Positive Emotions to Bring You Success in the Workplace

Positive Emotions

Positive emotion can be about the past, the present, or the future. The positive emotions about the future include optimism, hope, faith, and trust. Those about the present include joy, ecstasy, calm, zest, ebullience, pleasure, and (most importantly) flow; these emotions are what most people usually mean when they casually-but much too narrowly-talk about "happiness." The positive emotions about the past include satisfaction, contentment, fulfillment, pride, and serenity.

Martin Seligman

According to Salovey and Mayer emotional intelligence is the “ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions.”

What can you do to harness the power of positive emotions? Just remember that successful people attribute their success to emotional and social abilities more than IQ.

The other point to remember is that you decide your own emotions and you can replace your negative emotions with positive ones. Here are the things that you can do at the workplace to propel you to greater height:

·        Appreciation: Do you appreciate your talents and your capabilities? Are you being appreciated for what you have done for the company? Appreciation is a powerful motivating force at work. Appreciate yourself and be appreciated. By the same token show appreciation and gratitude to others for what they have done for you.

·        Enthusiasm: When you wake up in the morning, what is your thought? Is it another working day and I have to go to work or I look forward to another new day to achieve more at work?  When you are enthusiastic and full of energy you attract the attention of others.

·        Confidence: Feel and act confidently. Sit upright with your chest out, walk fast and look ahead. Be sure of yourself and you are ready to face everyday challenges.

·        Respect: It is just plain human relationships. Respect others and people will respect and like you. However, there are people who feel that they are more superior and they look down on others. They will have a hard time getting things done through others.   

·        Happiness: This is the greatest asset that you can have at work. Happiness will generate many other positive emotions. A feeling of well-being, peace, and calm will prevail at work.

·        Honesty: This is a golden rule at work. When you are dishonest, you betray the trust of others in you but you betray yourself as well. Can you be happy without a clear conscience?

·        Inquisitiveness or the curiosity to know more: Nothing excites you? Be thirsty for new ideas and new knowledge. Adopt a learning attitude. Enrich your life to learn and know more. The more you know the more efficient and effective you are at work.

·        Likeable: When you are friendly and you always wear a smile, you are approachable. Communication cannot take place if people refuse to talk to you because they always find you in a foul mood.   

·        Perseverance: This, again, has to do with your thinking. Do you see light at the end of the tunnel or do you want to give up because you think there is no future at all? 

·        Creative problem-solving attitude: This has nothing to do with your intelligence. It is your attitude in the face of problems. Are you willing to face them squarely and think of ways to overcome them or just pass the buck to someone else?

·        Know the right time to act: As a good example, study the mood of your boss and pick the right time to speak to him or her and ask for a raise. When his or her mood is positive the chances of getting a good pay increment are enhanced.

Positive emotions will bring out the best in you and negative emotions will short charge your capabilities. Emotions determine your mood and your mood decides your choice and your choice decides your action and your action decides your success.