At this time of year, you might think the theme of this article is about the flu. Fortunately, it has nothing to do with flu, but with the impact we have on those around us, whether positive or negative – an impact we are not always aware of. <\/p>\n\n
How do those around us influence them or ourselves?<\/p>\n\n
A clear example of this phenomenon is mentioned in an episode of Steven Bartlett’s podcast “The Diary of a CEO”. In this episode, Bartlett interviews Vanessa Van Edwards, founder of Science of People, which gives people science-based skills to improve communication and leadership. She also delivered the TED presentation titled “You’re Contagious!”. <\/p>\n\n
The discussion highlighted a study conducted over 58,000 working hours in 11 different companies. This study looked at the impact that low performers have on those around them compared to the effects that high performers have. <\/p>\n\n
The results are surprising. If you spend time within 7.5 meters of a high performer, your performance can increase by 15%. Conversely, if you are in close proximity to a low-performer, your performance may decrease by 30%. This asymmetry suggests an uncomfortable truth: negativity and lack of motivation are more contagious than excellence and positive energy.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n Why<\/strong> are negative emotions more contagious?<\/p>\n\n Our brains are wired to pay more attention to negative emotions than positive ones. This evolutionary mechanism was essential for survival because it helped us to detect dangers in our environment. However, in the modern context, this mechanism can make us more vulnerable to the negative influences of those around us. Anxiety, fatigue, insecurity and fear are emotional signals that we pick up unintentionally, and these can become obstacles to our performance. <\/p>\n\n Okay, okay, you might say. What do I do with this information<\/strong> and how do I use it to my advantage?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n 1. Carefully select the environment in which you work and live. If your performance can so easily be influenced by those around you, it is essential to pay attention to your environment. Identify the people who inspire and motivate you and try to spend as much time around them as possible. <\/p>\n\n 2. Assess your social circle. Jim Rohn, author and motivational speaker, said that “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with<\/em>“. If these people are dragging you down, it may be time to reevaluate your relationships and surround yourself with people who share your values and aspirations. <\/p>\n\n 3. Be a performance catalyst! If negativity is more contagious than positivity, then it’s crucial to be aware of the impact you have on those around you. You can train your attitude to be a source of motivation, inspiration and positive energy. <\/p>\n\n 4. Do a regular introspection exercise. How do you feel after spending time with certain people? Do you feel more motivated or more exhausted? The answers to these questions can help you make better decisions about your time and energy. <\/p>\n\n 5. Develop your emotional resilience. While you can’t always avoid low performers, you can train your mind to minimize the negative effects. Practicing gratitude, mindfulness, and setting clear boundaries in your interactions can help you maintain your emotional balance. <\/p>\n\n What conclusion did I draw from Mrs. Van Edwards’ presentation? If we want to stay productive and motivated, we need to be aware of the influences around us. Whether we choose to surround ourselves with inspirational people or decide to be sources of positive energy ourselves, the power to shape our own performance is in our own hands. <\/p>\n\n The question remains: what will you do today <\/strong>to improve your environment and become a catalyst for performance?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Have a great day!<\/p>\n\n Claudiu<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" At this time of year, you might think the theme of this article is about the flu. Fortunately, it has nothing to do with flu, but with the impact we have on those around us, whether positive or negative – an impact we are not always aware of. How do those around us influence them […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5317,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[115,116,118],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-improvement","category-personal-development"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n