These recent advances in cognitive psychology
and neuroscience have shown, as the scientists say, “how our life’s ups and
downs activate different neural circuits in the brain and create rapid changes
in a range of important neurotransmitters.”
In other words changes in brain chemistry can alter how we think which
then relates to how we feel and then how we behave.
Consider the following conclusions that were
derived from a large meta-analysis combining the findings of over 225 academic
studies on employees with a positive psychological wellbeing:
- They have on average 31% higher productivity
- Their sales are 37% higher
- Their creativity is three times higher
- Are highly predictive to have long-term physical health
- Are less likely to have elevated levels of stress and stress related illness
- Avoid the anxiety that triggers depression
Simply put, these studies point to the fact
that negative emotions that are caused by anxiety, fear, anger, stress, self-doubt
etc. closes our brain off from the outside world where positive emotions
broaden the sense of possibility and opens our mind to more positive
options.
Is it fair to assume that the most engaged
employees will be your most positive employees? And building a positive culture
will provide some long term positive results.
Certainly, the pandemic and aftermath have made
it very difficult to maintain a positive environment when there are so many
factions pulling us apart. But don’t discount
the power of being positive whenever and where ever you can in the workplace (and
at home for that matter). It works and
can help us all get back the “normal”.
