The Power of Positive Intent
The Power of Positive Intent
What if that jerk you work with wasn't actually trying to be a jerk? What if the woman who you are convinced doesn't like you because of her disapproving looks actually has social anxiety and her look has nothing to do with you? If you were able to rewire you brain to take every negative story that you spin into a neutral or positive one, the benefits to your relationships, career, and overall happiness would be profound.
Giving the Benefit of the Doubt
Imagine that Kim and Alex are colleagues who work in a highly polarized and stressful environment. One day, Alex sends an email to Kim with suggestions for improvements on a project they are working on together.
Kim initially feels defensive and assumes that Alex is criticizing her work, which causes her stress and negative emotions. However, she remembers the importance of assuming positive intent and decides to approach the situation with curiosity.
Rather than assuming that Alex has negative intentions, Kim chooses to withhold judgment and seeks to learn more about the suggested changes. She responds to Alex with an open mind, asking for clarification on his suggestions.
Alex, who had intended to offer constructive feedback and collaborate with Kim, is impressed by her willingness to assume positive intent and engage in a constructive conversation.
By assuming positive intent, Kim and Alex were able to avoid a downward spiral of negative assumptions and instead had a productive and collaborative conversation that ultimately led to a better outcome for their project.
This is an example of how choosing to assume positive intent can have a positive effect on stress, mental health, and physical well-being, as well as on trust, communication, relationships, and business results.
It is easy to fall into our patterns of making up stories. As humans, we seek to make meaning out of our environment. When information is missing, we fill it in. Unfortunately, what we fill in isn't always true.
And if we have had one prior negative interaction with someone, or are already feeling stressed, defensive, or insecure, we can fill in those details with negative stories.
But as seen in the example above, assuming positive intent is so much more helpful for you and those around you.
Leaders who want to cultivate a culture of assuming positive intent can model the behavior they want to see in their employees, actively coach them to reframe emotionally-triggering situations, and find ways to build examples of positive intentions into the culture.
By doing so, they can help to rewire the habitual thought patterns that often lead to negative assumptions and reactions in the workplace.
And this can lead to a much better work environment, more satisfaction, and more ease within your day.
You have enough stress - decrease it by creating a habit of assuming positive intent, and watch your days improve!
Cheers to positive intent,
Sharon
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