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WENDY ELLEN INC.

February 2022 Newsletter

In This Issue

Thanks for Joining Us!
Ways to Promote Positivity in the Workplace
How to Think Positively
Be Wary of Toxic Positivity
Infographic: 18 Ways to be more positive at work
How to Deal With Negative Employees
How to Motivate Negative Employees
Quick Reference: Benefits of Positive Thinking in the Workplace
Quick Reference: Tips for Maintaining a Positive Mindset
Quick Reference: How to Diagnose Negativity in the Workplace
Coach's Corner: The Impact of a Positive Attitude on Your Team

Winter 2022
Volume 9, Number 1

Thanks for Joining Us!

It's mid-winter already and we're starting to see light at the end of the tunnel...figuratively and literally. Our days are getting longer, and thankfully Covid restrictions are beginning to ease up. It's been a long, difficult couple of years for everyone, so for this new version of our quarterly newsletter we want to focus on positivity and the importance of positive thinking.

Positive thinking is a way of processing information with an optimistic outlook. Great positive thinkers understand that life can be challenging, but they approach challenges with determination rather than defeat. They move forward decisively and seek help when they need it to get the job done. Since they believe in themselves and their abilities, as well as the abilities of others they work with, positive thinkers feel confident that they can conquer whatever obstacles they encounter.

Keep reading for more learning!

Ways to Promote Positivity in the Workplace

Whether you're the employee or the employer, you can make a difference by being a positive presence in your workplace. Promoting positivity on a daily basis will help your employees or co-workers start looking on the brighter side of things.

Show gratitude. Seeing the positive qualities in others helps bring out the positive qualities in yourself. Gratitude expands your happiness and can transform your way of thinking. Gratitude is especially helpful in the workplace because it helps develop respect, trust, and mutual appreciation among peers. Help spread gratitude by complimenting colleagues and spreading random acts of kindness.

Use positive messaging. Remember that words are powerful. Positive messaging means using words that are laced with optimism. Communicating in a positive and constructive way will change the way your listeners receive your feedback. Your communication should be personal, encouraging, passionate, and empowering. Plus, a positive message will always have more impact.

Practice thankfulness. We all crave some recognition or praise for our efforts. A simple "thank you" really does go a long way. Make it a habit to thank someone for their work at least once a day, but remember to keep it genuine. Part of practicing thankfulness is learning to realize when you are thankful for something. Did a colleague's idea from a meeting truly inspire you? Did someone go out of their way to make your day even just a little bit easier? Send them a quick email or stop by their desk and let them know.

Appreciate the little wins. It's easy to celebrate a major milestone, but remembering to celebrate the steps along the way can be difficult. Every goal requires smaller steps of action, and most of the time those actions get overlooked. Remember to always appreciate the little wins and give recognition to the employees who might be "behind the scenes" of a big accomplishment.

Smile. Even when you don't feel like it. The simple act of turning your frown upside down can help boost positive thoughts and feelings. Smiling tricks your mind into feeling happier. A genuine smile is also crazy contagious. Even if a sale just fell through or numbers are down, smiling at your co-workers helps remind them-and yourself-that everything will be okay.

Develop relationships. Fostering healthy work relationships is essential for a positive work environment. Find ways to create relatedness among your colleagues. Social gatherings and regular check-ins at work are great ways to develop healthy relationships with employees, co-workers, and supervisors. Be careful not to get tunnel vision when it comes to creating work relationships. For the most positive work environment, you want to develop trust and respect for all levels of authority within your company.

Know your mission. Your company or team mission is extremely important. Understanding the "why" behind what you do helps spread positivity - even on the worst workdays. When the office is down in the dumps and needs a positive pick-me-up, remind yourself and your team of the "why" behind your company and your jobs.

Adapted from: totalwellnesshealth.com

How to Think Positively

Changing your attitude and thinking positively is a valuable professional habit. As every person is different, techniques that help some people think positively will not be effective for others. However, the following techniques have been proven to help many people improve their mindset and think more positively:

Assess your thought habits: Take some time to analyze how and why you process information. For example, if you're in a meeting with someone who has a somewhat negative demeanor, what is your first thought? Then, take small steps to retrain your thinking habits to be more positive. In the previous example, for instance, you might think they don't like or appreciate your contributions to the meeting. You could shift your thinking over time to consider that they might simply be having a bad day or have some other stressor in their life outside of work.

Practice self-care: A healthy body is essential for a healthy mind. Getting approximately 8 hours of sleep each night will help you function better at work. Eating a nutritious, balanced diet can also help you feel energized and prepared to perform your functions.

Enjoy mood-boosting activities: Positive thinking is easiest when you are in a healthy mindset. Take time for activities that release stress and improve your mood, like meditating, yoga, spending quality time with friends or another hobby or activity you enjoy. Whatever makes you feel good should improve your outlook.

Surround yourself with positive people: The positivity of other people can elevate your own mood. Try to cultivate relationships with positive coworkers.

Practice gratitude: Noting the things you are grateful for such as your accomplishments and other positive elements of your life can improve your mindset. You could take mental notes or list the good things that occur each day in a journal.

Be Wary of Toxic Positivity

Toxic positivity is the suppression of real, negative emotions through phrases like:

"Be positive!", "Cheer up!" or "Look on the bright side!"
"Get over it" or "Move on."
"It's all going to be okay" or "Everything is going to work out."
"Be a man" or "Tough it out."
"Everything happens for a reason."
"It could be worse." or "At least ____ didn't happen."
"Don't worry/stress/get upset about it."
"Stop being negative" or "Think happy thoughts!"

In the workplace, toxic positivity can be especially harmful. It can make individuals feel invalidated, unseen and unheard.

Often, a toxic positivity offender genuinely believes that he or she is being helpful and encouraging to someone in distress. But, in actuality, toxic positivity disregards an individual's true, legitimate emotions.

The suppression of negative emotions can significantly harm an individual's physical and mental health.
Toxic positivity at its worst can diminish trust, negatively impact engagement and productivity, and hurt company culture.

Here are some more conscious phrases to flip the script on toxic positivity:

"Your feelings make sense. What can I do to help support you through this?"
"It's normal and okay to feel overwhelmed/tired/angry, etc. Listen to yourself and your feelings. You know yourself best."
"I know things are hard for you right now. I'm sorry you're going through this."
"Be kind to yourself."
"I am here for you."
"I see you."
"I hear you."
"Tell me more."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Do you want to find a solution together that could help you?"

Source: Julia Wuench

Source: CMD Limited

How to Deal With Negative Employees

You've kept your eyes peeled for indicators, and you noticed that there's one employee — or maybe even a few employees — who seem to be at the root of the bad attitude on your team.

Now what? It's time to figure out how to overcome negativity. Here are a few tips to deal with those employees directly.

Resist the urge to complain: Negativity can be a vicious cycle, and you don't want to feed into it. Shut down the temptation to complain about that negative employee behind their back. That's counterproductive — not to mention a bad example.
Address the negativity directly: You're better off addressing this issue with the employee directly. Don't write it off as something that will improve in time or as an inherent aspect of their personality. Set a private meeting where you can sit down with that employee and mention you've noticed a change in their attitude.
Come prepared with specific examples: We're not always great at recognizing how we're perceived by others, which might mean your employee will be blindsided by the fact that they're viewed as negative on your team. If you're equipped with specific examples of times you saw their negative attitude creep in, you can better alert them to their behavior.
Use personal observations: Examples are helpful, provided they're presented appropriately. Avoid language like, "everybody has noticed..." This can make your employee feel ganged up on. Stick with using your own perspective by saying, "I've noticed..."

Highlight consequences: Once you've brought an employee's negative attitude to their attention, their next thought might be, "So what?" Emphasize the impact this behavior is having on your entire team and organization. That will help your employee recognize that their behavior has real consequences — not just for them, but for everybody they work with.

Quick Reference: How to Motivate Negative Employees

Once you've had this conversation to alert an employee to their negativity and perception in the office, you can't just leave it at that.

If you don't follow that up by offering support to help them change their ways and become a more positive, productive member of your team, you'll only breed more resentment and negativity.

But, how do you flip the script and nudge negative employees in the right direction? Try a few of these strategies to increase their motivation:

Ask for their feedback: Rather than pointing the finger, seek to understand if there's a root reason why your employee is falling into a negativity trap. Are they unhappy in their position? Do they feel overwhelmed with work and their to-dos? Involve them in the conversation and ask for their opinions on their work environment and attitude. You might uncover something you weren't expecting.
Host frequent check-ins: Real change requires consistency. Schedule a monthly sit-down with that employee where you can chat about their progress and how they're feeling about their work. These regularly-scheduled conversations will help them maintain awareness of how they're behaving in the office.
Provide positive reinforcement: It's a sad but true fact that our brains process negative information more thoroughly than positive information. Make sure you balance out your constructive criticism with some praise and recognition. When you see that employee take a step in the right direction, don't let it slip by unnoticed.

Quick Reference: Benefits of Positive Thinking in the Workplace

It reduces stress levels: When you see challenges as minor setbacks rather than triggers for stress, you'll feel much happier and better able to manage professional obstacles. Positive thinkers also do not dwell on problems when they arise. Feeling happy and keeping your stress levels low at work will help you thrive in your career, especially when it is demanding.

It boosts productivity: Positive thinking stimulates your brain to make sure it is functioning at its best. It also increases your energy levels, making you more alert and better equipped to perform your duties. As it reduces your stress, positive thinking will also help you think more clearly to improve your focus.

It improves problem-solving:
Positive people are better equipped to consider various possibilities, which is a good trait for problem-solving. This ability is useful for everyone from customer service representatives managing difficult customers to engineers developing new products.

It supports skill aquisition: As positive thinking opens your mind, it helps you learn from your coworkers and master new skills through formal training programs. You'll also be more willing to try new things as you'll feel more confident that you can gain proficiency.

It helps decision-making: Without stress impacting your judgment, a positive mindset can help you make clearer, better decisions. You'll feel more confident you're making the right decisions, as you will trust that things will resolve satisfactorily in the end.

It enables you to seize opportunities:
A positive attitude encourages you to take advantage of opportunities, including promotions and training programs, because you will feel more confident stepping out of your comfort zone than negative thinkers do. You will see opportunities as chances for advancement, rather than threats, and trust that you have the knowledge and ability to rise to these workplace challenges. Seizing opportunities as they arise gives you a greater chance of career success than staying in the same place and never taking a risk.

It facilitates interaction: Many people naturally gravitate to positive people, who find building positive relationships in the workplace easier. Once these relationships are formed, positive thinkers find engaging and communicating with their colleagues easier than others might. When you interact well with others, you find teamwork and networking easier and discover more people who support your ideas and career trajectory.

It helps you manage feedback and conflict: Positive thinkers see feedback and conflict as opportunities for growth and improvement. Feedback helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses so you can become a better employee. Understanding that not everyone will agree with you all the time can help you keep conflict in perspective, which helps you listen and learn from the person with whom you disagree.

It increases resiliency: A positive attitude does not guarantee everything will always go your way, but it will help you put career obstacles in perspective and continue moving forward with a determination to succeed.

Quick Reference: Tips for Maintaining a Positive Mindset

Keeping a positive attitude can be challenging at times. Setbacks and disappointments occur periodically, and these can alter thinking and cause negative thoughts. These strategies can help you keep a positive mindset even in the face of challenges:

Challenge negative thoughts:
Question whether your perceptions are correct, and try to reframe your thoughts. For example, a tight deadline can be an opportunity to improve your productivity and test yourself rather than an insurmountable challenge. When you see the flaws in your negative thinking, keeping a positive mindset is much easier.

Look for the good things: Seek out good things happening around you, and focus on them when you feel your positive outlook slipping. The love of your family and friends, the support of your colleagues and even the beauty of nature can all make you feel more positive. Try to carry those positive thoughts into the workplace.

Change the things in your control:
You cannot control everything in life, so focus on what you can. Become a problem solver and search for ways to improve your situation when things go wrong. If you cannot find a solution, look for the teachable moments and comfort yourself with the knowledge that things can always get better.

Focus on the big picture:
If you feel yourself succumbing to negativity, ask whether your challenges will matter in the future. This question can make problems seem smaller and give you the peace you need to maintain your positive mindset.

Accept your mistakes: Making mistakes is simply part of being human, so try not to dwell on yours. Every mistake is a learning opportunity. Determine what you could do differently in the future and view your mistakes as opportunities to improve.

Quick Reference: How to Diagnose Negativity in the Workplace

More often than not, diagnosing negativity on your team isn't black and white. It's not always tangible, and you might feel it more than you see it.

With that said, there are a few telltale signs to look out for. Here are some red flags which indicate that negativity has crept into your team dynamic:

Frequent complaints and criticisms
Decreased productivity and output
Disengagement and refusal to participate
Consistent excuses and shifting of blame
Reduced energy and enthusiasm
Increased gossip, sniping, and toxicity

Make sure you take note of whether these symptoms are happening across your entire team, or with a select few team members. That will help you figure out the best way to address the problem.

Coach's Corner: The Impact of a Positive Attitude on Your Team

Education, experience, charisma, or certifications—what is the most important qualification of a good leader? While all of these qualities might be significant, they pale in comparison to the one thing no leader should be without: a positive attitude.

Although no one can be positive all of the time, it's important to know that negativity can easily spread from you to your team. By understanding how important your mood and your reaction to workplace challenges are, you can propel your team on a positive path to success.

Set the tone
Your attitude has the power to not only lift you up or drag you down, but can also do the same for your team. Attitudes cause a chain reaction. As a people leader, your optimism affects your employees, and your employees' attitudes affect your customers or stakeholders. All of this ultimately impacts your business and bottom line.

Take a long, hard look at your behaviour. Do you complain about the never-ending workweek or your suffocating workload? Do you find yourself making comments about your own boss's incompetence or your long, stressful commute? See if you can check yourself the next time you begin to speak negatively in order to set an example.

Push through tough times
If your company has experienced major changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic such as layoffs or changes to remote working, your employees may be feeling the impact more than you think. Remember, as a manager you set the example. You're naturally going to have your own concerns and areas of resistance to change, but try to acknowledge them and then let them go so you can help your employees cope.

Remain positive, upbeat, and enthusiastic in your attitude and do what you can to find fun ways to motivate your team, even at a distance. If you do hit bumps along the way, be open and talk to your team about it. Focus everyone's attention on the next step and the big picture while encouraging them to build their own individual resilience.

Building your own positivity

Although there will be days where your positive power seems like a distant memory, there are ways to encourage yourself to stay upbeat.

Tune into self-talk. Our internal chatter is often what makes it so hard to stay positive. If you find yourself saying, "this is too hard," or "I can't do it," try to change the messages you're telling yourself.

Reward yourself. A team who has fun together will work harder together. Even if you are remote working, you can arrange chances to socialize, for example coffee breaks. If you use a messaging service like Slack or Teams, you might also encourage your team to set up a channel for light-hearted things like pet photos and recipe swaps. Getting to know each other better and having some fun will breathe some much-needed life and positive energy into your work.

Highlight the good. When faced with a big challenge at work, it can be even harder to be a positive leader—particularly if you don't fully agree with the change or event. If you're feeling low, make a list of the things you're thankful for. This can be a big project you delivered, your team culture, or even things you're proud of in your personal life. This will help you gain perspective and can be a handy list to pull out when you are in need of a pick- me-up.

Don't complain. Try to stop yourself for one whole day, then two, then three. If there is something that is bothering you, see what you can do to fix it. Maybe there's an aspect of your working day that's causing a roadblock to your productivity. How can you make a proactive change rather than continuing to be frustrated? You can also encourage this kind of creative thinking among your team to help facilitate problem-solving.

Stay healthy. It can be hard to maintain a positive attitude when you're exhausted. Make sure you get enough sleep, eat healthy, drink lots of water, and stay active. This will do wonders not only for your physical health, but also your mental wellbeing and inner optimism.

Remember, you can encourage an upbeat attitude among your team, but it will take time and effort. A positive leader keeps morale high, increases productivity, and encourages growth with their energy, interest and, most importantly, their actions. Make it a priority to be the positive force that leads the way and watch your teams' enthusiasm blossom.

Available in ebook and soft cover at Wendy Ellen Inc.

Available for Kindle on Amazon

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Reach out to our experts at Wendy Ellen Inc. to assist with all your
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About Wendy Ellen Inc.

Wendy Ellen Inc. specializes in providing human resource and benefits management skills to small to mid-sized companies on an as-needed basis. From recruitment, Human Resource policy development and legislative compliance, employee retention and engagement, individual advisor/coaching, succession planning to employee development and performance, Wendy Ellen Inc. will help you protect your most valuable resource, your people.

Contact Us
http://www.wendyelleninc.ca
wendy@wendyelleninc.ca

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