“Is the glass half empty or half full?” is a common phrase that you may have heard before. The question frames our view of the world: are we negative pessimists or positive optimists?
Some people can accept annoyances in the normal course of events, while others go insane and believe the world is ending. You have every right to be upset when bad things happen. However, negativity in general can be counterproductive, especially when negative thoughts spiral out of control. This type of behavior not only makes you unhappy but can also undermine all of your positive efforts.
Is your glass half-empty or half-full?
Is the glass half-full or half-empty in your opinion? Although both perspectives are technically correct, your perspective can have a significant impact on your success and happiness.
Let’s talk about workplace communication
Great leaders understand that giving people positive feedback motivates them, results in a better product, and earns them respect. Your relationship suffers as a result of negative motivation.
For Example: if you do not send me your order by noon Thursday, you will have to wait another week. Verses… Send me your order by Thursday at noon, and I’ll have it ready for you on Monday.
Things aren’t always as good as they should be (like the first draft of a presentation for the senior team). Constructive feedback is required in situations like these. The ‘how’ you provide feedback makes all the difference.
Let’s talk about general daily communication
It’s so easy to complain about how bad things are, and I have to catch myself just like everyone else. That said, I’m relieved to report that it happens less frequently than it used to… and much less frequently than some people I know.
The truth is that you can always improve a conversation by noticing what’s good about even the worst of circumstances. Talking about what’s good promotes harmony. talking about what’s bad creates frustration and easily leads to anger, and stressful relationships, and can even cause depression.
For Example: that street light is out. I’m sure it’ll take the city weeks to fix. Verses… That streetlight has gone out. That one light makes seeing the stars so much easier.
Conclusion
So we can see the significance of our overall approach and the impact that specific words have on the people with whom we are communicating. We can be more mindful of the words we use and their impact on the tone of our messages. This is as true for written (especially email), and spoken communication.
Look for the positive in everything. Be a helper. If you see someone doing good work, let them know. Everything you do should be celebrated. Positive thinking and positive speaking are worth the effort for everyone.
Happy Communication!
Author – Deeksha Khanna
