Maintaining motivation and optimism in work teams is not something that magically happens by itself. Rather, it is a vital element that is continuously built starting from the base of the organizations and that is reflected in the successful achievement of their objectives. Although it is a fundamental element, not all companies give it its due importance in their on-site, remote or hybrid teams. In the following lines we will show you why optimism is important in companies, what are the advantages of having optimistic people in your work team and give you some recommendations that will allow you to improve this important aspect that constantly comes with new challenges. Let's start this journey!

Did you know about the optimism coefficient?

The optimism coefficient refers to the proportion of optimism and pessimism that exists in a group of people. Both are equally contagious, but their results are very different. While the former generates a resonant impact on the emotional climate of the group, the latter leaves a dissonant and negative effect. 

While pessimism harms the work development and blocks its continuity in difficult times, optimism is a constructive ingredient that helps to achieve the proposed objectives and activates motivation and teamwork. 

High-performance teams are undoubtedly characterized by being optimistic, but it is not about just any type of optimism and much less about seeing everything through rose-coloured glasses or as in a fairy tale. On the contrary, what is meant is an enabling optimism that doesn’t lose connection with reality. We are talking about the type of optimistic people who, in the face of any situation of adversity, have or start developing the ability to find realistic opportunities and solutions.

Restore your your team's motivation

Advantages of having optimistic people in the team

Optimism is fundamental not only to overcome adversity, but also to achieve the goals set as a company and as a team. It is not a magic formula or a logical law that guarantees that optimism equals more success. No matter how optimistic we are, situations of conflict that we cannot control will inevitably arise in our lives. What is certain is that in the face of unforeseen events or even in cases of failure, optimism allows us to have a constructive and learning outlook and to respond with a positive attitude to the different challenges that happen at work and in our daily life.
Here are some of the advantages of having positive and optimistic people in companies:

1. It improves the organizational climate and the physical, mental and emotional well-being of people facilitating the organizational processes of companies.
2. It reduces stress and anxiety, increasing life expectancy and allowing a better management of emotions.
3. It helps to achieve common objectives by raising self-esteem and increasing motivation.
4. It increases flexibility and perseverance in the face of challenges.
5. It allows us to face conflict situations as an opportunity for growth and learning.
6. It improves communication through a sense of humor and connection through emotions.
7. It improves cohesion in the work team by creating trust and a sense of belonging.
   

Recommendations to boost optimism in the work team

Optimism is not born, it is made. It is not a gift or an aptitude that people are born with, but rather a learned attitude that we acquire, that is cultivated throughout life and that must be constantly nurtured and restored. For this reason it is important to include in the companies' Wellness program some actions that allow a constant cultivation of this important element. 

Some recommendations and good practices that will help you have active optimism in your team are:

1- Start with yourself:

The optimism coefficient’s highest degree of maturity is being able to transmit it. Undoubtedly, you are the first one who must start setting an example and opening this door in order to sow and transmit this dose of positivism to the people around you. To do this, start connecting yourself with positive thoughts that stimulate the culture of optimism by promoting positive feedback and being the bearer of good news and words of encouragement.

You can also count on people within your team who have a good level of emotional intelligence since they will not only connect with optimism but also become promoters of this great movement.

2- Assess the team: 

Evaluate and measure the level of optimism coefficient of your company with a certain degree of regularity. A smile may hide vital moments that could be putting the well-being of your team at risk and generating interference. You can do this through a diagnosis that allows you to know the current mental and emotional well-being states and needs of your team. You can rely on experts who will also provide you with an action path to boost optimism and maintain the mental and emotional well-being of your team.

3- Create group spaces to reactivate optimism: 

The best incentive you can give your team to recognize their great efforts is a group space where they can develop and reactivate their optimistic mindset. Not only will it help them regain motivation, but will also allow them to reconnect with the team spirit through trusting relationships that can assist them with the challenges they face as a company.

4- Manage a mental and emotional wellness plan:

No one is exempt from difficult experiences in their personal or work life, and this is precisely what makes us human. All these situations, when not oriented in a healthy way, can affect mental and emotional health, thus directly influencing work performance. For this reason, we recommend you to rely on experts to design a prevention, promotion and intervention program tailored to your company to assist and guide this type of process from an appreciative and constructive approach.

Managing Virtual Teams has a network of expert psychologists that will support you in the great adventure of reactivating optimism and taking care of your team’s mental and emotional well-being through strategies and spaces, making optimism the axis of the emotional intelligence of your team and your company. 

Reaffirm your optimism and motivation in your team. Contact us.