Positive Attitude in a Personal Growth Plan
Positive Thinking – a Self Help Tip to Improve Workplace Attitude
Aug 23, 2009
Learning to be constructively positive makes sense for anyone, but is especially appropriate for the personal growth advocate.
An effective personal growth plan will include work on improving positive attitude and positive thinking to develop a strong positive mental attitude. For readers following the sample personal growth plan, this article expands on and supports week nine.
Benefits of a Positive Attitude
Positive attitude work makes sense in a personal growth plan for many reasons. Christopher Peterson (Primer in Positive Psychology, Oxford Press, 2006), positive psychology researcher, teacher, and business owner cites research indicating the benefits include good health, well-being, creativity, and success. Each of these benefits seems sufficient to warrant one's dedication to becoming proficient at positivity. To further make the case, consider the other side of the coin – the effects of negativity.
The Impact of Negative Attitude
In personal interactions, negative people can be tiresome and draining. Continual complaining, whining, sarcasm, and cynicism seem to suck out one's energy and good feelings, much as Harry Potter's dementors left magical characters cold, frightened, and in total despair.
Workplace Attitude
In the workplace, negativity can be a deadly threat to not only employee attitude, but the business itself. Jon Gordon, motivational speaker and author (The No Complaining Rule, John Wiley, 2008), quotes Gallup Organization research estimating that negativity costs the U.S. economy over $250 billion every year.
Studies show that employee attitude correlates with customer satisfaction and retention. A prevailing negative attitude drives away customers and impacts profitability. Positive attitude, on the other hand, is linked to greater customer satisfaction, retention, and business profitability. Some of the most successful U.S. corporations are also those ranking highly on lists of best places to work.
Positive Attitude in a Personal Growth Plan
Some scoff that positivity ignores the realities of real life. Positive thinking and attitude are realistic as positive thinkers recognize and accept the negative aspects of life, but choose to look for positive opportunities in even the most negative of life's events.
A person desiring to think more positively may find it hard to overcome years of habitual negative thinking. However, as with any life change, a small success can build confidence and technique, leading to bigger and bigger successes.
Positive Thinking Challenge
Accept a challenge to think, say, and do only positive things for a period of twenty-four hours. For one day, disallow yourself an form of negative self-talk, negative judgment of others, demeaning jokes, whining, complaining, cynicism, teasing, and demeaning acts toward anyone.
If a setback occurs before the day is out, start the clock over and repeat this until self-awareness kicks in and you can catch yourself before a negative act occurs. Psychology research suggests that twenty-one days of repetition are sufficient to habituate a new behavior, so make three weeks of positive thinking and positive attitude your goal.
More Positive Attitude Self Improvement Steps
In addition to the positive thinking challenge, utilize the following positive thinking tips to gain the personal growth benefits of a positive attitude.
- When attaching a negative explanation to some event, balance the negative aspects by first considering the facts of the situation. Next, consider alternative explanations — positive as well as negative — for both the cause of the event and the future outcome of it.
- In the workplace, model positive thinking. Refuse to criticize. Instead use consultant Bruce Clinton's method of pointing out what you like about the topic, what might be changed, and what can be learned.
- Block the spread of rumors and gossip by asking for specific facts on the topic. Counter cynics by challenging them to suggest solutions to the problems they point out.
- As an employer or manager, model a positive attitude and establish a positive, problem solving environment. Encourage open discussion, but require that positive suggestions accompany the pointing out of problem areas.
Personal Growth Plans Are Positive
Anyone having a personal growth plan has already taken a positive step, looking forward to accomplish desired results. Fortify the self improvement effort with dedication to positive thinking and attitude.
Readers enjoying this article may be interested in other suggested topics for a structured self improvement plan.
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