04.08.17 The 13th Key for Adding Value as an Employee
13. Be Positive
Let me share an incident where my positivity added value to a passenger who happened to be on a flight that was delayed in Zanzibar one Saturday afternoon due to bad weather; and the reward I got in return.
I was home when I got the news about the delay, prompting me to rush to our office and speak to some of the customers on ground in Zanzibar, assuring them that we were doing whatever possible to handle the situation and that the flight would take off as soon as we got clearance from Air Traffic Control. I also apologised for any inconveniences caused by the delay. Thank God the weather cleared and we were able to operate the flight that evening. My positivity paid off when a few days thereafter, one of those passengers dropped a job advert at my office together with a thank you note. He happened to be the CEO of an Arusha-based organisation whose regional offices were in Nairobi and were head-hunting for a managerial position there. Had I been eager to leave the airline plus work in Kenya, my positivity would have earned me a highly-paid job right there.
When we look at the story of the slave girl, she was so positive that Elisha would cure Naaman’s leprosy though, to normal ears, that was indeed a long shot. For starters, she was in a foreign country where they may never have heard about such miracles before. Yet the girl was so sure that the healing would happen. The bible is silent regarding whether she was amongst the servants that went with the commander to Israel. But if she was, we see that positivity in 2 Kings 5: 13-14 which reads (NKJV): 13Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. Here, we see that the healing or ‘value-added’ to Naaman’s life took long to manifest.
A value-adding employee always maintains a positive mindset.
Sometimes, adding value to a finished product or service could be a long journey before the actual ‘added value’ is ‘seen’, hence the need to remain positive as you wait for the results to come through. Also, your positivity keeps you and your workmates happy, motivated, committed and passionate to add value at whichever step of the process they may be involved in. Researchers assert that a happy workforce is more productive.
Focus on the positives and be thankful as shown in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 which says (AMPC): 18Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. In addition, surround yourself with positive people who believe in your success as you will be encouraged by their compliments and constructive feedback.
Be resilient by withstanding challenges and setbacks. If things do not go as you initially expected, learn to absorb disappointments and wherever possible, look for ways to mitigate the negatives rather than crying over spilt milk or getting into ‘denial’. Grieve over the issue gather yourself up and proceed with the remaining building blocks. You may be surprised to discover that there is value in broken pieces if they are collected and strategically arrayed or put together. Remember that many value-adding ideas came from people’s mistakes and so-called ‘failures’.
Unrealistic goals could easily push you to become negative, in case they are not achieved. So, make sure that your goals are realistic. Avoid negative, disgruntled and gossipy people, since negativity is contagious and could demonise you against developing and executing your value-adding ideas.
Start your day with devotionals as committing the day to God will put your positivity on course. Allow the Word of God to control your thoughts and emotions.
A healthy body significantly contributes to mental wellness, hence positivity. Therefore, pay attention to your diet and exercise. Keep your body hydrated. Enjoy laughter, schedule moments of relaxation throughout your day and get enough sleep. Do not forget to program time with your loved ones.