Did you know that actually keeping a Positive Outlook will boost your performance? This isn't just conceptual, it is proven. My Fiance shared a small video she thought I might like - and she was right.

Why?

First, some neuroscience. A negative outlook will actually shut down your prefrontal cortex leaving you only with your brain stem and 'reptilian brain' (Neocortex) firing for complex processing. Having your prefrontal cortex engaged is pretty important to give you greater:

• Persistence
• Resilience
• Patience
• Focus

And we could all use a little more of those things right?

So, I took that video to my teams at Groupon and it sparked a great conversation on how to apply positivity to our work. We came up with these great pointers.

Always assume Good intent

Story time! Imagine you've got an open Pull Request, and a colleague adds a comment that sounds harsh and personal (btw, did you know, that for text communication there is a 70% chance of misinterpretation?!). You've got two choices - you can assume your colleague hates you and is out to get you. In that case, you can imagine you're going to feel pretty bad, and probably react personally. Or, you can assume that your colleague actually meant well. That they're just trying to ensure the quality bar is high and be certain your code is rock solid, and that you grow and learn. Sure, perhaps it could have been worded more eloquently to avoid misinterpretation, but I'd guess you would be more inclined to let the manner of communication slide if you felt like you were on the same side. Now. Imagine if you could feel that way with everyone in the company, anytime. Guess what...

You can! At one level or another we are all working for the same thing - to make an awesome product, and make our users happy. Keep that in mind and you'll go far to unlocking your brain's superpowers when you have a Positive Mental Outlook!

Put yourself in other people's shoes

Empathy is an advantage and useful skill while working in teams, and let's face it - no matter how isolated you feel you are when working on part of a feature - you're always working with or relying on others! Understanding other peoples perspective and their intentions can help you see the positive side of what you're doing.

The future can cause Anxiety

Focus on what is right in front of you, right meow. If you have time constraints for your feature, try removing them from your mind. If you're a coder, focus on building the best possible thing you can. Let the Product Manager and the Engineering Manager worry about time constraints for you. If you're a QA Engineer, focus on making sure what is delivered is unshakable. If your mind is cluttered, write down what you have to do, then only focus on one step at a time. Unfortunately, as humans, we can only perceive time one-dimensionally. May as well get used to it, relax, and focus on the present.

Detach

One of my engineers, Kent, came up with a great tip - when the tension and stresses build up during the workday to a level you're not comfortable with, detaching from the situation is a powerful tool. Take a break - go for a walk, play a game, socialize, eat, shop, Gym. Aside - I'm trying to convince my Fiance that this is why I need to buy a new Nintendo 2DS XL.

If you're stuck on a problem or the pressure feels overwhelming, you'd be amazed what a short break can do. You're all professionals and can manage your own schedule - don't forget to schedule some down-time in your day too so you're not burning out!

View the world as a Learning experience

This is a fun technique when you're facing with challenges beyond your current comfort level. And it's sooo important. We've observed that if you view challenges as a learning experience, you're more likely to stay positive and happy while working through them. It essentially can hack your brain into staying more positive. Why?

Because it gives you permission to fail. Learning is all about controlled failure. Learning from your mistakes, and trying again. If you can truly shift your brain into learning mode, suddenly there is no consequence to fail. And that keeps you more positive. Which in turn makes you perform at a higher level. Magic. As one of my Engineers Prasanth put it - a Growth Mindset will always beat a Perfectionist Mindset.

Kill your darlings

This is a well discussed tactic in the software field. Basically - don't be afraid to scrap your old work in order to build something original and new. See here.

Environment

Your environment can impact your mood. Know what works for you and set yourself up for success. Some like noisy chaotic environments around them, others need peace and quiet, other still need music, or being outside in the sun. Know what works for you and give it to yourself. Just remember to still talk to your colleagues in person - there's only a 30% chance of misinterpretation when you're talking face to face! Plus, you know, we're social animals and it's fun to work together.

If you've made it this far, you might have realized one common thing all these ideas have - Self-awareness. If you know what your brain needs to perform optimally - provide it. You'll be happier and you'll perform better. Win-win! These ideas are here to spark your brain. I encourage you to think about your mental state when it comes to work, and think of it as any performance goal you might have. Talk to your Manager about it in your 1on1's - I'm sure they'll have lots of other ideas for you to take this further.

Until next time, Stay Happy.