Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work and In Business

Published 18 December 2024 by

Martin Hamilton

Hey there! I recently dove into the insightful book The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor, and I wanted to share some fascinating ideas that might just change the way you think about happiness at work or in your business.

Have you ever felt unhappy in your job or business and received the advice to just “suck it up”? You know, the old notion that nobody really enjoys work and that we should just focus on getting through it to find happiness later? Well, it turns out that this advice might not be as helpful as we think!

Shawn Achor, a Harvard researcher, has explored the link between happiness and success through over 200 scientific studies. His findings show that delaying happiness can actually limit our brain’s potential. For example, optimistic salespeople outperform their pessimistic peers by a whopping 56%! Doctors in a positive mindset make accurate diagnoses 19% faster, and students who feel happy before a math test achieve significantly better results. Isn’t that incredible?

You might wonder how happiness can have such a profound impact on our performance. Research from the University of Toronto reveals that when we’re happy, our brains process information more effectively. People primed with positive emotions notice more details and are better equipped to tackle challenges. This ability to broaden our perspective has played a crucial role in human evolution, enabling us to innovate and thrive.

So, what exactly is happiness? It’s not just a feeling; it’s a number! According to psychologist Marcial Losada, we need about 2.91 positive experiences for every negative one to truly unlock happiness and its benefits. This means that to boost your performance, aim for at least three positive interactions for every negative one. If you can maintain this ratio, you’ll notice an improvement in your work and overall well-being.

To help cultivate this happiness habit, Shawn suggests two practical strategies:

The Zoro Circle: Inspired by the legendary swordsman Zoro, this technique involves focusing on one problem at a time. By isolating your challenges, you can tackle them more effectively. It’s similar to a line from The Martian, where Matt Damon’s character emphasizes solving one problem at a time. By doing this, you can reduce perceived threats and create a more positive mindset.
The Tetris Effect: This concept shows how repeated exposure to positive experiences can change our perspective. Just like participants in a study who couldn’t stop thinking about Tetris shapes, we can train our minds to see opportunities everywhere. Surround yourself with stories of success and resilience—whether through audiobooks, podcasts, or inspiring conversations. These positive influences can help you spot more opportunities in your daily life.

Learning to be happy through choice is a powerful tool that can enhance your performance and problem-solving abilities. It’s not just a luxury; it’s essential for tackling challenges and advancing your career or business.

Here I’ll discuss several more concepts related to positive psychology that can fuel success and performance. Here’s a breakdown of those concepts:

Happiness as a Performance Enhancer: According to Shawn Achor’s research, happiness is not just a feeling, but a critical factor for success. It enhances the brain’s potential, making individuals more resourceful and effective in problem-solving. Specifically, positive emotions widen the range of possibilities that people can process. This is in contrast to negative emotions, which narrow focus and limit problem-solving.
The 2.91 Ratio: A key concept for maintaining happiness is the ratio of positive to negative experiences. Psychologist Martial Lada’s research suggests that a ratio of at least 2.91 positive experiences for every negative experience is necessary to unlock the benefits of happiness and improve performance. Falling below this ratio can hinder performance, while going significantly above it (e.g., 6:1) may indicate a detachment from reality.
The Zoro Circle: This tactic is about containing threats and focusing on a single problem at a time. Inspired by the swordsman Zoro, this involves creating mental “circles” where you isolate one issue and shut out distractions. This method can help reduce the number of perceived threats.
The Tetris Effect: This effect involves repeated exposure to something that spills into your daily experience, changing how you view situations. In the context of positive psychology, this means conditioning yourself with positive resources, such as stories of perseverance and success. This can help you naturally see more opportunities.
Positive emotions and the visual cortex: Research from the University of Toronto demonstrates that when people are happy, their visual cortex processes more information. They notice more in their surroundings compared to when they are experiencing negative emotions.
Optimism: Research shows that optimistic individuals outperform their pessimistic counterparts. For example, optimistic salespeople sell more and doctors in a positive state make diagnoses faster and more accurately.
Happiness as a Work Ethic: The idea is that happiness is not just a feeling, but something that you must cultivate every day, such as a work ethic.

Another concept I use and have written about is that of overcoming anxiety and anhedonia. One way to overcome that is by wanting less, eliminating cheap dopamine hits, and focusing on the action. However, these concepts are not explicitly framed as “principles” of positive psychology in the textbook, so don’t expect to see that if you read the book.

So, the next time someone mentions that work isn’t meant to be happy, share these insights! Happiness is key to thriving both personally and professionally, and I hope you’ll embrace this journey toward a more positive mindset.

Let’s make happiness a priority and unlock our full potential together!

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