsky, Sonja; King, Laura; Diener, Ed, Psychological Bulletin, Vol 131(6), Nov 2005, Positive Intelligence, Shawn Achor, Harvard Business Review, Jan-Feb Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations: Classic Definitions and New Directions, Richard M. Ryan and Edward L. Deci, Contemporary Educational Psychology 25, (2000) Drive Daniel Pink Why Doers Do: Managing Human Performance to Optimize the Return on Your People Investment David Wile The Happiness Advantage - Shawn Achor The How of Happiness Sonja Lyubomirsky The Emotional Tool Kit Darlene Mininni Positivity Barbara Fredrickson Flourish Martin Seligman Hardwiring Happiness Rick Hanson The Emotional Life of Our Brain Richard Davidson Coaching with the Brain in Mind David Rock Learned Optimism Martin Seligman Happier Tal Ben Shahar Train Your Mind Change Your Brain Sharon Begley 6

7 About Tina Hallis, Ph.D. Tina Hallis, Ph.D., is certified in Positive Psychology through the WholeBeing Institute, an Authorized Partner for Everything DiSC, and a Professional Member of the National Speakers Association. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota and worked for 20+ years in Biotechnology at small start-up companies and large corporations. She has great insight into the different priorities and challenges of individual departments because of her experience in R&D, operations, product management, and contract services. In 2011, Tina discovered a new science called Positive Psychology that focuses on how we can all live our best lives. She immediately saw how important this could be for organizations and their people so she decided to hang up her lab coat and start her own company, The Positive Edge. Her goal is now bringing this information into organizations to help improve the quality of people s work lives and the quality of company cultures. Some of Tina s other topics: Shifting into Positive Gear Navigating change with less stress Building the 3-C s, Connection, Communication, and Cooperation - For better teams and better customer relationships Optimizing Sales Using Our Brains Using science to reduce stress and increase results 7