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Even if your workplace is boring and dull with a predictable day in and day out schedule, there are ways to bring positivity into your workplace. Positivity is infectious and sometimes it just takes one person to spark positivity for an entire company. Be that spark for your coworkers or employees by bringing positivity to the workplace through these simple ideas.
Make Friends With Coworkers
Even if you’re in a professional workspace, showing an interest in your coworkers by befriending them and showing an interest in them can go a long way in promoting a positive environment in the workplace. Start up a conversation in the lunch room or invite a few coworkers over after work to get to know each other better outside of your traditional office setting.
“There’s this strange idea that the people we work with have to stay professional colleagues in the professional world,” says Bradley Hall, CEO of SONU Sleep. “If you find yourself in this situation and feel stuck where you’re at, be the one to take initiative and change the norm. Host a staff dinner party at your house or invite people over for a movie night to encourage mingling among people outside of work. Sometimes it just takes a bit of time outside of the office to get people to come out of their shells and feel comfortable enough to befriend each other.”
Smile Often
This seems simple, but smiling can really improve the overall positivity within the office. Smiling and keeping an upbeat attitude can be a great way to inspire others to be more positive as well. Being happy will often attract more people than appearing standoffish.
“Smiling is a great way to spark positivity in the workplace,” says Eric Elggren, Co-Founder of Andar. “Keeping a positive attitude and smiling at others can help boost the energy. Be authentic with your smiling and attitude – if you’re faking it too hard people may think you’re being fake or trying to manipulate them. Find positivity in everything you do and allow yourself to communicate that through your smile.”
Be Grateful
Show appreciation to people within the workplace for anything they do to make your life easier. Write a thank you card to each coworker on a different day to express your gratitude for something they have done to help you or others in the office. Everyone feels more positive after they’ve received praise or a note of gratitude.
“Slipping a surprise gift or note as a token of appreciation to your coworkers when they help you out with things can be a great way to spread positivity,” says Alex Wang, CEO of Ember Fund. “Surprise your coworker who shared their meeting notes with you with a cup of coffee and a little note the next morning or choose a staff member at random to encourage with a personalized ‘thank you’ for their work.”
Avoid Unnecessary Criticism
There is a time and place for criticism and avoiding unnecessary criticism is a great way to promote positivity in the office by removing negative thoughts and feelings. If you’re frustrated with someone’s work or you feel that things could be done better, take a minute to think about how you could suggest change without criticizing or insulting people.
“We often let our emotions get in the way when we’re frustrated or irritated in the workplace,” says Dr. Minhas, Founder and CEO of GerdLi. “You have to put yourself in someone’s shoes before you criticize their work. They’ve probably spent many hours working on a project and there’s probably a reason behind why they did what they did. Instead of criticizing, ask questions and make suggestions as you see fit. This mental shift can make the difference between a positive collaboration and a negative criticism.”
Cut the Gossip
While gossip can be fun and entertaining, it also hurts people and brings down the positivity level of the office. Gossiping is something that can bring people together, especially if it’s about a hot topic that doesn’t directly involve anyone in the office. However, that time spent tearing a celebrity, politician, or other figure to shreds often shows the ugly side of each person’s personality.
“Subconsciously, when we gossip together we form a bond. That sounds like it would be a positive thing, however we’re also subconsciously making a note about how these other people talk about others,” says Jordyn McKay, Social Media Manager at Chirpyest. “It’s very difficult to share good news or exciting things with a group of people you think might rip your good news to shreds or make you feel bad about your exciting event.”
Show Empathy
Positivity can radiate from a variety of situations. If someone shares a concern with you or expresses that there’s a tough situation at home, be willing to extend a listening ear and show empathy. While some workplaces discourage personal conversation on the clock, you can do a lot by spending some time after work talking with your coworkers or chatting over lunch break and showing empathy for them.
“Empathy can be shown in a bunch of different ways,” says Natália Sadowski, Director of Aesthetics at Nourishing Biologicals. “For example, if you know your coworker who’s a single mom is struggling to find a babysitter for their sick child, you could offer to cover for them at a meeting or event so they could go home even if it means you have to stay a bit late. Extending kindness through a listening ear or your actions can be a great way to show empathy and spread positivity.”
Be in the Moment
If you work a job that’s very monotonous day in and day out, it can be easy to check out during the routine parts of the day. Make it a priority to prioritize being in the moment and observing others so you can carry out some of these other ideas. Smiling at others, showing empathy, and getting to know your coworkers are all things that are easier to do if you are in the moment and aware of the things going on around you.
“There are an alarming number of employees out there that couldn’t tell you a single personal detail about their coworkers or even what someone who they spent the whole day with wore to work. It’s easy to get into the mindset of ‘keep your head down and get the job down so you can go home’ when we should be looking for opportunities to learn about the people we’re spending these work hours with and spreading positivity as much as possible.”
Help Whenever Possible
Offering to help your coworkers seems like such a simple way to spread positivity but it can really make a difference. While you might have a lot on your plate, you can look for small ways to help people out.
“Helping a coworker could be a great way to start spreading positivity in the workplace,” says Andrew Chen, Chief Product Officer of videeo.live. “You could offer to help someone carry their things to their car or offer to pick up coffee on the way into the office on a day your team has early meetings. Helping others and making their day a little easier with a smile on your face is a great way to turn someone’s day around and spread positivity.”
Prioritize Mental Wellness
Positivity is great but it can be draining if you’re the person trying to get the ball rolling on positive attitudes in the workplace. It’s important you prioritize your own mental health and wellbeing as you’re moving through this process. Find a hobby or other self care option to take advantage of and use that to recharge.
“Making self care a priority for yourself can help you maintain a positive attitude,” says Joshua Chin, CEO of Chronos Agency. “As you’re looking to make a difference in the office, you may find yourself feeling like your own battery is on low. Recharge with some self care through yoga, exercise, a spa night, or whatever helps you re-energize yourself after a long day.”
Create Fun Events
While some work events may make people roll their eyes at the idea of participating in a cheesy themed party where they’ll be forced to mingle with other departments. Try to think of ways to spread positivity with events or themed days at work that can help people.
“Think out of the box for events that could spread positivity,” says Lyudmyla Dobrynina, Head of Marketing North America at Optimeal. “You don’t have to force everyone to attend a dinner or banquet to have a good time. Have a DIY Donut day or a cubicle decorating competition for the holidays. Find fun ways to make people smile or look forward to coming to work.”
Conclusion
Fun events, positive encouragement, and smiles are just a few creative ways to spread positivity in the workplace. Hopefully this article has inspired you to try something new to boost the office’s morale. Remember to take some time to recharge and prepare to bring your best self to work each day through self care activities throughout the week.
