Positivity Lifts Results

Posted on May 19th, 2015

New research in psychology and neuroscience has confirmed a hard link between mindset and success. Positivity in the workplace produces measureable results.

Fans of performance training have always believed in the benefits of having a great attitude. The growing scientific evidence means every leader should take it seriously.

Negative moods and attitudes have served an important evolutionary purpose. They narrow our thoughts and constrain our range of actions. Fear and stress trigger chemicals cortisol and adrenaline which enable us to fight or flee.

Positive moods and attitudes have also served an important evolutionary purpose. They flood our brains with dopamine and serotonin. They trigger what Prof Barbara Fredrickson has called the broaden and build response. The chemicals not only make us feel good, they fire up the brain’s ability to learn by facilitating new neural connections.

In a positive mood the brain is better equipped to organise and retain information. Innovation and creativity are much more likely to happen.

Evidence from Harvard positivity in the workplace research

Doctors put in a positive mindset before making a diagnosis show almost three times more intelligence and creativity than Doctors in a neutral state, and they reach accurate diagnosis 19% faster.

Optimistic sales people outperform their pessimistic colleagues by 37%. Positivity in sales teams is not just a nice to have, it produces hard bottom line results. Sales managers need to strengthen not only sales skills, but mindset factors.

Students who were put into a positive mindset by thinking about the happiest day of their lives before taking a maths test outperformed their peers.

Positive psychology researchers have looked at 200 studies on 275,000 people worldwide – the conclusion – positive brains have a biological advantage over brains that are neutral or negative.

What does all this mean for your day to day leadership style? Even the smallest shot of positivity can give someone a competitive edge. So before a client meeting or any activity that requires an individual to be at their best – give them a shot of joy. Even a small shot makes a big difference.

Find out about The Inspirational Leadership Seminar – packed with robust techniques and tools to implement positivity.

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