5 Ways to Build a More Positive Culture

Wednesday, July 6, 2016 - Joe Kiedinger

As a thought leader, Shawn Achor (Ted.com), has made aware to corporations the power of positivity in the workplace as a profitable activity. Studies have shown that a person is 37% more productive and successful at solving problems when in positive energy, versus neutral or stressed. Millennials today demand a positive approach to problem solving and day-to-day work/life balance. So what can you do to bring positivity into where you work?

1) See problems as challenges.

Are you a person who gets dramatic when things go wrong? If so, you are actually making the situation worse and stifling creative problem solving.

2) Celebrate small victories.

It is easy to celebrate your best month ever or a great year, but what about the small victories? This could be something such as bringing in a new client, celebrating staying late to deliver world-class service, or even a new idea that makes the company run smoother. Celebrate the little things and you will get more!

3) Be a coach, not a boss.

This is a hard one for Baby Boomers and many Xers. The days of telling a person what to do are over. Coaching the new generation, putting them in the game earlier and allowing mistakes or “learning opportunities” is key to today’s new workforce. I know this claws at some of you reading this, but the facts are the facts. Do your research and you will find that Servant Led companies coach and not boss their people to excellence and outperform their like competitors.

4) Put in the time and energy.

This goes with #3. A person is either green and growing or ripe and rotting. Those who don’t want to put the time in to better the communication between supervisors/managers and the work force will not see nearly the same amount of growth as companies who do. Disney, for example, spends 75% of their marketing dollars on training internally and 25% on getting people to show up.

5) Be outward facing.

Those who look to help others and take an active interest in their career and success thrive. No bones about it. Take care of others and they will take care of you.

It’s time for you to thrive if you’re willing to put in the work.

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: Which one of the above 5 will you work on first?

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