There's More Than Power In Positive Thinking

There are many factors that are critical to success. You can have a great plan, the right people, facilities that are top notch and a superior concept but without the right outlook these advantages could be worth nothing. There is a reason why some businesses succeed and others fail and many times it has to do with the philosophy behind the business. We have heard for decades that there is power in positive thinking and finally businesses across the world are putting stock in positive thinking.

When your business is in its infancy everything you do is based on hope for the future. With your will alone, customers come to you and your ideas and concepts begin to reach out and begin to live a life of their own. Obstacles are met with resolve and slowly but surely they are overcome. During those formative times positive thoughts are necessity and come easily when you have not yet faced failures. But as time goes on and businesses grow, it is easy to get complacent. As your organization develops and your staff grows and all of a sudden it isn't just your attitude you have to worry about. The dynamic of your business has changed and the ability to motivate becomes a real issue. Now you really need that positive energy that you started out with.

The first thing to remember as you face your staff each morning is that you are the leader and you set the tone for your entire organization. Your positive attitude will be like the stone you throw in a pond. Its ripples will spread throughout your company and influence every decision and action that takes place. The second thing to remember is that the personalities that make up your company are not only an asset but a huge resource. When you are down find someone who isn't struggling and draw from that positive energy wherever you find it. Every company is like a finely turned orchestra and each section contributes to the beauty of its entirety. Instead of strings and brass, it's Accounts Payable and Customer Service.

Use staff meetings as a time to fine tune your instruments. There is much to be said for agendas and timetables when planning a meeting. But don't forget to leave time for laughter, ideas, and play. Current thought on meetings have come to the conclusion that they can be times of team building as well as decision driven meetings. Nothing builds a team faster than sharing laughter and fun. I am not endorsing hours of free spirited recreation and hilarity. Time is a valuable commodity but spending ten minutes of sharing laughter and humor can go along way in reducing tension and freshening ideas and outlooks. People that laugh together form a tight bond that can mean the difference between a unit and people who merely spend time together.

Leaders who encourage humor and a positive outlook will find themselves renewed and more respected. Some recent studies have shown that humor not only reduces tension in groups but also strengthens the immune systems of its members. Long standing medical belief holds that people who look at life with optimism and humor live longer and stay healthier. Why not let your organization contribute to the health of its members and reap the benefits of less sick days and higher morale? Something as simple as a clever cartoon taped to the break room refrigerator can lighten burdens, relieve stress, and build group cohesiveness. Rewarding the employee with the most original screen saver can brighten your office and the spirits of those who work there. Humor has a place in the business world and finding the place between cynicism and chaos is a fine art. I am not suggesting that people take their jobs less seriously and that work should be just fun. The realities of a competitive and demanding world can't be sacrificed for the sake of fun. What I am saying is that by using a thoughtful approach to team building through humor may be the answer to a business that is overworked and stretched to its limits. Positives attract positives and we all know the damage negativity can bring to a business. By encouraging your employees to use appropriate humor to lighten the mood and liven up their workdays can truly put the power in positive attitudes.

Melissa Vokoun is a successful Business Advisor and Trainer. From 1983 to 2005 she was COO and VP of Sales and Marketing for a national telecom equipment distributor. Her passion for business, working with clients in solving critical issues in the strategic, tactical and operational areas of growth continues. She is now President and Founder of NuVo Partners and Successful Business Advisors. To learn more about the services available, please visit the website at: http://www.nuvo-partners.com or call 847-392-6886.