David Biernbaum

The Negatives of Positive Thinking and Vice Versa

January 6, 2010

FROM RETAILWIRE:
In Bright-Sided, author Barbara Ehrenreich rails against what she considers the often harmful side-effects that come from positive thinking messages being pushed throughout society and corporate America. What are the pros and cons of positive thinking as a core management emphasis?      [more...]

Positive thinking sounds like a wonderful thing, however, there are some inherent dangers when positive thinking becomes part of a management's culture just for the sake of "being positive."

1. Loss of objectivity.
2. Discourages often needed, critical thinking and contribution.
3. Confuses "negative" with caution, carefulness, and critical thinking.
4. Often causes a heard of cattle to follow a misguided cow.
5. In some ways it can actually discourage leadership development within.

No one wants to be around negative people who are negative just for the sake of "being negative." However, in my business, I have always made a practice of surrounding myself with open minded thinkers that offer good thinking that is sincere and valued by me whether the thoughts sound positive or otherwise.