Positive Organizational Positive Organizational BehaviorBehavior

HR SeminarHR Seminar

Definition of POBDefinition of POB

The study & application of positive human The study & application of positive human resource strengths and psychological resource strengths and psychological capacities that can be measured ,developed capacities that can be measured ,developed and effectively managed for performance and effectively managed for performance improvement in today’s workplaceimprovement in today’s workplace

What does this mean?What does this mean?

DefinitionDefinition

It means studying psychological constructs that will It means studying psychological constructs that will allow us to improve at work.allow us to improve at work.

Such constructs are:Such constructs are: OptimismOptimism HopeHope Happiness/SWBHappiness/SWB ResiliencyResiliency Emotional IntelligenceEmotional Intelligence Self-efficacy (self-efficiency)Self-efficacy (self-efficiency)

OptimismOptimism

Characteristics of optimism:Characteristics of optimism: PerseverancePerseverance AchievementAchievement Motivation leading to academic, athletic, Motivation leading to academic, athletic,

occupational success.occupational success.

PessimismPessimism

Pessimism leads to:Pessimism leads to: PassivityPassivity FailureFailure Social estrangementSocial estrangement DepressionDepression

Dimensions of Optimism Dimensions of Optimism

It is treated as a human nature and/or an It is treated as a human nature and/or an individual difference.individual difference.

Optimism as human nature: many people Optimism as human nature: many people especially those that are psychologically especially those that are psychologically healthy people have a positive bias.healthy people have a positive bias.

Neurophysiologists consider optimism as Neurophysiologists consider optimism as inherent in the makeup of people-part of their inherent in the makeup of people-part of their basic human nature.basic human nature.

Dimensions of OptimismDimensions of Optimism

Modern psychology treats optimism as an Modern psychology treats optimism as an individual’s differenceindividual’s difference

People have varying degrees of optimism.People have varying degrees of optimism. It depends on how they were earlier It depends on how they were earlier

treated ,people that were subjected to too much treated ,people that were subjected to too much punishment are more prone to become punishment are more prone to become pessimistic and learn helplessness.pessimistic and learn helplessness.

How Optimistic & pessimistic people How Optimistic & pessimistic people interpret personal bad eventsinterpret personal bad events

Pessimists: they make internal (their own Pessimists: they make internal (their own fault) stable (will last long time) and global fault) stable (will last long time) and global (will undermine everything they do) (will undermine everything they do) attributions.attributions.

Optimists: make external (not their fault), Optimists: make external (not their fault), unstable (temporary setback), and specific unstable (temporary setback), and specific (problem only on this situation) attributions.(problem only on this situation) attributions.

Three optimism issuesThree optimism issues

Little VS. big optimism:Little VS. big optimism: People could be referred to as being a little People could be referred to as being a little

optimist ,but a big pessimist and vice versa.optimist ,but a big pessimist and vice versa. Optimism VS pessimism: optimism and Optimism VS pessimism: optimism and

pessimism are mutually exclusive, people pessimism are mutually exclusive, people expect good outcomes and bad outcomes to be expect good outcomes and bad outcomes to be plentiful.plentiful.

Three dimension issuesThree dimension issues

Learning and sustaining optimism:Learning and sustaining optimism: Anyone including pessimistic people can Anyone including pessimistic people can

learn how to become optimistic by following learn how to become optimistic by following the social learning process of modeling by:the social learning process of modeling by:

Observing positive events in one’s relevant Observing positive events in one’s relevant valued environment. valued environment.

Reducing and coping with bad events and Reducing and coping with bad events and stress helps to sustain optimism.stress helps to sustain optimism.

Optimism in the work placeOptimism in the work place

Optimism could be a positive force in the work Optimism could be a positive force in the work force. They are motivated :force. They are motivated :

to work harderto work harder Be more satisfiedBe more satisfied Have a high moraleHave a high morale Have high levels of aspirationsHave high levels of aspirations Set stretch goalsSet stretch goals Persevere in the face of obstacles & difficultiesPersevere in the face of obstacles & difficulties Tend to feel good both physically and mentallyTend to feel good both physically and mentally

Why should we hire optimistic Why should we hire optimistic peoplepeople

Studies showed the more optimistic the leader the Studies showed the more optimistic the leader the more optimistic the followersmore optimistic the followers

Competent mangers attribute their failures to a Competent mangers attribute their failures to a correctable mistake.correctable mistake.

An HR executive recently states:An HR executive recently states: ““we don’t look for people with specific levels of we don’t look for people with specific levels of

education and experience. we look for one criterion education and experience. we look for one criterion for hiring: optimism ,we look for passion, excitement, for hiring: optimism ,we look for passion, excitement, energy. We want people to enjoy life.”energy. We want people to enjoy life.”

Construct no 2.Construct no 2.HOPEHOPE

Having hope means that a person will not give Having hope means that a person will not give in to overwhelming anxiety or depression in in to overwhelming anxiety or depression in the face of difficult challenges or setbacks.the face of difficult challenges or setbacks.

US found that those with higher hope human US found that those with higher hope human resources are more profitableresources are more profitable

Have higher retention ratesHave higher retention rates Have greater levels of employee satisfaction Have greater levels of employee satisfaction

and commitmentand commitment

Construct no .3Construct no .3Happiness/Subjective Well BeingHappiness/Subjective Well Being

What is important is how people emotionally What is important is how people emotionally interpret and cognitively process what happens interpret and cognitively process what happens to them not what determines their happiness.to them not what determines their happiness.

It is not important to know who is happy but It is not important to know who is happy but when and why people are happy and what the when and why people are happy and what the processes in that influence SWBprocesses in that influence SWB

HappinessHappiness

PersonalityPersonality Personality has been found to be one of the Personality has been found to be one of the

strongest and most consistent predictors of strongest and most consistent predictors of SWB. Some people may have a genetic SWB. Some people may have a genetic predisposition to be happy or unhappy over the predisposition to be happy or unhappy over the long runlong run

HappinessHappiness

The role of Goals:The role of Goals: Recent Studies found that making progress Recent Studies found that making progress

toward goals is related to SWB especially if toward goals is related to SWB especially if these goals were highly valued.these goals were highly valued.

Adapting and Coping:Adapting and Coping: People that adapt to most conditions fairly People that adapt to most conditions fairly

quickly using problem focused coping leads quickly using problem focused coping leads to positive SWBto positive SWB

HappinessHappiness

People that are happy with their lives seem to People that are happy with their lives seem to tend to find more satisfaction in their work.tend to find more satisfaction in their work.

Construct no.4Construct no.4ResilienceResilience

It is the capacity to rebound or bounce back from It is the capacity to rebound or bounce back from adversity, conflict, failure, or even positive events, adversity, conflict, failure, or even positive events, progress and increased responsibility.progress and increased responsibility.

This “Bouncing Back” Involves: This “Bouncing Back” Involves: FlexibilityFlexibility AdjustmentAdjustment AdaptabilityAdaptability Continuous responsiveness to change one’s well-Continuous responsiveness to change one’s well-

being over the long termbeing over the long term

ResiliencyResiliency

Resiliency is a state like not a trait like, thus it Resiliency is a state like not a trait like, thus it could be trained and developed.could be trained and developed.

It is defined as: the ability a body to resume to It is defined as: the ability a body to resume to its original size and shape after being its original size and shape after being compressed, bent, stretched.compressed, bent, stretched.

In other words “elasticity”In other words “elasticity”

ResiliencyResiliency

Resiliency could be enhanced through:Resiliency could be enhanced through: The assets that a person possesThe assets that a person posses EducationEducation TrainingTraining Nurturing social relationships.Nurturing social relationships.

Adapting to resilienceAdapting to resilience

To adapt to resilience could be enhanced To adapt to resilience could be enhanced through:through:

Self-efficacy, hope, optimismSelf-efficacy, hope, optimism Teaching people how to use effective coping, Teaching people how to use effective coping,

stress management, problem –solving and goal stress management, problem –solving and goal setting strategiessetting strategies

Emotional IntelligenceEmotional Intelligence

Studies show that career decisions are often Studies show that career decisions are often based on emotions of happiness and affection based on emotions of happiness and affection or even fear, rather than on what is rationally or even fear, rather than on what is rationally best for one’s career.best for one’s career.

Emotional IntelligenceEmotional Intelligence

Emotions can also be conceptualized along a Emotions can also be conceptualized along a continuumcontinuum

Happiness-surprise-fear-sadness-anger-Happiness-surprise-fear-sadness-anger-disgust.disgust.

The key is that the closer the primary emotions The key is that the closer the primary emotions are related to one another the more difficult it are related to one another the more difficult it is for others to distinguish between them when is for others to distinguish between them when expressed.expressed.

Is she happy or surprised?Is she happy or surprised?

Emotional IntelligenceEmotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence is the ability to Emotional Intelligence is the ability to identify, understand, and manage emotions.identify, understand, and manage emotions.

The differenceThe difference

.. In emotionally intelligent people they do not In emotionally intelligent people they do not

only read the expressed emotions of other only read the expressed emotions of other people, they have the maturity to hold their felt people, they have the maturity to hold their felt emotions and not display emotions and not display undesirable ,immature negative emotions such undesirable ,immature negative emotions such as anger or disgustas anger or disgust

Can we learn how to become EI?Can we learn how to become EI?

Yes we can . It is called maturityYes we can . It is called maturity Intelligence is largely learned ,and it continues Intelligence is largely learned ,and it continues

to develop as we go through life and learn to develop as we go through life and learn from our experiences.from our experiences.

IQ may get you hired but EI gets you IQ may get you hired but EI gets you promotedpromoted

Self-efficacySelf-efficacy

This contributes to the level of motivation and This contributes to the level of motivation and performance.performance.

It refers to one’s confidence about his/her It refers to one’s confidence about his/her abilities to mobilize the motivation, resources, abilities to mobilize the motivation, resources, of action needed to successfully execute a of action needed to successfully execute a specific task within a given context.specific task within a given context.

Self-EfficacySelf-Efficacy

People confuse between self-esteem and self-People confuse between self-esteem and self-efficacy:efficacy:

Self-esteem: is a global construct of one’s Self-esteem: is a global construct of one’s evaluation and belief of overall worthiness.evaluation and belief of overall worthiness.

Self-efficacy; is one’s belief about a certain Self-efficacy; is one’s belief about a certain task specific capabilitytask specific capability

The process and impact of self-The process and impact of self-efficacyefficacy

People tend to weigh, evaluate ,and integrate People tend to weigh, evaluate ,and integrate information about their perceived capabilities. This information about their perceived capabilities. This leads to expectations of personal efficacy:leads to expectations of personal efficacy:

1. The decision to perform the specific task1. The decision to perform the specific task 2.The amt of effort that will be expected to 2.The amt of effort that will be expected to

accomplish the taskaccomplish the task 3.The level of persistence that will be forthcoming 3.The level of persistence that will be forthcoming

despite problems, discomforting.despite problems, discomforting.

Self-Efficacy directly affectsSelf-Efficacy directly affects

1. Choice behaviors;1. Choice behaviors; how efficacious you feel towards the optionhow efficacious you feel towards the option 2.Motivational effort:2.Motivational effort: When people enjoy high self-efficacy they When people enjoy high self-efficacy they

tend to try harder and give more.tend to try harder and give more.

Self-Efficacy directly affects Self-Efficacy directly affects

Perseverance:Perseverance: Those with high self-efficacy will bounce back when Those with high self-efficacy will bounce back when

met with problems or even failure, those with low met with problems or even failure, those with low self-efficacy tend to give up when obstacles appear.self-efficacy tend to give up when obstacles appear.

Facilitative thought pattern:Facilitative thought pattern: Those with high self-efficacy say to themselves: ”I Those with high self-efficacy say to themselves: ”I

know I can figure out how to solve this problem , low know I can figure out how to solve this problem , low SE”I knew I couldn’t do thisSE”I knew I couldn’t do this

Self-Efficacy directly affectsSelf-Efficacy directly affects

Vulnerability to stress:Vulnerability to stress: Those with low self-efficacy tend to Those with low self-efficacy tend to

experience stress and burnout because they experience stress and burnout because they expect failure.expect failure.

Three levels of self-efficacyThree levels of self-efficacy

It is a personal characteristic that can be changed or It is a personal characteristic that can be changed or improved.improved.

The three levels:The three levels: Task specific self-efficacyTask specific self-efficacy :efficient in performing a :efficient in performing a

certain task.certain task. Domain efficacy:Domain efficacy: effectiveness for performance effectiveness for performance

within an entire domain of tasks.within an entire domain of tasks. General self-efficacy:General self-efficacy: one’s overall self-confidence one’s overall self-confidence

for dealing with multiple domains in life.for dealing with multiple domains in life.