Have you watched the news lately? It is more depressing and more sensationalistic than usual so it got me thinking about the power of positive thinking. I must point out that this is not a motivational “you can do it” speech that would have me telling you to smile more and stick your head in the sand ignoring what is going on the world.
Granted, the economy is getting pummeled right now but as I have learned over time, if you are depressed or stressed with worry it shows and as a small business owner, that can be almost certain death. Your employees will get scared thinking they might get laid off at any moment and starting using their computer and printer for fixing their resume and not working on your projects. Your clients will get that “wiff of stink” that your business might be in trouble and you might not be able to deliver.
So I got to thinking about how other entrepreneurs handle economic downturns, especially one that is particularly challenging.
As I was researching, I got inspired by an article by Jill Hamburg Coplan called “How Positive Psychology Can Boost Your Business“. In the article she talks about how “it’s one thing to talk about the connections between a positive mental state and a healthy company when a business is running well, turning a profit, and grabbing new customers. But tougher times really test entrepreneurs, separating those who hunker down and hope the worst will pass from those who use their strengths to find opportunity amid rubble.”
Research, according to the Business Week article, suggests that “positive emotion increases creativity and problem-solving ability and aids in fighting stress”. There are many business coaches pitching the “science of happiness” are stressing the two-fold advantages of “Positive Psychology”. First is optimism and cheerfulness have a measurable effect on the bottom line. The other is that happiness is a muscle you can strengthen.
Putting the Science of Happiness to Work at Your Small Business
Here are six steps you can take at your business to “bring on the positive” and “squash the negative”?
- Start with you and start believing that your business is going to succeed no matter what
- Share your positive outlook with co-workers on a daily basis
- Offer praise where it is warranted because most people only get told when they are doing something wrong and not for something right
- Look for customer facing programs (e.g. customer service call center) and implement positive thinking classes to get people on a self-regulated path to finding happiness in their own way
- When you talk on the phone with people, smile (it is an old radio trick I learned that does wonders to your voice)
- For the number crunchers out there, start tracking results in various performance areas to see if your positive thinking takes hold
Has any one else out there thinking positive? We want to know!
Are you working hard to be positive at work? Have you implemented a program like this? Has it improved your bottom line?
We want to hear from you. Leave your tips for thinking positive in the comments below.
Great timing for an excellent article on facing the music and singing an alternative tune. Thanks.
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it's funny how being in a generally good mood helps you see opportunity, where a bad mood tends to have you overlook it. The fascinating engine that is the mind….
it's funny how being in a generally good mood helps you see opportunity, where a bad mood tends to have you overlook it. The fascinating engine that is the mind….
it's funny how being in a generally good mood helps you see opportunity, where a bad mood tends to have you overlook it. The fascinating engine that is the mind….