Boost Positivity in Your Office

Posted November 14, 2017 by Swim Creative Staff

Motivate during the 9-5. Here’s how.

Here at Swim, we prize positivity in the office. It’s just good for business. Seriously, according to the Harvard Business Review, “A large and growing body of research on positive organizational psychology demonstrates that not only is a cut-throat environment harmful to productivity over time, but that a positive environment will lead to dramatic benefits for employers, employees, and the bottom line.”

But #agencylife can be hectic. Meetings, emails, deadlines. How do you find time to be a positive force in the workspace?

  1. Don’t Worry, Be Happy

This sounds a bit hippy-dippy, but the idea is that it’s not about finding time to be positive, it’s about radiating positivity in everything you do. Treat every interaction and every work to-do with joy. Yes, this might be difficult when tasked with drudgery work, but sometimes bringing a good attitude to a project makes all the difference.

Ask yourself, “How can I make this task more fun?” The more creative, the better.

  1. Combat Stress

The marketing industry is a lot of things (fun, rewarding) but stress-free isn’t one of them. You’re going to feel the pressure, and when you do, might we recommend trying out a few of our favorite go-to’s? We’re big fans of Headspace along with these other stress-reducing apps. Once you’ve had a chance to unwind, and maybe even found the source of the frustration, think about possible long-term solutions. It may help to layout tangible steps you can take to address the problem. Avoid the temptation to put the blame on others. And if it is someone else’s fault? Talk to them about your concerns, and listen to theirs. You might be surprised that you share the same frustrations, or how easy a problem is to fix. A five-minute conversation today might save you headaches in the future.

Stress is contagious, so identifying where your stress is coming from and finding the best techniques to deal with it goes a long way for you personally and your officemates.

  1. Lower Your Negativity, Not Your Standards

Being happy doesn’t mean being happy with everything. Keep expecting the best from yourself and those around you, just kick up the notch on the positive outlook.

Point out something positive about a project and then ask, “What can we improve?”

  1. The Half Full Cup Runneth Over

Watch as your positivity spreads throughout the office. Are people a little friendlier, more willing to chip in? It’s working! You’ll feel better, too.

  1. Don’t Fret About Feeling Silly

High fives may feel high school, but what the heck! Giving compliments and encouraging others is nice. That’s the kind of stuff offices need most, that team mentality that revs spirits.

Simply put, embrace your inner Kimmy Schmidt.

  1. Don’t Over Do It

There’s a difference between being nice and being “nice.” Don’t shoot out a million compliments, give a few really meaningful ones. Also, if you’re in a bad mood, don’t fake it. People can read when you’re forcing nice. It’s okay to have bad days, just don’t be rude.

Sometimes saying nothing is better than saying anything at all.

  1. Bring Donuts

Easy positivity points. And so, so tasty.

We can’t get enough donuts from the Zenith Bread Project.

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