I know you have run into those people who when asked to give their opinion on something ridiculously wrong in business will say..
I do not like to expend any negative energy. My business is perfect.
What did that remark tell you about that person? Well, first of all, anyone who is in business has to expend negative energy everyday. And to say their business is perfect they have to be living a few blocks from downtown La-La-Land.
Over the years I have run into a lot of these people…yes both guys and gals. Most of how they are is taught to them by business coaches that are a little off center themselves. They have been told speaking negatively on any issue places them in a negative light. I know, because I use to train people in the power of positive thinking.
What has gone wrong is that attitude develops into an extreme. To wave off absurdity or even deception in business to stay positive at all cost just goes too far and highlights a person’s inability to deal with reality. Their image become plastic…or false.
Would you want to do business with someone who is all giggles, smiles and positive remarks? If you are then you will soon be dealing with a loon.
From my years of experience in mentoring young men and women with their first steps into business I can say for certain that the ‘positive attitude at all cost’ tactic is initially only to be used for first impressions only. After that, if the attitude continues it will become hard to trust that the person. If the charades continue the damage to the business deal becomes irreversible.
Eventually, the person who feels they should stay positive all of the time will breakdown from the pressure of not wanting to deal with reality. It happens in every case I was involved with. The image of being positive does open a lot of doors but eventually sustaining that image creates an internal stress that if not released in some form will cause physical damage to the person’s health.
What I have been telling my mentees who come to me for image evaluations that have that ‘Stay Positive’ attitude is to tell me a joke. Over 90% of them do not have a joke to tell and the remainder have a joke but usually is not funny. Telling a joke for someone who maintains a positive image at all cost is very difficult to do. First, most jokes (that are funny) require stepping out of the Positive Attitude for a short period of time. However, it is a start for them to rehab back to balancing the positives with the realities of life.
Once I get them back to reality I then get them to Rant on an issue that is negative. After that, they see clearing the wrongs of having a totally Positive at All Cost attitude and how they need to balance their emotions to show to everyone that they can be trusted.
Plastic images in today’s world smell of deception and I cannot imagine why anyone would want to attempt to maintain that attitude beyond the initial introduction. Let me know how I can help.
