Hello HR Skippers,
An eye-opening article on the negative impact of positive thinking.
Hey!!
You know... Recently, someone sent me an email asking the reason for so much positive thinking going on around us. I knew very well at that time and still... that my wisdom is like politics, has its own limits. I am still in debt when answering that question, and believe me, sometimes it gets scary.
But the question is absolutely right... Why do we need so much positive thinking... And does it really affect our performance to think too positively?
Does it hurt to think positively?
Don't you think this positive thinking has made people more dependent on this phenomenon, rather than making us independent?
Why are we running from those negative thoughts? These questions are still unanswered in my mind. But if NASA had not thought about the negative effects of space travel, it would not have been possible to visit the moon.
If there were no negative charge, we would still be playing with stone-age tools.
Here, I am not advocating plain negative thinking. No, if you got that, my mistake.
I am talking about constructive negative thinking.
One phenomenon that has taken me to another level is CNT (Constructive Negative Thinking) and its effect on people and their performance.
What I Found: I did some basic research (still ongoing) and a little insane experiment on my friends and colleagues. I separated my friends into 2 groups (without telling them). One group, with whom I always used to talk about the positive side of things and their good qualities (Group A), and another group with whom I never talked positively, not even about their good qualities, just plain normal people (Group B). One day, I challenged each member of both groups to complete 5 specified tasks designed to test their attitude, check their patience, understand their approach to tasks, know their happiness after work, and have a clear understanding before and after task completion (done with each member separately at an individual level, as I didn't have the required finances). I started by asking a few questions about what they thought of the tasks and if they believed they could complete them easily. If a task seemed impossible to complete in a specific time, would they keep trying or move on? What could make them quit the task?
The answers from Groups A and B were quite different, but the main surprise came after all the tasks were completed. Both groups performed at a nearly similar level. Both groups had a 50% success rate. Most things were similar except for one thing. The members of Group A, who had been talking positively before the experiment, still talked positively about performing well next time. However, the results showed that 45% of Group A members got impatient faster than Group B, which distracted them from completing the task. More than 34% of Group A members failed to concentrate on the task as the difficulty level increased. Lastly, we gave them random things like colors, pictures of various moods (happy, sad, normal, angry, calm), and asked them to choose and write the very first thought that crossed their mind in one word when they made a choice or were asked something. The results showed that around 73% were unhappy about their performance and doubtful about their next performance, although they claimed they were happy and would do well next time (if you want details of the research conducted, drop me an email).
There are many factors that need mentioning here, but I have my limitations, and our research is still in its infancy. The only thing I can say to you right now is, "Don't be so positive." It can hurt you and your performance.
Source of the article: [Don't Be So Much Positive!! It can hurt you and your performance](http://blogspot.in) (link updated to site homepage) ([Search on Cite](https://www.citehr.com//results.php?q=Don%20t%20Be%20So%20Much%20Positive% 20It%20can%20hurt%20you%20and%20your%20performance ) | [Search on Google](https://www.google.com/search?q=Don%20t%20Be%20So%20Much%20Positive%20It% 20can%20hurt%20you%20and%20your%20performance))
Thanks and regards,
Ashish
From India, Delhi
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148An eye-opening article on the negative impact of positive thinking.
Hey!!
You know... Recently, someone sent me an email asking the reason for so much positive thinking going on around us. I knew very well at that time and still... that my wisdom is like politics, has its own limits. I am still in debt when answering that question, and believe me, sometimes it gets scary.
But the question is absolutely right... Why do we need so much positive thinking... And does it really affect our performance to think too positively?
Does it hurt to think positively?
Don't you think this positive thinking has made people more dependent on this phenomenon, rather than making us independent?
Why are we running from those negative thoughts? These questions are still unanswered in my mind. But if NASA had not thought about the negative effects of space travel, it would not have been possible to visit the moon.
If there were no negative charge, we would still be playing with stone-age tools.
Here, I am not advocating plain negative thinking. No, if you got that, my mistake.
I am talking about constructive negative thinking.
One phenomenon that has taken me to another level is CNT (Constructive Negative Thinking) and its effect on people and their performance.
What I Found: I did some basic research (still ongoing) and a little insane experiment on my friends and colleagues. I separated my friends into 2 groups (without telling them). One group, with whom I always used to talk about the positive side of things and their good qualities (Group A), and another group with whom I never talked positively, not even about their good qualities, just plain normal people (Group B). One day, I challenged each member of both groups to complete 5 specified tasks designed to test their attitude, check their patience, understand their approach to tasks, know their happiness after work, and have a clear understanding before and after task completion (done with each member separately at an individual level, as I didn't have the required finances). I started by asking a few questions about what they thought of the tasks and if they believed they could complete them easily. If a task seemed impossible to complete in a specific time, would they keep trying or move on? What could make them quit the task?
The answers from Groups A and B were quite different, but the main surprise came after all the tasks were completed. Both groups performed at a nearly similar level. Both groups had a 50% success rate. Most things were similar except for one thing. The members of Group A, who had been talking positively before the experiment, still talked positively about performing well next time. However, the results showed that 45% of Group A members got impatient faster than Group B, which distracted them from completing the task. More than 34% of Group A members failed to concentrate on the task as the difficulty level increased. Lastly, we gave them random things like colors, pictures of various moods (happy, sad, normal, angry, calm), and asked them to choose and write the very first thought that crossed their mind in one word when they made a choice or were asked something. The results showed that around 73% were unhappy about their performance and doubtful about their next performance, although they claimed they were happy and would do well next time (if you want details of the research conducted, drop me an email).
There are many factors that need mentioning here, but I have my limitations, and our research is still in its infancy. The only thing I can say to you right now is, "Don't be so positive." It can hurt you and your performance.
Source of the article: [Don't Be So Much Positive!! It can hurt you and your performance](http://blogspot.in) (link updated to site homepage) ([Search on Cite](https://www.citehr.com//results.php?q=Don%20t%20Be%20So%20Much%20Positive% 20It%20can%20hurt%20you%20and%20your%20performance ) | [Search on Google](https://www.google.com/search?q=Don%20t%20Be%20So%20Much%20Positive%20It% 20can%20hurt%20you%20and%20your%20performance))
Thanks and regards,
Ashish
From India, Delhi
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Hi,
You make a very good case for Balanced Thinking. Your Constructive Negative Thinking (CNT) suggestion is a very pragmatic and reasonable idea. I particularly liked the way you have gone about using some experiments to validate your hypothesis. Your subsequent exercise and analysis that put a question mark on the real thoughts of the so-called positive thinkers is a real eye-opener.
In my view, Positive Thinking must be an outcome of a realistic probability rather than mere wishful hope. The practicality and reality must be given due weightage; otherwise, optimistic outcomes would be expected purely because of an overwhelming positive thinking influence. For example, if a student has not prepared well for exams, it would be disastrous to expect excellent results simply by thinking positively.
CNT, on the other hand, is a good way to mitigate risks. The premise here is centered around the belief that an effective damage control mechanism can always come in handy and certainly protect the downside. For example, the life jackets and lifeboats in ships or the safety helmets worn at construction sites are a testimony to CNT in practice.
You have certainly triggered a good debate.
Regards
From India, Mumbai
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You make a very good case for Balanced Thinking. Your Constructive Negative Thinking (CNT) suggestion is a very pragmatic and reasonable idea. I particularly liked the way you have gone about using some experiments to validate your hypothesis. Your subsequent exercise and analysis that put a question mark on the real thoughts of the so-called positive thinkers is a real eye-opener.
In my view, Positive Thinking must be an outcome of a realistic probability rather than mere wishful hope. The practicality and reality must be given due weightage; otherwise, optimistic outcomes would be expected purely because of an overwhelming positive thinking influence. For example, if a student has not prepared well for exams, it would be disastrous to expect excellent results simply by thinking positively.
CNT, on the other hand, is a good way to mitigate risks. The premise here is centered around the belief that an effective damage control mechanism can always come in handy and certainly protect the downside. For example, the life jackets and lifeboats in ships or the safety helmets worn at construction sites are a testimony to CNT in practice.
You have certainly triggered a good debate.
Regards
From India, Mumbai
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Thanks to all who have read about my little experiment and special thanks to those who have taken the time to appreciate (Sirsa, A. Ari, B. Jacob) it.
From the very first day when I started as a trainer, the positive thinking phenomenon has attracted me. As our friend ACT has discussed some good points about this.
I am sure you all must have some kind of experience in you about positive thinking and its effect.
I request all those people who come across this post to share their views. It can help us in our research further. Help us in understanding "How positive thinking can affect the performance in both positive and negative ways."
Thanks and regards,
Ashish
From India, Delhi
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
From the very first day when I started as a trainer, the positive thinking phenomenon has attracted me. As our friend ACT has discussed some good points about this.
I am sure you all must have some kind of experience in you about positive thinking and its effect.
I request all those people who come across this post to share their views. It can help us in our research further. Help us in understanding "How positive thinking can affect the performance in both positive and negative ways."
Thanks and regards,
Ashish
From India, Delhi
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Hello Asish,
Many Thanks to you for your novel post.
It is just a coincidence that today there happens to be another
posting by one of our members, Sri S R Balaji, on how to avoid Negative thinking.
I made a small contribution to that thread before I read your thread.
Since you have invited other views from the readers I wish to place my views here.
Positive thinking, Negative thinking, Realistic situation, Safety, Systems, Procedures etc
have distinct domains with some overlap.
Our thinking influences our action.
Positive OR Negative thinking, reflects our attitude in any given situation.
NASA certainly has to consider all possible outcomes before they put a space ship in orbit.
A lot of work is done before the space ship leaves the earth.
They start questioning about People Safety, equipment safety , emergencies etc and proactively
have solutions in place. They also take into account the past experience both pleasant and unsavoury
as inputs, learning while designing their programmes.
For that matter walk into any good factory.
You will find a host of Safety interlocks, Poka-yuke ( Mistake proofing as defined by the Japanese),
Defined Safe and Unsafe acts, SOPs etc.
They take into account what can possibly go wrong and how still Safety can be ensured.
Coming to more practical day to day things, Child lock in cars, Child lock in TV remote ,
Fail-safe systems in Lifts, Safety belts in cars, Airbags in cars etc are all in place to prevent
mishaps, to a large extent. These creations are the result of possibility thinking.
Suppose some has to catch a flight and the normal travel time to airport
is half an hour. If one starts just before 15 minutes, we are not going to call it
positive thinking. Suppose if another person leaves two hours early, then
he is not a negative thinker. All we can say is that the first person is not realistic
and the second one is realistic in his approach.
We have often seen people prepare for their court cases, from the point of view of
a Devils Advocate. This helps them to be on guard.
An expert chess player takes into consideration, the possible moves of the opponent
as perceived by the opponent, in addition to his own. This strategy is there in
almost all competitive games and sports. We would call them preparations.
Imagine two persons, of opposite outlook, stuck in a quick sand and there is a rope
dangling in front of them. The positive minded fellow will be concentrating on how
to get out of the mess using that rope. The negative thinking person will rue the
incident that pushed him there and do nothing else and reign himself to fate.
A Positive thinking person sees any difficult situation with a ray of HOPE.
A Negative thinking person sees the same situation as HOPELESS.
V.Raghunathan .. Navi Mumbai
From India
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Many Thanks to you for your novel post.
It is just a coincidence that today there happens to be another
posting by one of our members, Sri S R Balaji, on how to avoid Negative thinking.
I made a small contribution to that thread before I read your thread.
Since you have invited other views from the readers I wish to place my views here.
Positive thinking, Negative thinking, Realistic situation, Safety, Systems, Procedures etc
have distinct domains with some overlap.
Our thinking influences our action.
Positive OR Negative thinking, reflects our attitude in any given situation.
NASA certainly has to consider all possible outcomes before they put a space ship in orbit.
A lot of work is done before the space ship leaves the earth.
They start questioning about People Safety, equipment safety , emergencies etc and proactively
have solutions in place. They also take into account the past experience both pleasant and unsavoury
as inputs, learning while designing their programmes.
For that matter walk into any good factory.
You will find a host of Safety interlocks, Poka-yuke ( Mistake proofing as defined by the Japanese),
Defined Safe and Unsafe acts, SOPs etc.
They take into account what can possibly go wrong and how still Safety can be ensured.
Coming to more practical day to day things, Child lock in cars, Child lock in TV remote ,
Fail-safe systems in Lifts, Safety belts in cars, Airbags in cars etc are all in place to prevent
mishaps, to a large extent. These creations are the result of possibility thinking.
Suppose some has to catch a flight and the normal travel time to airport
is half an hour. If one starts just before 15 minutes, we are not going to call it
positive thinking. Suppose if another person leaves two hours early, then
he is not a negative thinker. All we can say is that the first person is not realistic
and the second one is realistic in his approach.
We have often seen people prepare for their court cases, from the point of view of
a Devils Advocate. This helps them to be on guard.
An expert chess player takes into consideration, the possible moves of the opponent
as perceived by the opponent, in addition to his own. This strategy is there in
almost all competitive games and sports. We would call them preparations.
Imagine two persons, of opposite outlook, stuck in a quick sand and there is a rope
dangling in front of them. The positive minded fellow will be concentrating on how
to get out of the mess using that rope. The negative thinking person will rue the
incident that pushed him there and do nothing else and reign himself to fate.
A Positive thinking person sees any difficult situation with a ray of HOPE.
A Negative thinking person sees the same situation as HOPELESS.
V.Raghunathan .. Navi Mumbai
From India
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Dear V. Ragunathan,
Thank you so much for your wise and humorous posts. One that I liked the most is "Integrity." This was one of the finest one-liners teaching valuable lessons. Thank you for that. You have presented and, I would say, redefined the topic in a new way. I highly appreciate that. I would love to have more discussions with you on the same platform.
Warm regards,
Ashish
From India, Delhi
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Thank you so much for your wise and humorous posts. One that I liked the most is "Integrity." This was one of the finest one-liners teaching valuable lessons. Thank you for that. You have presented and, I would say, redefined the topic in a new way. I highly appreciate that. I would love to have more discussions with you on the same platform.
Warm regards,
Ashish
From India, Delhi
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Hello Mr. Asish,
Thank you very much for your kind words. If I have made even a little bit of contribution towards learning that motivates me and also provides new learning for me as well. As I am on the threshold of entering the sixth decade, perhaps I may get more time to interact in Cite HR. I will be happy to interact and increase the avenues of new learnings.
V. Raghunathan
Navi Mumbai
From India
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Thank you very much for your kind words. If I have made even a little bit of contribution towards learning that motivates me and also provides new learning for me as well. As I am on the threshold of entering the sixth decade, perhaps I may get more time to interact in Cite HR. I will be happy to interact and increase the avenues of new learnings.
V. Raghunathan
Navi Mumbai
From India
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