Stay positive - Arm yourself against toxic emotions in the workplace

This post came out from The Straits Times (30 Mar 2012)
Title - Stay positive - Arm yourself against toxic emotions in the workplace

Some pointers that I've got are:
1. Create a powerful personal vision
2. Focus on the positive
3. Apply the "positive-negative-positive" principle
4. Tomorrow is another day

On Create a powerful personal vision

• There is a saying that "if you do not stand for something than you will fall for everything". When you create a powerful personal vision, your role in the company will become clearer. It is important that you see yourself as an asset to the organisation. When you are confident about how you are contributing to the organisation, it becomes more difficult for the nansayers to bring you down.

On Focus on the positive

• When your job becomes mundane, boredom will set in, and you become vulnerable emotion. You might become sensitive to what people say or think - because you think their negative opinions are justified - and this will gradually start affecting your performance at work.
• Instead of worrying about what people think about you, focus on doing the right things first. That will keep you from settling into a comfort zone and prevent your work from becoming too routine.
• The way to achieve this is to set a daily goal for yourself - whether it is learning something new about your work or sticking to an exercise routine. These tasks will keep you positive and make you a more confident person when you complete them successfully. 

On Apply the "positive-negative-positive" principle

• When you talk to family members, friends, colleagues, your boss or your subordinates, do you always focus on the negative? Are you quick to blame other people when things go wrong? Do you communicate with integrity and fairness? Do people always come to you first for the latest office gossip?
• If you expect people to be positive towards you, then you need to be positive towards them as well. Apply the positive-negative-positive rule. Start by saying something positive, then if you have to give some criticism (the negative), say it in the middle of your conversation and end it with something positive again.
• When you do that, you will be seen as a fair-minded person, and people will become more comfortable in your company. As you become more likeable, your confidence level will rise, along with your ability to influence people. 

On Tomorrow is another day

• Finally, remember that today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday. Each day will provide you with the opportunity to better yourself. Seize the opportunities that come your way to bring a little bit more happiness to yourself and others. 

Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big