Fear the enemy of positive attitude in the workplace

Patricia J. Raskin

01/08/2011

It is the job of a news organization to report what is current. Today in Rhode Island, that means we hear about the ups and downs of the local economy – including, among other things, the cost of health care premiums, electricity and natural gas – as well as various state mandates for insurance.
We cannot control these costs, the stock market or the recession. But we can control how we react to these facts of business life, how we do business. In fact, how we behave as business leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals can make all the difference.
During this time, it is important not to let our fear control our actions.
The first step is to communicate more with one another, and share our fears and concerns so that together as a group we can support each other. The goal is not merely to survive but to thrive.
Some people see “happy” workplaces as environments that encourage informality or maybe even frivolity. But business environments that are the “happiest” are places where individuals do not fear expressing their ideas and having them heard. It is by instilling a sense of “we are all in this together” that we see the power of the collective to work on challenges and problems.
This is a very simple concept and not particularly original. But as simple as it may seem, it is not implemented very often. The reason is simple – we are afraid. We are afraid that others will steal our ideas, take over our jobs, and in some way diminish who we are. When we can put our ideas and fears on the table, we open up a vulnerability that gives us the opportunity to be authentic.
At this time in the corporate environment, there is an opportunity to be more positive than ever before and more creative. We need a new attitude, a new way of doing things. With the new wave of demand of information through the Internet and social media, we can reach millions of people with the click of a mouse. And in writing, what you put in black and white is everything, and the words we use and how we use them is what counts. We need to be more diligent about what we say. But, maybe even more important, we need to be more diligent about how we speak to each other. First impressions make or break one’s opinion of you, your company or your product.
Most people do not like change because anything new connotes unknown territory. And yet, it is in this unknown territory that we most grow. We can grow by honing our skills and becoming specialists at what we do best.
We do not have to be “super-beings” in business, and in fact, I do not feel that serves us. With telecommuting, flexible hours and compressed workweeks, we have more flexibility, but this can increase our tendency to multitask, become scattered, lose focus, and balance.
It is not a sign of failure to ask for help, and employers who value people know that when work-life balance is achieved, the return will be exponentially greater, overall.
It is true that money is most often the tool to receive our deliverables so that we can live and work with necessities as well as comforts. And money can help so many others. It is a powerful tool that can be used for the best and used for the worst. Balancing money is part of work-life balance and part of positive business.
Positive business is an attitude – and attitudes can be changed. We need to believe in what is possible, and lead by example. During this recession, as we regroup our funds and our business and financial strategies, we must stay positive in how we use our resources, utilize the strengths of our people, and bring hope back into the local economy. •

Patricia Raskin is host of “Positive Business” on Fridays 3 to 5 p.m. on WPRV-AM 790 and of “Patricia Raskin Positive Living” on Sundays noon to 2 p.m. on WPRO-AM 630 and WPRO-FM 99.7.

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