insium's newsletter on leadership: November, 2015
Written by geoff Tuesday, 10 November 2015 00:00
Similar to our third newsletter, our final newsletter about the World Congress of Positive Psychology focuses on a number of key messages shared by a variety of speakers. With each of these key messages, questions are posed for you to consider. Again, we suggest that you might ponder one key message with the associated question(s) at a time and at a pace that is beneficial for you:
“The single greatest strength may be uncovering a (unrealised) strength in another person.” Tom Rath
§ How often do you take the time to observe and inform others of their strengths?
“You can’t have two books (your personal and professional life is integrated).” John Kim
§ How well integrated is your book? How authentic are you?
“Positive words lead to positive emotions lead to positive actions lead to positive words to positive emotions to positive actions …”
Barbara Fredrickson, David Cooperrider, Diana Whitney, Martin Seligman, et al
Words are the basic building blocks of language. We use words to build sentences and paragraphs, ideas, and to make conversation. Language allows us to structure and understand our own thoughts and feelings and to communicate intelligibly with others.
The words we choose reveal a lot about our attitudes and thoughts, and affect the people around us. Our words can inspire, influence, bring hope or they can keep people down. Our words can keep ourselves down.
We can make great strides toward living a more positive life by learning how to frame our thoughts, ideas and words in more positive terms. To cultivate positive language, we need to think before we speak and censor ourselves, edit our written communications more carefully, and commit to being more conscious (and conscientious) about the words we use.
With a little practice, we can use our words to turn a negative into a positive. Learn how to choose words thoughtfully, and eventually your thoughts and behaviours will become as positive as your language.
Positivity produces success in life as much as it reflects success in life. Positivity works to broaden and build our lives. Broadening refers to the opening of the mind with increased attention, creativity and decisiveness. Building refers to the ability to craft a better life.
Research shows the benefits of positive practices include:
- Increased resilience; increased ability to bounce back from stress
- Increased curiosity and visioning
- Expanded attention and thinking
- Increased creativity and receptivity to others’ ideas
- Increased scope for thought and action
- Increased appreciation of others
- Increased openness to possibility
- Increased resourcefulness
Seven reasons to be generous with appreciation: (Diana Whitney)
- Recognition lets people know they are on the right track; recognition is an investment not a reward
- Appreciation communicates and reinforces your values
- Compliments foster a positive emotional environment
- Gratitude is a verbal immune boost; it is good for your health
- Praise is good for the health of others
- Acknowledgment creates a sense of safety
- Gratitude encourages risk taking and experimentation