How a Positive Attitude at Work Can Improve Your Career

There is one in every office—you know the person who is always shooting down all of your project ideas, or constantly missing their deadlines, or taking credit for your work, or doesn’t want to go to that awesome, fancy sandwich place for lunch because it doesn’t have anything “normal” on the menu. If you haven’t figured it out yet, this guy or girl has a terrible attitude and you don’t wanna be this coworker! You want to be the opposite. You want to be someone who works hard and has a positive attitude—because it can seriously improve your career.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the power of positive thinking has some serious health benefits, which can, in turn, transfer to the workplace. People who think more positively generally have better health and lower stress levels, which means they are more productive. They are also more pleasant to be around. When you combine these two things, it’s an equation for success.

To further this argument, in a recent TED Talk, CEO of Good Think Inc. and author of The Happiness Advantage states, “

[It’s] the lens through which your brain views the world that shapes your reality. And if we can change the lens, not only can we change your happiness, we can change every single education and business outcome at the same time.” In other words, if you incorporate the power of positive thinking into your work life, you will not only be a happier and healthier person, but you’ll also be more successful.

At this point you’re probably convinced that you want to be the most positive person in the entire office, because there are some serious perks to positivity! But how do you go about it? Here are three easy tips and tricks you can try right now:

  1. Have an attitude of gratitude. Not only is this good for your whole life, but it’s great at the office. Even Oprah says so. She advises to keep a gratitude journal to constantly remind yourself of all the good things that happen in your life. And always remember to say thank you to the people you work with. They’ll remember it and will be more willing to help when you need it.
  2. Smile and laugh often. You’ve heard it said before: laughter is contagious. Spread it around as much as possible. It will make people happy to work with you.
  3. Work hard and be nice! This is some of the best advice of all time. Always work as hard as everyone else in your office, work even harder in some cases. And be nice to people, because although they might not remember exactly what you say to them, they’ll always remember how you make them feel. If you make people feel fantastic and supported, then they’ll make you feel the same way.

Now, put a smile on your face. Get yourself a fancy sandwich. Say thank you to your coworkers for being so awesome. Write down some things you’re grateful for. And start having an epic week at work. You’ll be amazed how much your new and improved attitude can positively impact your future.

 

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