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Psychology expert RIchard Boyatzis says there is strong evidence to suggest that regular physical or leisure activities

throughout the day stokes compassion and creativity at work.

Editor's note: "Thinking Business"focuses on the psychology of

getting ahead in the workplace by exploring techniques to boost

employee performance, increase creativity and productivity.

(CNN) -- Whether it's infuriating colleagues, inept management or alack of appreciation, the modern day workplace can be a positivity

free zone.

Sometimes counting to ten or daydreaming of a desert island just

won't purge the everyday monotony of office life and it's common to

become trapped in a spiral of negativity.

But regular coffee breaks, yoga and even praying to a loving god

could change all that.

According to psychology expert Richard Boyatzis, these

simple exercises can engage the parasympathetic nervous

system -- the function responsible for relaxation and

slowing the heart rate -- resulting in renewed optimism and

improvements in working relationships.

Boyatzis, psychology and cognitive science professor at

Case Western Reserve University, said there is strong

neurological evidence supporting the theory that engaging

our parasympathetic systems -- through regular physical or

leisure activities -- stokes compassion and creativity.

Read more: Don't get stuck in your own success

"Strain causes a person to be cognitively, perceptually and

emotionally impaired," he said, "if you're under pressure

and stress at work, then you can't think outside the box

because you can't see the box."

Boyatzis maintains that chronic stress levels hinder

professionals and those in leadership positions from

performing to their best. He argues that while we need

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The science behind positive thinking yourway to successBy Oliver Joy, for CNNOctober 11, 2013 -- Updated 0927 GMT (1727 HKT)

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Activating our parasympathetic

systems stokes compassion and

creativity, say scientists

Positivity increases when

workers are given more

flexibility in their roles

Research shows chronic stress

levels hinder professionals and

those in leadership positions

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stress to function and adapt, too much can cause the body to defend

itself by closing down.

"You have to engage your parasympathetic nervous system so that

you change your hormonal flow," Boyatzis told CNN, adding that

mood and positivity can be "infectious" in the workplace, particularly

in positions of leadership.

He added: "If you're having a horrible marriage, or your teenage kids

are dissing you right and left, you get to work and it's very likely that

you are just a bummer."

Read more: Training the brain to stress less

Evidence shows that positivity increases when workers are given

increased flexibility in their roles and more work-life balance,

according to a report on well-being and success produced by the

World Economic Forum [WEF].

Meanwhile, the report showed bad management and

bullying in the workplace can have a damaging effect on

employees' physical and mental health.

Can positivity and happiness lead to success?

A recent study by the University of California entitled

'Does Happiness Promote Career Success,' professors

concluded that 'happy people' are more satisfied with their

jobs and report having greater autonomy in their duties.

Additionally, they perform better than their less happy

peers and receive more support from coworkers.

Finally, positive individuals are less likely to be unemployed and

more likely to be physically healthier and live longer.

And the debate over happiness and work goes way back in history.

Ancient Greek philosopher Galen said employment is "nature's

physician, essential to human happiness."

Read more: 'Power naps' may boost right-brain activity

Sarah Lewis, chartered organizational psychologist, told CNN that

when people are positive at work it can lead to opportunities because

they are more engaged and resilient:

"[When] people enter a more positive space they become more

willing to take risks and make comments," she said "they go into the

more difficult conversations and they're more productive."

But in a study entitled 'Benefits of Frequent Positive Affect: Does

Happiness Lead to Success?' the results concluded that positive

attitudes can sometimes lead to poor problem solving.

The study also stated that the evidence to suggest happy

people are more popular and have superior coping

abilities is "almost non-existent."

Reut Schwartz-Hebron, founder of the Key Change

Institute -- an organization that focuses on workplace

behavior -- believes that a constant state of positivity in

the workplace can be "dangerous."

"There's certain things that have to be challenged," she

said, "certain things that have to be improved you can't

just constantly think that everything is going to be fine and

positive."

Schwartz-Hebron -- a former Israeli military lieutenant --

said to improve working life, it is first necessary "to rewire

your brain" by creating new experiences and engaging

two different cerebral systems; the explicit and the implicit memory.

The explicit is responsible for storing information and facts while the

implicit memory relies on previous experiences to perform a task and

is associated with the subconscious.

"If you want to instigate behavioral change you need to engage the

implicit system which operates in the subconscious realm," said

Schwartz-Hebron, who runs workshops for Fortune 500 companies.

She added: "We typically work in very, very negative environments

because our expertise is actually in difficult change."

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[When] peopleenter a morepositive spacethey becomemore willing totake risks and

make comments."Sarah Lewis, chartered organizational

psychologist.

If you want toinstigatebehavioralchange you needto engage theimplicit system

which operates inthe subconsciousrealm."Reut Schwartz-Hebron, founder of the Key

Change Institute

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"[The people we work with] don't see the need for the change; they

don't feel the problem is being defined correctly or they don't believe

that the solution is correct."

The study by the University of California concludes that while positive

emotions are particularly important to encourage optimal success at

work, it is important for employees and those in positions of

leadership to experience both positive and negative feelings in day to

day routine.

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15 comments

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Best Community Share

maxb500

Thanks for this post. Interesting and usefull.

5

Gunnard Larson

so, be positive and that will help you crush your rivals and rise to the top of your

profession?

4

percussaresurgo

Yes.

guest

That will never work, I quit before starting.

1

yokohamacat

It didn't work for me so I am now on medication :(

Torstentopp

There isn't any serious science called positive thinking. It is really about power,

the big corporations need to steer the thinking of their employees to become loyal,

non -thinking slaves. It is in this context that magical thinking is so useful for the

rich. The people at the bottom of the hierarchy should not realize the reality of the

the place they are in. One book, that writes about this critically is Barbara

Ehrenreich: Smile or Die.

Ibn Juferi

Article clearly says praying to god help you immensely. In the Quran it is

mentioned to recite the names of Allah and pray for our prophet Muhammad(p) 5

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