Did you know you can improve your workplace with positive psychology?
First of all, what even is positive psychology you ask.
Well positive psychology is a relatively new found science in psychology which has been proven to build upon human strengths as it is with weakness just as it should be concerned with building strength as in repairing the damage.
Positive psychology was born after Psychologists realised the most psychology practices focused on the negative of people and their problems rather than focusing on the positive. It had never occurred to Psychologists earlier to develop interventions to make people happier so that’s how positive interventions were born.
Psychologists soon realised that people should be interested in the best things in life, and helping the lives of normal people become more fulfilling, meaningful and purposeful and nurturing their talents.
We have seen the beginnings of a science of positive psychology, a science of what makes life worth living. It turns out we can actually measure different forms of happiness in people.
Positive Psychology has 3 aims:
- Happy life is a pleasant life. This is a life in which you have as much positive emotion as you possibly can and the skills to amplify it.
- A life of engagement. A life in your work, your parenting, your love, your leisure, time stops for you.
- A meaningful life.
So how can Psychologists apply this to your workplace?
Companies and Entrepreneurs can definitely benefit from positive psychology by instilling optimism and cheerfulness to everybody in the workplace.
This has been proven to have a measurable effect on the bottom line. Happiness is definitely a muscle you can strengthen.
We are all capable of thinking in a more positive way but you and your employees need help to learn how.
Companies are having enormous growth that are using positive psychology because of the awareness they have gained. Some companies have even starting hiring for strengths rather than resumes and when necessary they can redeploy staff to create a better fit.
Companies really can become a ‘personal and career orientated company’ and create the kind of culture where people want to stick around.
Employees will feel more appreciated and motivated which in return will double their workload and their mood will be more upbeat.
Positive Psychology has actually proven that people can actually take control of certain actions that will make them happier for a time, such as setting appropriate goals. They can add gratitude, hope, and a dose of self control to each working day. It’s clear that happy bosses perform measurably better, building productive teams and inspiring loyalty
7 ways positive psychology will improve your team members
- Increase their social and emotional wellbeing which will relieve stress and tension
- Help them focus on their strengths to develop them more effectively
- Improve on their skillsets to become better, happier contributors to their team
- Help them create value in any given situations with desirable attitudes
- The freedom to find meaning in their career and offer more value to others
- Motivation and desire to make a positive impact on others around them
- To empower each other so they can create and express who they really are
How can your Business benefit from Positive Psychology Financially
You will be implementing a plan or strategy to start preventing employees taking time off because of stress, tiredness, lack of motivation, boredom, illness etc
You will create an environment where employees will wake up and be inspired to go to work, feel safe and a place where trust and loyalty are the rule rather than the exception.
Dedicated positive psychology coaches run workshops for your team members. They are leaders in the industry and teach proven strategies that have been researched based. In the workshops you can expect your employees to learn so many practical tasks to help your workplace function more effectively.
A decade of research suggests that happiness at work – defined as pleasure, engagement, and a sense of meaning – can improve revenue, profitability, staff retention, customer loyalty, and workplace safety.
The studies strongly suggest that positive emotion increases creativity and problem-solving ability and aids in fighting stress.
Positive psychology coaches recommend trying to build stronger bonds with you and among your staff. Building stronger ties with those you work with can be as simple as offering abundant praise and recognition when appropriate, giving staff tailor-made rewards for performance, letting them be themselves, marking special occasions or maybe how they even decorate their workspace.
Appreciation really does go a long way.
So if you are interested in looking more into this new positive psychology science, I personally have a contact with a booming practice here in Melbourne. You can check out his website on positive psychology here.