Positivity

It is something we take for granted. It’s the most intangible asset an employee can have. It is the most ignored aspect in the world. It’s not just in the professional world, but in life as well.

Its absence is felt much greater than its presence is appreciated. In fact, absence of positivity is dangerous. It can erode teams, individual and the morale of people who work in the team. Lack of a positive outlook in our professional life helps to make us tie over difficult patches. It also helps us look at a problem in a better way looking to solve the problem and not to blame someone else for a problem. People become instruments to solve problems, not the reason for problems. The way we look for solutions change.

This does not mean that only positivity should be there. That would be naiveté. It would be calamitous. A healthy dose of realism and caution is required. Friction, after all, is quite important; else we would all be slipping and breaking our skulls.

Negativity at the work place makes you think less. It’s like a weighty burden on your shoulders. You drag your feet to work. You start talking about ‘other things’ when sitting with your colleagues for a coffee break. A break from work means you talk shopping, friends and which places have vacancies. Thinking about your work and improving in it is a thought that is galaxies away.

Such an employee is simply being there in the ‘now’ as he does not see himself in the future of that company. It even spreads. It’s a virus. Especially when someone in a lead position carries a negative attitude about him/her, then it’s detrimental to the entire team. The team is now different units. They do not function as a team. They are individuals who make up a team and do their different duties. They come to office and think of leaving. Finishing assigned tasks and leaving for the day so they can pursue their other life.

Companies should see to it that they address issues of leaders with negative attitudes.  Companies must introspect if these negativities are founded on fact or if the individual is negative by nature and always looks at a glass half empty. It may be possible, in that case, that there is a reason for all the negativity floating around. If it is because such influencers in the team are by nature negative, then the team may scatter and  the doers of the team will soon find alternate paths or may not perform to their best capabilities. The loss, ultimately, will be felt overall and may create a ripple effect.