Keeping upbeat and others in good spirits really can bring about positive results, says author Jon Gordon
Positive energy… It’s a term being talked about a lot more frequently in conference rooms, classrooms, locker rooms, and even living rooms. Perhaps it’s because there is an abundance of new research that shows that positive people, positive communication, positive interactions and positive work and team cultures produce positive results. Or perhaps at a deeper level we all know that every person, every career, every company, every organisation, every family, and every team will have to overcome negativity, adversity, and challenges to define themselves and create success.
No-one goes through life untested, and the answer to these tests is positive energy – not the rah-rah, cheering kind of positive energy, although there certainly is a time and a place for that as well.
But rather, when I talk about positive energy I’m referring to the optimism, trust, enthusiasm, love, purpose, joy, passion and spirit to live, work, and perform at a higher level; to build and lead successful teams; to overcome adversity in life and at work; to share contagious energy with employees, colleagues, and customers; to bring out the best in others and in yourself; and to overcome all the negative people (whom I call energy vampires) and negative situations that threaten to sabotage your health, family, team and success.
Positive energy is very real, and in my work with thousands of leaders, sales people, teams, coaches, organisations, teachers, athletes, mums, dads and even children, I have witnessed the amazing power of positive energy. I have seen head teachers turn their schools around and enhance morale. Leaders have told me how they used my strategies to help their employees and teams become more successful.
Cancer survivors have told me how they won with a positive attitude. Athletes have shared how they’ve overcome adversity to reach their goal. Hardworking employees have e-mailed me and told me countless stories of promotions and accomplishments at work. And one mum even called to tell me a story about her son, Joshua, who, after hearing that his mum and dad were getting a divorce, said he was going to try to be strong and positive through it all because positive people live longer, happier and healthier lives.
It turns out Joshua remembered what I said to him a year earlier when I spoke at his school about the importance of positive energy. Not only was I touched, but I was deeply inspired.
People like Joshua inspire me to write about and share positive energy because deep down I know it matters and I know it works. My hope is that you will cultivate positive energy in your own life and career and then share it with your colleagues, customers, organisation, team, friends, and family. I’m confident that when you apply the principles you’ll find greater happiness, enhanced success, higher performance, inspired teamwork and significant results.
This is an edited extract from The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel your Life, Work and Team with Positive Energy, by Jon Gordon, published by Wiley.
Visit thebestyoumagazine.co to read Jon’s five tips for staying positive.
