Positive Intelligence and Productivity
The article published by Achor Shawn in the Harvard Business Review asserts that positive intelligence or positive mindset is optimistically correlated with performance, productivity, creativity, and engagement at the workplace. "Happiness advantage," as the author has termed it, is the factor that helps in clarifying the relationship between positive intelligence and workplace effectiveness/productivity.
Happy workers are likely to perform better than their unhappy counterparts, confirms meta-analysis of 225 studies. On an average, happy employees are 31 percent more efficient. Positive intelligence, which is the science of mastering own mind, assist a person in optimizing the level of happiness. Simply put, positive intelligence facilitates happiness and satisfaction, and a happy mind enhances workplace productivity. As a result, it follows that positive intelligence will lead professionals to optimize their productivity and performance. Positive intelligence also helps in experiential learning, i.e., the creation of knowledge by transforming the experience. With the heft of hands-on learning is apparent in the workplace, the importance of positive intelligence automatically comes to the fore.
The significance of positive intelligence further lies in business dynamism and competition. Contours have changed drastically and the cases of employees' burnout and stress are mushrooming. Maintaining an unruffled mind is one of the must-have skills for a professional. Not only it accelerates the work outcomes, but also enables an individual to enhance his physical and psychological well-being.
Explanation of Positive Intelligence
Positive intelligence, simply put, is the science of mastering the mind which is a double edged sword. While it can be the best friend if channeled in the right direction, it is capable of sabotaging you if let it go by its way. Positive intelligence facilitates constructive channeling of the mind thereby pepping up satisfaction, happiness, productivity and work efficiency.
In other words, positive intelligence is an art of cultivating a positive mindset that can bear stress and adversities in a better way. Training the mind in no way different from training the muscles in the gym. It is a complete misconception that the mental happiness depends on genetics and the environment we live in. Research has revealed that individual efforts can even change the mind of an adult. You can rewire the brain by developing positive habits. Some of these habits might include meditation, exercise, and jotting down the meaningful experiences of life. At the workplace, you can do little things to flow optimism inside. For instance, helping coworkers or engaging positively with them are some of the most effective habits that can rejuvenate you and assist in positive inclination at the workplace.
Training to Enhance Positive Intelligence
Taking a cue from the works of Achor Shawn, I recommend short and mindfulness meditation at the desk. Meditation empowers employees to be present actively and prevent them from being lost in thoughts. Practicing it daily helps in venting out negative energies while positing the mind towards satisfaction and calmness. It will also assist an individual in weakening the Saboteurs. To be precise, art-of-living sessions can be organized in the organizations that will support them in learning the nitty-gritty of meditation.
Secondly, I would like employees to get training in informal socialization. Informal peer interactions and casual meetings between the management and employees would not only break the ice, but these will also help employees and management comprehend each other. Socialization will also lead to social support networking that is one of the most effective methods of channelizing the mind positively. Positive engaging with other also enhances empathy for others. The works of Dufner et al. (2012) have confirmed that intrapersonal and interpersonal adjustments are positively related with self-enhancement and positive intelligence. These adjustments facilitate self-esteem that peps up the satisfaction of mind.
Which is More Important: IQ or PQ( Positive Intelligence Quotient)
I think that positive intelligence is more important than IQ because it is a pre-requisite to all other intelligence as emotional and social intelligence. Research has revealed that the role of IQ is only 20 percent in an individual's success. The same is the case with emotional and social intelligence. The reason is that IQ does not include motivation. A person scoring high in IQ might not perform outstandingly in the workplace because of the lagging motivation levels.
People must have a deep appreciation of what they are doing. They must be satisfied to the core of their heart. They must have explored the meaning and purpose of doing a particular task. All this flow with positive intelligence. It is the reason researchers have affirmed that positive intelligence assists an employee in optimum utilization of IQ, EQ, and SI. It imparts the ability to fetch out the positive in adverse situations and make the most of it. PQ provides much-needed motivation and enthusiasm that is the supreme of all qualities.
Example of Using Positive Intelligence
I have been trying to develop positive intelligence through the art of living and meditation sessions. The practice of around two years has inculcated confidence and a bit of contentment in dealing with other people. In my personal life, I use positive intelligence to solve interpersonal arguments, especially with spouse and children. While I used to get angry earlier, positive intelligence has enabled me to keep calm and acknowledge differing perspectives on a particular situation.
The same thing happens in the workplace. I can now detach myself from stressful scenarios while still giving my maximum efforts. Workplace stress does not haunt me now, and I feel a sense of inner satisfaction. Recently, a complex project involving a plethora of intricacies and confusions was handed over to me. The only reason that helped me getting through that project was my calm and free mind. Positive intelligence has cleaned the clutter in my mind thereby providing a stability thoughts and actions. More often than not, I have used personal intelligence in building interpersonal relationships in my personal life and also at work. While it provides the strength from inside, I feel more supported and networked.
References
Abe, J. A. (2011). Positive Emotions, Emotional Intelligence, and Successful Experiential Learning. Personality and Individual Differences , 817-22.
Achor, S. (2012). Positive Intelligence. Harvard Business Review .
Dufner, M., Denissen, J. J., Matthes, B., Meeus, W. H., van Aken, M. A., & Sedikides, C. (2012). Positive Intelligence Illusions: On the Relation Between Intellectual Self-enhancement and Psychological Adjustments. The Journal of Personality , 537-72.
Hunt, M. (2016). Happiness and Success: Evidence-based Strategies for Success. AuthorHouse.
