Lynne Levy
3 min read
How many of us love going to work? How many of us find joy in our work? The reality is we spend more than half our waking hours at work. How can we cultivate a state of positivity and wellbeing?
When you think about positive emotions, what comes to mind? Positive emotions can be high-energy states, such as joy or elevation or lower-energy states such as relaxation.
In the workplace, leaders can benefit from increasing positive emotions for several reasons. People in a positive state feel safer, and therefore are more open to learning and new experiences. They may be more creative and collaborative. People thrive when they are happier. When our mood becomes brighter we set higher goals and persist longer toward them.
Positive psychology, which provides insight into tools to build a culture of positivity and happiness, is based on the principle that people want to live purposeful lives, be happy, and be their best selves in all aspects of their lives. When an organizational culture is based on positivity, then innovation, productivity, and creativity abound.
How can organizations leverage the concepts from positive psychology to build a happier and more human culture?
One positive psychology tool is to “count our blessings” to increase happiness and wellbeing. University of Pennsylvania found that when we count our blessings and have gratitude, there is increased activity in the part of the brain associated with happiness. How can an organization cultivate a gratitude mindset?
According to happiness research, our mood is contagious. If you are in a bad mood, it may bring down those you work with. If you are full of positivity, it can lift those around you.
The following are tools based in positive psychology that will help connect employees to those around them in a positive manner.
Leveraging strengths is a key aspect of well-being according to positive psychology. The potential for growth significantly increases when employees invest their energy into developing their strengths instead of correct their deficiencies. When strengths are leveraged it….
When work becomes merely a task or daily transaction, it’s not typically thought of in a positive light. When employees find meaning in their work, it becomes a calling. It becomes part of who the person is. When work is a calling, studies tell us that we become happier, more satisfied, and more engaged. How can leaders create this sense of meaning?
Looking at organizational culture through a lens of positive psychology can give leaders and HR organizations insight into how to improve happiness and wellbeing within the organization. This, in turn, leads to increased productivity and engagement.
About the author
Lynne Levy
Lynne Levy is a Workhuman evangelist who lives and breathes helping organizations build cultures that bring out the best in the employees. Her mantra is “do what you love, love what you do.”
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