I took my promise of positivity on January 30th, 2014.  No, I don’t wear a special promise ring like the Jonas Brothers.  I do, however, require a “mind check” coming in the door each morning. If you were to leave your work environment today, would it be a better or worse place tomorrow?  So many of us detract from our environments in ways we don’t even realize.  It’s easy to take a “victim” mentality to the things around us we don’t like.  We owe it to ourselves, our families, and our coworkers to do better.

There will always be frustrations at work.  This is the constant….your  reaction is the variable.  You can either choose to make the situation better and build up those around you – or you can fade into the ever popular realm of negativity and mediocrity.  Don’t settle for the later.  If you feel truly incapable of bringing positive change to your work environment, it’s time to move on.  If, however, you can be an agent for positive change then it is time to commit to making a difference.  Here are some recommendations from my “promise of positivity.”  You will need to customize yours depending on yourself and your environment:

I will value relationships over results.  There is no metric or revenue goal that is worth dehumanizing another person.
Providing it is not in conflict with my integrity and values, I will support the leadership of our organization.

I will pursue excellence in everything I do.  I will take great pride in my work.
I will find solutions to problems to make the work experience more meaningful for everyone.
I will not cause harm to my co-workers through conversation that tears them down, whether they are present or not.

As Kevin and Jackie Freiberg describe in their book BOOM!, your most powerful attribute is the freedom to choose.  I have not been perfect on keeping my promise, but it reminds me that I am not a victim of any situation.  To take your commitment to the next level, have a signed document between you and your mentor holding you accountable to the change.  I would love to hear your own “promise of positivity” in the comments.  Let’s make each other better!