15 ways to turn negative energy into positive solutions

Get off the complain train and hop on the energy bus. Here are 15 ways to turn negative energy into positive solutions.

Implement the "No Complaining Rule" at work. The rule is simple. You are not allowed to complain unless you also offer one or two possible solutions. The key is to utilize complaining as a catalyst for positive change. Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a great example of the "No Complaining Rule" in action. Hospital leadership was getting close to laying off a lot of employees. Projected revenue was far below projected costs. CEO Paul Levy confronted the problem at an "all employee" meeting saying he didn't want to have to lay off anyone. He asked the hospital employees for their ideas and solutions.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, "The consensus is that the workers don't want anyone to get laid off and are willing to give up pay and benefits to make sure no one does. A nurse said her floor voted unanimously to forgo a 3 percent raise. A guy in finance who got laid off from his last job at a hospital in Rhode Island suggested working one less day a week. Another nurse said she was willing to give up some vacation and sick time. A respiratory therapist suggested eliminating bonuses."

The CEO said he was getting about a hundred messages per hour with ideas. This situation is a great example of what we accomplish when positive leaders bring their employees and teams together and empower them to focus on solutions instead of complaints and problems.

Embrace the positive success formula: E + P = O. We can't control the events (E) in our lives. We can't control the economic conditions. We can't control the job market. We can't control the actions of others. But we can control our positive energy and our positive reactions (P) to these events and challenges, and in turn, this will determine the outcome (O).

I'm not saying it will be easy. You will certainly be tested on your journey. These are challenging times. You may lose your job. You may not sell your house as fast as you'd like. You may have to start a new business or venture. You may have setbacks. But if you apply the Positive Success Formula to your life, I guarantee you will have a big say and influence in the outcome. Instead of letting the world create you, you will have a significant role in creating your world.

Be aware of the external environment, but don't let it consume you. No one is suggesting that you bury your head in the sand. You need to know what's going on in the world so you can make smart decisions for your life -- or, if you're a business leader, for your company.

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