Nobody likes to be around somebody who is consistently negative throughout the day. Not necessarily because they don’t like that individual but because negativity is highly contagious!
I am the type of person who gets easily distracted and I can go from happy to mad in the blink of an eye. I need to constantly surround myself with positive energy to keep myself and others from falling into that negativity trap. Because I am in sales I need to focus on positive thoughts and keep up my moral; remember that prospects and customers can tell when you are speaking with a smile or slumping in your chair.
So how can you keep yourself in a positive frame of mind?
Make sure that all of your senses are satisfied
1. Keep your office tidy and organized. If your office is disorganized chances are you will be too.
2. Create a playlist on your MP3 of songs that help keep you energized and motivated. When people ask me what type of music I like I always respond with “That depends on what type of mood I am in”. When I need to keep my self positive and motivated my playlist would consist of “I Got a Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas” or “Drive” by Incubus. No matter what’s on your playlist, Music is a great mood booster.
3. Surround your self with good times. I have photos throughout my office that make me smile when I look at them. I also keep a picture of my Son close at hand to remind me why I do what I do day in and day out.
4. Take in a deep breath. Make sure there are no unpleasant odors lingering around your office. If you are in an office I would suggest keeping the scent of anything citric close at hand to help energize you and stimulate your senses.
Share the Wealth!
1. Pay someone a compliment. I used to work in a high traffic coffee shop and was a key player in the front lines. I would go out of my way to compliment at least 10 random strangers a day. I had a very loyal cliental and made myself an asset to the company because of it.
– If you notice that someone changed their hair – compliment it
– If you notice that someone is looking good that day – mention it
– If you hear that someone closed new business or achieved their goal/quota – pat them on the back.
– If you see that an employee has gone out of their way to do something for someone else or has taken their work home with them to complete a task – let them know you noticed and tell them “good job”.
2. Lend an ear. If you see a co-worker struggling or see that they are not in a good mood, take notice and ask if their is anything you can do to help. Usually when I see one of my co-workers down in the dumps I will pay them a compliment on some previous work they did to start the conversation and then mention that I noticed that they are not themselves and offer my ear.
Don’t bottle your frustrations
1. Use your voice. If something is bothering you don’t hold it in. Carefully address the issue with the person who is causing you the frustration. Don’t go into the conversation with guns blazing, be creative.
Example: A new procedure has been put into place that effects how you do your job in a negative manner. Approach the person who has implemented that procedure and start of with something like;
“I have tested out the new procedure that you have put into place and see its value in most departments, however there are a couple of hurdles that I am struggling with that I was hoping you could help me resolve”
If the issue is not addressed and you are still unhappy with the situation then maybe it’s time you escalate the request. Just as a precaution; when going to a superior make sure you are not slandering your co-worker and not using your superiors time to issue a complaint without a couple of ideas on how this can be resolved.
2. Constructive Criticism. If you are in the position of authority and need to criticize one of your employees, do so carefully if you want your employees behavior to change. When people are approached by their superiors or co-workers and the subject that is brought up is what they are doing wrong; most people will automatically start thinking of excuses to protect their honor. So be crafty.
Example: One of your sales people have been unfocused and lagging behind in his prospecting. First compliment him on what he does well; reminding him why you hired him in the first place. Then address the issue in the form of a question.
“Hi Bob, I wanted to take the time to congratulate you again on that last sale; it was a really great account that you brought in and that was some great qualifying on your end. I noticed that you haven’t been bringing me as many opportunities as you used to, is there anything that I can provide you with to help you with your prospecting?”
No matter what; stay positive and stay focused and you will succeed in anything you do.
My recommended Read of the day is written by Alexander Kjerulf: The Feel Factor – Why no workplace can afford to ignore what people feel. http://bit.ly/cCFPI2
I hope this Blog has been helpful. Please feel free to leave a comment if you have anything to add. Tx!
