Evidence that Work Sucks
Scientists at Harvard and Northeastern Universities used the social networking cite twitter to study moods. The researchers coded words that were linked to positive, negative, and neutral moods and tracked
Amigos + Familia = Felicidad
When I lived in Spain one thing that really caught my attention were the close relationships that Spaniards maintain with their friends and family. You see it everywhere. At the
Respect Others by Encouraging Collaboration
Often our first reaction when something goes wrong is to look for someone to blame. But assigning fault is counterproductive and it undermines respect. First of all, identifying whom to
Respect Others by Showing Appreciation
Expressing appreciation for the people you work with, communicating to them that they are valued members of the organization, helps them feel respected. And not only that, it will help
Respect Others by Listening
Treating others with respect is a basic foundation for establishing positive relationships. Leaders show respect by giving others their undivided attention. They ask people for their ideas and really listen
Mindfulness with Nature’s Help
I have mentioned before what a challenge it is for me to be mindful. I just feel like there is too much I need to get done to not be
Forgiveness Sets You Free
Forgiveness is a key strategy for increasing happiness. It helps you transform the impact of a hurtful event so that you are not overwhelmed by negative emotions. People who are
Dealing with Negative People
People have asked me what they can do when there is someone in their life who is negative. The truth is that we can work really hard to be more
Reading for Marbles; The Danger of Extrinsic Motivators
I his latest book, Drive, Daniel Pink suggests that trying to motivate people with external rewards like money is a mistake. His argument is based on years of scientific research
Keep it Positive by Sharing Information
Dr. Theresa Welbourne and her colleagues found some pretty unexpected results in a recent study they did on employee engagement. Employees who reported the most positive attitudes toward their managers
The Good Life at Work
Aristotle said that the greatest human good is to live the good life. So just what is the “good life”? According to Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology, Aristotle
Do Women Really have a Choice?
I strongly believe that positive organizations are inclusive. They recognize the value of diversity and take intentional steps to create environments where all individuals can thrive. Unfortunately, too many companies
Clarify and Communicate Expectations
In addition to the importance of having norms valuing results not presence, increasing autonomy also requires that goals and expectations be clearly and frequently communicated. Autonomy goes hand in hand
Results Matter, not Presence
Increasing autonomy requires a cultural transformation moving away from norms valuing physical presence at the office to norms valuing results. Autonomy is about giving people increased control, but also giving
ROWE Helps to Build Positive Relationships
Trust Leaders build positive relationships by showing their followers that they trust them. People who feel that their leaders trust them have higher levels of performance, are more likely to
Take Your Shoes Off!
Today TOMS is sponsoring “One Day Without Shoes” events all over the world so that people can imagine how it might feel to grow up barefoot. If you aren’t
Positivity Boosts Resilience
According to Barbara Fredrickson’s Broaden-and-Build Theory, positive emotions serve to broaden our mind’s focus and to help us build valuable resources over time. I have already discussed how
Help Yourself by Helping Others
I volunteered to help out at our church Rummage Sale this week. The morning that I was scheduled to help I was pretty stressed out because I had a ton
Positivity Increases Employee Engagement
Positive employees are engaged in their work and their organizations. When people experience positive emotions they are energetic, confident, and optimistic. As a result, they are internally motivated to pursue
More on Mindfulness
In my last blog I talked about being more mindful by savoring the present moment and actively listening to others. Mindfulness is a traditional Buddhist practice in which full attention
Mindfulness; the Present is a Gift
“With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now” – Ralph Waldo Emerson Of the many different strategies for increasing your positivity, the one that
Increasing Women’s Participation in Business
Training women in Peru I spent last week in Lima, Peru working with the Thunderbird School of Global Management to design a training program for women. The goal of the
What Determines Positivity Levels?
When I’m talking to people about all of the amazing benefits of positivity, inevitably someone says “Sounds great, but what about the people who aren’t positive? I definitely
An Attitude of Gratitude
There is strong scientific evidence for the impact of gratitude on positivity. Gratitude boosts positivity by increasing the frequency of pleasant emotions you experience as you think about all that
What is Positivity?
I think before I go any further I should define what I mean by positivity. Positivity is the frequent experience of pleasant emotions. Some of the most common are: joy,