Workplace

Much ado has been made about Rhonda Byrne's book The Secret and its accompanying film of the same name. Born of the New Thought Movement, which originated in the U.S. during the late 19th century, The Secret details the law of attraction principle that proposes the power of thought can spur change and innovation. New and positive thoughts, according to the New Thought Movement, can help advance humanity and protect against illness. With the book and film attracting media attention, the New Thought Movement has been reinvigorated and moved into the realm of personal and professional fulfillment.

Precepts of the New Thought Movement indicate if you think positively, you are more likely to succeed. Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Co., is an example of someone who bucked convention, acted on his ideas about successful business processes and accomplished great things. Author Norman Vincent Peale also achieved success with his books about positive thought, including The Power of Positive Thinking. Written in 1952, this book has sold more than 7 million copies. Apparently, personal success awaits you if you think positively.

Positive psychology

Although it can be easy to dismiss the New Thought Movement, don't completely disregard this philosophy. For decades, social psychologists have been studying the power positive thinking has on our cognitive functions.

Because of the wealth of information we process on a daily basis, our brains are structured to filter out what we deem unimportant or irrelevant and focus on information we think will help us daily. This focus can be beneficial, but it is also habitual and limits creative thinking. Huge amounts of information from our environments go unnoticed while our brains sift through everything. With positive thought, however, we can widen and even readjust our focus.

Based on a concept called priming, positive thought can predispose us to recognize opportunities when they cross our paths and imagine possibilities previously stifled by stale thinking. We can't possibly process all the information in our environments, but positive thought can help us notice and act on the good things that are possible.

Positive thought benefits health and well-being, as well. Psychologist Shelley E. Taylor researched a phenomenon called positive illusion, and her research demonstrates that good mental health results from positive thoughts about oneself, the world and the future. The key is the thoughts' positivity, not their veracity.

In fact, idealistic thoughts about one's potential can net real benefits. This "unrealistic optimism" helps a person manage anxiety, enhance social relationships and increase productivity. People who believe they will have positive outcomes—even when that belief is improbable—often enjoy greater success and better mental health than people grounded in a more negative reality.

Take positive action

How can your business benefit from your positive thoughts? Recognize that language is a powerful link between thought and deed. Think about the way you talk about your business and goals, and consider making some of these simple changes:

• Frame your company's vision positively. Instead of focusing on beating your competition or decreasing defects and customer complaints, try phrasing your goals as "increase sales by 25 percent" or "achieve 100 percent customer satisfaction." Negative frames give employees something to move away from. Positive frames give them goals to work toward.
• Use action- and results-oriented language when you talk about your vision. Avoid words such as "strive," "try" and "when possible." Instead, use words like "deliver," "increase" and "achieve." Such language helps employees imagine how they will reach a goal instead of simply hoping they will.
• Focus on how you can reach your vision, not on the obstacles and reasons you could fail. You can be realistic in your risk assessment and still keep your eye on your target.

Positive thought expressed through positive words leads to positive perspectives, increased awareness of opportunities and enhanced motivation of employees to reach stretch goals. It may be time for you to consider becoming an optimistic leader.

Karen L. Cates, Ph.D., is a professor of management at Monmouth College, Monmouth, Ill., and an adjunct faculty member at Evanston, Ill.-based Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.