When we hear about positive thinking, most of us probably think about self-help books. I know I do.
After all, positive thinking benefits our personal lives in many ways. It lowers stress levels, improves physical and emotional health, can result in a longer life span, and provides us with healthy coping mechanisms.
But what about business?
Why don’t we ever hear about the power of positive thinking in terms of business?
If I had to guess, it’s probably because business is more about “doing” than “thinking.”
For example, it’s impossible to “positively think” your way out of a business problem or challenge. You have to take operational steps to handle it. In other words, be a doer, not a dreamer.
But here’s the truth: positive thinking in business isn’t about dreaming.
It’s about creating a healthy mindset.
It’s about allowing yourself to dream big for your business’ future.
It’s about giving yourself the mental freedom, health, and willpower to stand with your business through the ups and downs of your journey.
Let’s dig a little deeper. All of this sounds great in theory, but it’s important to understand the practical effects that positive thinking can have on your business. Consider some of the benefits:
Positive thinking improves problem solving. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an entrepreneur on your first start-up or a business veteran. Positive thinking is scientifically proven to improve problem solving. Aside from opening your mind to new possibilities, positive thinking gives your brain the capacity to take on new information and develop new ideas. Think of it this way: When we’re stressed, sad, anxious, or angry (negative thinking), our mind and body want to shut down. Why? Because your body is literally trying to protect itself from threats from the outside world. Shutting down is a way to conserve energy in order to survive. But when we think positively, our brain feels safe, so it is able to take on new information. This means that we are more creative and more likely to “connect the dots” to solve a challenging business problem. Positive thinking isn’t just “happy talk.” It can actually help us succeed and thrive in business!
Positive thinking builds resilience. Whether you’re running a mom-and-pop shop or are scaling a mid-sized business, there are going to be ups and downs on your journey. No business in the history of the world has ever had a straight line up to success. Many business owners and entrepreneurs burnout when things get tough. Maybe it’s an economic downturn or a supply chain crisis like we’re facing right now. It’s no secret, however, that positive thinking helps speed up the healing from negative emotions. What does this mean? It means that you’re more resilient. Business challenges will always be hard, but how you address the issues and adapt to the times will determine the future of your company. Every entrepreneur and business owner has a laundry list of mistakes. But only entrepreneurs and business people with positive thinking have a list of their successes. This is all thanks to the resilience that was built by that positive thinking.
Positive thinking gives you more energy. Have you ever wondered how billionaires like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerburg survive on just a few hours of sleep a night? Positive thinking likely plays a role. No, I’m not saying that positive thinking will mean you’ll sleep less. However, it does give you more energy. Think about it: if you’re excited about your future business opportunities, you’re more likely to take action to make it become a reality. Science calls this “dispositional affect.” On the flip side, negative thinking leads to stress, which consumes energy and leads to burnout.
While all of this is excellent information, there’s one thing you need to know: positive thinking doesn’t mean anything unless you back it up with action.
Again, you can’t “think” your way out of a scenario. You have to take actionable steps. So this raises the question… how can you use positive thinking in business?
How to Harness the Power Positive Thinking for Business
The first step is to simply start with positivity. It might not sound like a big deal, but our mood can have ripple effects throughout the entire day.
Once you have that positive thinking in place, the way you sustain it is to celebrate every success. This doesn’t mean just your own successes. Also celebrate the success of your employees, partners, board members, and, of course, the business itself!
Celebrating successes helps foster a healthier work environment, which means happier and more fulfilled employees.
When you start dreaming about the future of your business, allow that positivity to dream big. But dreaming big isn’t enough. Make a plan to help you fulfill that dream.
At Exceptional Services Agency, that’s exactly what we do. We help small and mid-sized businesses develop an action-based plan that allows them to scale and grow.
We know positive thinking is a key ingredient, but it must be followed up with action — action — action!
Strategic planning and lean process improvement, for example, are specific ways to bring your business goals into reality. We’d love to share more with you!
Book a free 30 minute consultation to harness the power of positive thinking for your business!