Job-Person Fit – Why it’s Important to Experience Positive Emotions at Work

By Alison Heyerdahl

It’s no secret that we all desire to experience positive emotions. But did you know that this is actually a core need in your work environment in order to feel satisfied by your job? You might assume that work is a place for effort and determination, not feeling good. But positive emotions can help you balance the seriousness and pressure of work with a light-heartedness and a reminder of what really matters in your life.

Research shows that negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, and stress take a toll on our bodies and minds; and that positive emotions are linked to better outcomes at home and at work.  As a result, corporate wellness programs are becoming more focused on enhancing positivity in the workplace to improve employee well-being and productivity. 

Positive Emotions for Better Health and Stress Management

From the outset, it is clear that negative emotions and stress tend to cause illness and reduce our immune system functioning, influencing our ability to fight diseases.  This in turn leads to higher employee absenteeism and sick days.  Positive emotions, on the other hand, are associated with faster recovery from stressful events, as happy people are more resilient and able to bounce back more quickly after experiencing stressors. 

Positive emotions aren’t only limited to feelings of joy, happiness and optimism.  They also include being calm, energetic, comfortable, satisfied, and enthusiastic.  Many studies have documented the valuable outcomes associated with experiencing positive emotions, including improved physical health, higher levels of employee engagement, and lower job turnover. 

Positive Emotions Improve Interpersonal Relationships and Creativity

Positive emotions are linked to better interpersonal relationships.  This stands to reason because good relationships are a source of positive emotional experiences and happy people are more approachable.  Furthermore, people with a positive outlook are more likable and tend to get on better with others than unhappy people.  Many studies have also documented the effect of positive emotions on work-related processes, like creativity.

Scientists and artists throughout history have commented on the satisfaction that creativity engenders.  Einstein described his realization of the general theory of relativity as the happiest moment of his life. But positive emotions themselves tend to fuel these moments of creativity.  In very basic terms, positive emotions are conducive to creativity because they broaden the mind, whereas negative emotions tend to narrow one’s focus. However, it’s important to make the distinction between what types of positive emotions enhance creativity.  Happiness in itself, such as the positive emotions that are evoked when someone tells a funny joke tend to open the mind to see the big picture; whereas high motivational intensity states (which are also positive in their essence) focus us on completing a specific goal.  If you are too passionate about completing a task, you may miss the forest for the trees, but if you need to focus on bringing a new idea into being, high motivational intensity may be what is required. 

Positive Emotions and Job Satisfaction

Positive emotions are an important predictor of how people feel and think about their jobs and their companies.  According to research done by Carl Thoresen et al., people who experienced positive emotions at work reported higher levels of job satisfaction and were more committed to their companies.  These employees also reported less burnout and job fatigue, and were more motivated to stay in their jobs. 

Company Wellness Programs Can Increase Positive Emotions in the Workplace

Companies are always looking for interventions to increase employee engagement and harness the benefits of experiencing positive emotions in the workforce.  Research has found that interventions aimed at increasing the positive experiences among employees were consistently associated with increased employee wellbeing and performance and reduced incidences of stress and burnout. 

There are many ways to enhance positivity in the workplace.  For example, managers can encourage employees to think about what they are grateful for and what brings them joy.  Other interventions include allowing employees to socialize, and encouraging them to have restorative breaks, such as going for walks.   Technology can also be effectively used in the delivery of programs aimed at increasing positive sentiment. 

Conclusion

We all want to experience positive emotions at work and at home.  In fact, the reason we are motivated to do anything in life is to ultimately experience positive emotions.  Research shows that companies that seek to create an environment that increases positive sentiment also improve employee wellbeing and job satisfaction. 

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