I am Dr. Hassan, a Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner. I help physiatrists start and grow their own profitable practices so they can achieve financial independence and live without limits.
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We tend to think of how our workday goes in terms of accomplishments. How much did you get done today? If you’re generally happy with your output, you might assume your mood has something to do with it. Being happy and upbeat means you’re really getting things done…right?
Not necessarily. While some workplaces push for the right attitude so their workers can get things done, more often than not, forcing everyone to be happy tends to hurt productivity more than it helps. Consider these outcomes of what’s called toxic positivity to help put things into perspective.
Burnout
Hanging onto a positive attitude when you’re not feeling it can be exhausting emotionally. This can quickly lead to burnout and an inability to think properly, negatively impacting your ability to make good decisions in your work.
Poor Communication
The strain of trying to keep positive can make it difficult to talk to others at work. How can you ask questions, find help, or even talk to those around you and communicate well if you’re unsure how your words will be received?
Resentment
No one likes being forced into a certain attitude. If your workplace requires this kind of positivity, avoiding the natural resentment of having to adopt a persona that is not yours can become difficult. How can you give your best to a company you resent?
Social Distancing
How can you possibly trust your colleagues when everyone is always putting on a false front, trying to show the best possible face no matter the circumstances? This can lead to avoidance when it comes to relying on others. Working together on projects becomes more difficult with this attitude of mistrust until you feel like an outsider in your own place of work.
Feeling Unsafe
Having your feelings negated and constantly being told you’re the one at fault for being too negative will make it harder and harder to express opinions or share ideas. Toxic positivity can keep you feeling so off-balance you’ll never want to risk anything which might look like innovation which in turn stifles creativity.
Stress
Even your mental health declines when you’re overexposed to toxic positivity. When you feel your emotions are invalid and you start second-guessing your reactions, it can lead to depression and anxiety. All these things negatively affect work performance.
With so many negative outcomes from working with toxic positivity, is it any wonder productivity is hindered in this kind of environment? Remember, the best work environments respect the workers’ feelings, give them a place to voice concerns, and listen when people have something to say, positive or negative.
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Once you’ve decided that you want to leave your current job to start your practice, you need an exit plan. Check out our blog post here for tips on developing an exit plan and starting your new independent practice.
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I’m Dr. Hassan, a Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner. I help physiatrists start and grow their own profitable practices so they can achieve financial independence and live without limits. Please go to businessofrehab.com/contractnegotiations to pick up the free guide to help you negotiate the contract of your dreams.
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