Pessimism can wreak havoc in the workplace. It’s time to go from business pessimist to business optimist.
By Craig Falck for Africa Report
Photograph: © Bowie15 | Dreamstime.com
In order to get by in these tough times, you need to look on the bright side of things. There’s no longer space for pessimists and people who cannot find something to be cheery about. Besides, no one likes a Negative Nelly. But how do you see the better side of the world instead of the worse side? Here’s how…
Take a look at your situation and take stock of what you have. Now look around and see how many people don’t have what you have, don’t have a job, don’t have a car, can’t afford to buy a quick take-away meal at night. It’s time to realise that compared to a lot of other people, you have it good and that they would bend over backwards to be in your shoes. It really is a state of mind and you need to get into gear and be thankful for what you have. Sure, you might’ve worked harder than some people who are higher up the pecking order, but instead of using that as a barrier, think of it as motivation and push yourself harder to get further. There’s no pain without gain, after all.
When it comes to the workplace, stop thinking, “I can’t” and believe, “I can”. It’s time to put on your MacGyver shoes and be able to think on your feet, go with the flow, and adapt to changing environments. Sure, it might be so much easier to complete your work task if you had Part 2 and 3, but because you’re stuck with Part 1 and 4, you need to do it the hard way. Stop complaining and show some initiative and get the job done. Believe us, the bosses will look at what you’ve done with what you had on hand and take note… They’ll remember you as the winner, the employee that did everything to reach the goal, instead of being the quitter.
Another way of seeing the good in a situation instead of the bad is to look for inspiration or motivation. If it means going to morning prayer, reading a passage from your favourite book, listening to your favourite song or going to gym before work… It’s better to walk into a task feeling pumped up and motivated and ready for the challenge than to drag yourself in already believing that it’s going to be a nightmare of a task. When you realise that your biggest hurdle is often yourself, you’ll also realise that by simply believing that you are able to do something, your chances of success are greatly increased.
Bruce Lee once challenged his best friend to push his body and run further in their morning job at a higher tempo. His friend said he’d have a heart attack and die. What did Bruce tell him? “Then die!” The two ran further and faster that day than ever, increasing each and every day after that. Believe in yourself and see the opportunities in front of you instead of holding yourself back. It’ll do your confidence the world of good, not to mention impress your boss.
