How to develop a positive attitude at work

A positive attitude (or mindset) at work is a win-win for everyone. That includes yourself, your teammates, your management, your clients, and even the suppliers you engage with. People love working with positive people.

Importantly, for yourself, embracing the power of a positive mindset is essential for personal and professional success.

But not everyone is built to instinctively think positively. Some of us aren’t naturally 100% optimistic.

So how do you shift the way you think, to be a more positive person at work?

This week’s expert article explores this important topic and provides helpful, practical ways to become a positive person. It also touches on what a positive attitude is and its benefits.

What is a positive attitude at work?

Being positive at work is a multi-faceted affair. It involves being:

• being kind to yourself and to others
• being optimistic and focusing on the upsides of situations
• being proactively realistic about, but not concentrating on, the inevitable downsides that can creep into work environments
• using positive language
• framing situations so they’re light and not dark.

Importantly, being positive doesn’t mean smiling from ear to ear 24-7, or always being bubbly and super enthusiastic. This isn’t realistic. Being positive does, however, mean operating in a way that doesn’t drag yourself or others down.

What are the benefits of being positive at work?

Dozens and dozens of benefits emerge from being positive at work. Here are but a few …

• improved job satisfaction
• happier, healthier team morale and relationships
• greater productivity
• improved collaboration and creativity
• better problem-solving capabilities
• improved personal wellbeing
• reduced stress.

What do I need to do to become and remain positive at work?

Developing or maintaining a positive mindset in your job can take effort but it’s worth it.

Here are practical tips and remember, this list is by no means exhaustive.

Assess why you’re negative

Assess what makes you less-than-positive at work. Is it your personality type? An issue you’re having with a colleague? A boss you don’t get along with? Your responsibilities? Personal issues?

Once you’ve identified what’s stopping you from being positive, you’ll be in a better position to change.

Care for yourself

A positive approach requires taking care of yourself mentally and physically. Let’s face it … being positive can feel impossible if you’re not well, overly stressed, burnt out, or aren’t nurturing your wellbeing.

Caring for yourself requires a healthy work-life balance. Here are tips for achieving that balance.

Recognise negative thought patterns

If you tend to think negative before positive, it’s time to break that habit. Do everything you can to avoid:

• laying blame
• jumping to the worst conclusion
• presenting ‘can’t’ instead of ‘can do’
• being overly sensitive and reactive to feedback.

Think about your language

Your language has a lot to do with being positive. If the words you use, or your tone, are negative, you will come across as negative. Sometimes talking to people, instead of banging out a short, sharp, harsh email, is a better approach.

Example 1

Negative: ‘I can’t stand working with Jane. She’s so irritating.’

Positive: ‘Jane and I are radically different, but I’m going to do my best to work well with her.’

Example 2

Negative: ‘My boss gave me negative feedback. It’s obvious he doesn’t like me and believes I’m doing a bad job.’

Positive: ‘I just received constructive feedback from my boss. It was tough to swallow, but he’s helping me improve in my job.’

Think about your body language

If you have uptight, aggressive body language, you won’t be seen as positive or respectful. Tips:

• maintain eye contact
• use the right tone of voice
• avoid aggressive motions like crossing your arms across your body
• avoid sighing
• don’t interrupt
• avoid impatient gestures.

Stay away from gossip

Gossip is toxic. Gossip is negative. If you gossip, or hang around with those at work who do, you’re willingly choosing to be anything but positive. Read more: Seven ways to stop office gossip.

What can I do if my mood switches to negative at work?

If you’re having a bad day, and this is affecting your mood, try:

• taking a short break to recharge
• going for a walk to get fresh air
• taking deep breaths to calm yourself
• reaching out to a friend or other contact for a supportive chat.

Special note on positivity and mental health at work

Mental health is a growing issue in many workplaces across Australia. It may be more challenging for employees with mental health issues to apply the tips in this article.

If mental health is affecting your ability to be positive at work, don’t hesitate to get support. You could, for example, talk to your manager, a colleague you trust, a mentor, a human resources expert or the Employee Assistance Program if your organisation has one.

Learn more

Learning is a wonderful way to feel more positive at work. Take time to read these related expert articles.

Six ways to help you excel at work

How to flag issues in the workplace

Tackling a personality clash at work

Personality clash with your boss. Tips to cope …