I tell my kids often that they should live their lives as optimists. To be an optimist, you have to believe that no matter how crappy or awesome a day you’re having, tomorrow can be better.
Waking up every morning, leaving the past in the past, then looking in the mirror and telling yourself “Okay, let’s see what this day has in store,” is a great way to set the tone for all the upcoming interactions you are about to have – with family, friends, co-workers, customers, lawyers…you name it.
As a friend recently told me, “Life is not supposed to be boring.”
This definition of optimism makes perfect business sense, especially in Customer Success roles. Having a genuinely positive attitude and a willingness to collaborate is a critical component to successful organizations because there is an interconnectedness between the attitudes we bring to work every day and the potential outcomes of decisions made as a result. In short: it directly impacts the customer experience.
“I have always believed that the way you treat your employees is the way they will treat your customers, and that people flourish when they are praised.”
– Sir Richard Branson
With negativity comes anxiety, and with anxiety comes stress…and studies show a direct link between stress and poor decision making.
Positivity and negativity are contagious. In psychology, this is a phenomenon called emotional contagion. Some people are more susceptible to having their mood swayed than others – but a well-constructed collaborative business ecosystem mitigates the risk posed by negativity by offering a constantly evolving source of support.
…reducing your anxiety levels might be the first step to starting a life-changing domino effect that empowers you to perpetually make better choices.
Christopher Bergland, Psychology Today
I like to say, “everyone is entitled to a bad day”. However, the next time you’re having a bad day, just remember – you never know who you’re inspiring, and tomorrow has a chance to be better than today, no matter what. Chin up.