Imagine you are walking down the road and turn a corner. You are likely to notice if you are heading into a headwind. Walking is more effortful. If you are unlucky, some grit or debris flies into your eye. If you have an umbrella it might turn inside out. It sucks.
Now imagine you turn that corner and you pick up a tailwind. Walking might feel a bit easier, you might have a spring in your step. But you are unlikely to really notice or feel the wind on your back. It's an invisible force making progression a little easier.
It feels good but we often don't know why.
When it comes to the workplace - and life - we are much more likely to spot headwinds, the problems we face, the difficult colleague, or the negative team culture.
Unfortunately, like tailwinds, we are much less likely to notice the good things, when things are going well.
This phenomenon has been coined by researchers as our deficit perspective or our deficit bias. Negative emotions, experiences and events show up and impact us significantly more than positive ones.
So what does this mean?
It means that when it comes to workplaces we need to be more intentional in spotting, appreciating and nurturing the positive behaviours, cultures and leaders that we have at work.
Identifying and nurturing 'workplace tailwinds' is what those in the fields of Positive Psychology, Positive Organisational Scholarship, and Wellbeing Science help teams, leaders and organisations to do.
So my challenge to you (and us all) is to be aware of, and work with, your deficit perspective.
You can't defeat it by will power alone. But through intentional practice you can get better at spotting, working with and catching tailwinds. Giving you and your colleagues more spring in your step.
Rob Baker is the Founder and Chief Positive Deviant at Tailored Thinking.
