Reasons to have a positive attitude at work
Having a positive attitude in the workplace can benefit you in many ways. For a start, approaching your job with optimism means you're more likely to feel job satisfaction. Plus, a positive attitude can help you handle stressful situations and contribute to a supportive workplace culture.
In this article, we explore what a positive attitude looks like, tips for being more positive at work, and some of the challenges that can impact positivity.
- What is a positive attitude at work?
- How to be positive at work
- Habits that foster a positive workplace culture
- Challenges in maintaining a positive attitude at work
- FAQs
What is a positive attitude at work?
Before you can embrace a more positive mindset at work, it's important to have a realistic idea of what it means and its benefits.
What is a positive attitude?
A positive attitude generally translates to being optimistic, hopeful and kind to yourself and others. Someone who is positive focuses on the upsides and benefits of any situation. Compare this to someone with a negative attitude who focuses only on the downsides or drawbacks.
In the workplace, having a positive attitude doesn’t mean being happy and smiley every day. It just means trying to be open-minded and flexible to change, proactively helping to solve problems and using supportive, encouraging language.
Benefits of a positive work attitude
There are many benefits of having a positive attitude at work, both for yourself and for your team. Some of the advantages include:
- Greater job satisfaction
- Reduced stress
- Better overall wellbeing
- Improved productivity
- Increased teamwork
- Better decision-making
- More adaptability
How to be positive at work
Wondering how to be more positive at work? It may take a little effort, especially if you tend to adopt a different mindset. These examples of positive attitudes in different situations can help you take on the challenge so you feel happier in the workplace.
Mindfulness and positivity
Being mindful means being present in the moment and aware of your emotions, actions and language. It can help you better manage your emotions, give people your undivided attention and approach situations more positively.
If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or frustrated, try:
- Taking a break, such as a short walk
- Focusing on people when they speak, rather than focusing on how to respond
- Breathwork to help you relax
Recognise negative thought patterns
Habits can be hard to break, especially ones involving negative thought patterns. Being able to recognise these negative thoughts when they occur is the first step to rewiring your thinking. Five of the common negative thought patterns people often have at work include:
- An ‘all or nothing’ mindset, where setbacks feel like failure
- Jumping to the worst conclusion
- Oversensitivity to negative feedback
- Laying blame
- Emotional reasoning
Once you notice a negative thought pattern, you can use certain techniques, like cognitive restructuring, to switch to more positive thoughts. For example, if your supervisor has given you negative feedback, your mind may jump to them not liking you or that you’re doing a bad job. With cognitive restructuring, you remind yourself that feedback is a way to help you improve, not that you’re bad at your job.
Be aware of the words you speak
Do you find yourself getting a bit short or not communicating as well when you’re stressed or very busy? The tone you take with colleagues can be the difference between building or damaging relationships.
If you’re unsure how you come across, ask for feedback from other colleagues or a manager. From here, consider how you can improve your own communication skills to better relay your messages.
Stress management techniques
Many people experience stress at work. Finding ways for dealing with stressors related to your work can help you have a more positive attitude in the workplace.
Some leading causes of stress in the workplace are:
- Lack of role clarity
- Poorly managed work relationships
- Heavy workloads
Working on your communication skills, learning to delegate, and better managing your time can help you deal with these common stressors. Also ensuring you’re well rested and getting a good work-life balance can help you feel more positive at work.
Habits that foster a positive workplace culture
It takes more than one person focusing on the positives to create a supportive workplace culture. These tips can help encourage your whole team to think and act more positively.
Clear communication
Clear, open communication helps everyone feel like they can speak honestly and share their opinions. It also helps minimise disputes and conflict, promoting better teamwork and problem solving. Clear communication includes body language and eye contact, your tone of voice, using simple language, and listening to others when they talk.
Team collaboration
Good teamwork is essential for a positve workplace culture; not just working together, but collaborating on problem solving and distributing workloads fairly. Team-bonding activities, like get-to-know-you activities or team lunches, can help your team feel closer and more comfortable working together.
Continuous learning
Ongoing training and upskilling can help you feel more positive about your workplace. If your employer offers it, join workshops and training sessions, or look for opportunities to take on new tasks. Through continuous learning you're taking more control of your career growth, which contributes to a more positive workplace culture.
Constructive feedback
Truly constructive feedback is a good way for people to identify their weaknesses and find areas of improvement. Sharing feedback with teammates can help everyone become more aware of their own habits and whether they are helping to foster positivity or negativity at work.
Challenges to maintaining a positive attitude at work
It can be challenging to feel optimistic or react positively in certain situations, especially when stress or conflict are involved. Here are some tips for maintaining a positive attitude at work during difficult moments.
Dealing with negative coworkers
It’s common to encounter different types of personalities in the workplace. While it may seem like a good idea to avoid a negative coworker altogether, first try to connect with them. It might be that they're not 'negative', they just need more space to work effectively. It's also good advice not to take it personally if someone isn't friendly with you.
Overcoming work-related stress
Learning what makes you feel stressed will help you avoid those situations before they happen. You may find that some tasks are harder than others, so it makes sense to block out focus time for them, or get them done early in the day when you have more energy. Taking regular breaks, staying active and getting enough rest will also help keep your stress levels down and better equip you to tackle workplace challenges.
Managing burnout at work
Burnout is a type of serious, chronic stress. You may feel physically and mentally exhausted, even if you’ve had enough sleep, or find yourself feeling more negative than usual. These signs mean you’re pushing yourself too hard, making it impossible to be positive about work. If you’re feeling burnt out, it’s important you change your work-life balance to lower your stress levels and seek support in the interim.
Being more positive at work doesn’t just benefit you, it has a ripple effect on everyone around you. It’s normal to feel stressed from time to time, but by practising mindfulness, focusing on team collaboration, and managing your workload, you can help build a more positive workplace environment.
FAQs
How do you show a positive attitude at work?
Some good ways to show a positive attitude at work include:
- Speaking positively
- Collaborating with your team
- Seeking out constructive feedback
- Being proactive and helpful
- Practicing mindfulness
How can I stay positive in a stressful work environment?
Celebrating successes, maintaining work-life balance, being respectful of others and setting realistic goals can help you stay positive in a stressful work environment. Mindfulness practices, seeking encouragement from friends, and taking short breaks can also help.
What are effective ways to deal with negativity at work?
Some ways to deal with negativity at work include recognising when it happens and how you can make the situation more positive. You can be mindful of your own emotions and actions, as well as supportive of others, to help create a more positive workspace.
How do I maintain positivity during challenging work projects?
During a challenging work project, set clear expectations, manage your emotions, seek support and feedback, and celebrate wins to help you maintain positivity. Make sure you allocate time to unwind away from work.
What is a positive attitude example for an interview?
If trying to show your positive attitude in an interview, you might say:
In the past, I’ve tackled challenging situations by rallying my team and ensuring my coworkers have the support they need.
How can I quickly shift my mood when I’m feeling negative at work?
If you’re feeling negative at work, taking a short break, go for a walk, listen to some music, or practise mindfulness to reset your mood. It might also help to reach out to a colleague or friend for a supportive chat.
What should I do if my work environment is overwhelmingly negative?
Avoiding gossip and surrounding yourself with positive people can help if you feel overwhelmed by a negative work environment. You can also speak with your manager to help create a more positive workspace. If you find there’s no change, it might be time to start job hunting or applying to transfer to a different location.
Why is a positive attitude important in the workplace?
A positive attitude is important in the workplace as it helps create a supportive culture and can help increase your motivation and productivity. When you’re in a positive mindframe, you’re more likely to think outside of the box and work to your best abilities. It can also make work feel more fulfilling.
How do I handle criticism without losing my positive outlook?
Think of criticism at work as constructive feedback to help you grow and upskill. Avoid reacting immediately and give yourself time to reflect on the feedback and how it can benefit you, without taking it personally.