A supportive place to work: the impact of positive affirmations

Does your business strive to improve employee mentality? In this article, we explore the impact positive affirmations can have on your employees and the benefits they can bring to the working environment.

5 mins read
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7 months ago

​Maintaining a positive working environment is essential for both employee well-being and productivity.

A report released in 2020 by KPMG showed that 75% of senior women interviewed had personally experienced imposter syndrome at certain points in their careers. That's why it’s vital that leaders do what they can to help their team members feel more confident and empowered in their jobs.

In contrast to this, positive affirmations have the potential to improve self-esteem and resilience among employees, uplift spirits, and enhance motivation – counterbalancing imposter syndrome and helping to establish a positive work environment.

What are affirmations?

Affirmations, also referred to as positive affirmations, are phrases that, when repeated regularly, can change negative thoughts and behavior patterns. They are often used as a technique for self-improvement, but their benefits extend beyond individual growth to impact group dynamics and organizational culture. By repeating affirmations regularly, individuals can rewire their thought patterns, boost self-confidence, and cultivate a more optimistic outlook on life.

As a manager, implementing daily affirmations can go a long way to helping team members stay positive and achieve their goals – in both their professional and personal lives. They can be used in a number of ways, you might write one in a Teams chat to one of your team members, or maybe you want to praise them face to face in a meeting.

They may be displayed around the office as artwork, or even on a desktop when your team members log on to their computers. Wherever they are, they promote feelings of togetherness, give inspiration and encourage camaraderie.

What are some examples of positive affirmations for your workforce?

Try using affirmations similar to the ones below throughout your day. You may start to notice your team feeling more positive and motivated.

  • You are capable of handling any task that comes your way

  • You are a valuable asset to the team

  • You are deserving of all the success that comes your way

  • You’ve got this

  • Trust in your abilities and stay confident

  • I believe in you

  • You consistently achieve high standards of work

The power of positivity

In a professional setting, maintaining a positive atmosphere is crucial for employee morale, engagement, and ultimately, productivity. When employees feel valued and are optimistic about their work environment, they are more likely to perform at their best and contribute to the wider goals of the business.

Positive affirmations can make a difference in the workplace by:

Increasing motivation: they can serve as powerful motivators, inspiring employees to set and achieve goals, overcome obstacles, and strive for excellence in their work.

Enhancing resilience: in the face of challenges and setbacks, employees who regularly practice positive affirmations can better equip themselves to maintain a resilient mindset. This allows them to bounce back from adversity and approach challenges with a more constructive attitude.

Improving confidence: confidence is key to success at work. Affirmations help employees build self-confidence and self-belief, enabling them to take on new responsibilities, tackle difficult tasks, and assert themselves in professional settings.

Strengthening relationships: they promote a culture of appreciation and support, helping to create stronger relationships among team members and enhancing collaboration and communication across the business.

Integrating positive affirmations to support your employees

People are known to overanalyze themselves. Employers can take proactive steps to incorporate positive affirmations into their managerial routines to support their staff.  

Here are some strategies you could consider:

Provide training and resources

Offer workshops or training sessions to educate employees on the power of positive affirmations and how to incorporate them into their daily routines to help them counteract negative self-talk and build self-confidence.

Some individuals may benefit from more formal training, including leadership, communication, and coaching skills.

Lead by example

Managers and leaders should model positive behavior by considering the use of affirmations themselves before encouraging their teams to do the same. A supportive and optimistic leadership style sets the tone for the entire organization, giving some employees the inspiration they need to succeed.

Incorporate affirmations into meetings

Start meetings with a positive affirmation or encourage team members to share affirmations that resonate with them. It is also worth considering incorporating affirmations into company-wide communications, newsletters, or internal messaging platforms.

Affirmations should solely focus on celebrating achievements and strengths – and are a great way to show how much you value team members.

Create a positive work environment

An atmosphere of appreciation and recognition can make employees feel valued and respected. Be sure to celebrate achievements, acknowledge contributions, and provide constructive feedback to reinforce positive behavior and a spirit of togetherness.

Encourage employees to embrace their achievements and if need be, write them down. That way, when it comes to feeling a sense of doubt, all the proof is recorded.

Encourage self-care practices

Emphasize the importance of self-care and well-being by encouraging employees to take breaks, practice mindfulness, and engage in activities that promote mental and emotional health.

Where possible, task employees with practicing affirmations to boost their confidence. These affirmations should focus on their strengths, abilities, and potential. Positive affirmations have the power to transform the workplace by helping nurture employees and their optimism, resilience, and productivity.

Ultimately, investing in the well-being and positivity of employees is beneficial for both the individuals who need that extra layer of support and care and also for the overall success and sustainability of the organization.

In the workplace, if there’s a toxic work environment, affirmations alone will not address the root cause of the issue. This is why it’s important for managers to create an inclusive environment, with equality, diversity, inclusion, and belonging at the forefront of the culture.

Need help filling your vacancy, or finding a suitable role for you? Our specialist recruiters can help. Contact your nearest Reed office now.

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Scientific CV Template
3 mins read
  1. Article

Scientific CV Template

​If you are looking for your next position in the science industry, it is important to optimise and tailor your CV to give yourself the best possible chance of securing your dream role.

Build the perfect scientific CV with our free template below:

[Full Name]
[Home Address]
[Contact Number] • [Email Address]

Personal Statement

This section is your chance to summarise the rest of the CV, and convince the recruiter to get in touch. It is important to keep it brief, between 50-200 words and outline; who you are, any specific skills you have to offer (including ‘soft skills’) and your career aim.

Depending on the role, the key ‘soft skills’ employers are likely to look for include: communication, decision making, leadership skills, problem solving and being a team player. Be sure to reference your ability in these areas wherever possible in your CV.

I have gained valuable experience in [area of expertise] at [organisation name] and have a particular wealth of experience and skills in [specific area]. I graduated in [year] from [university name] with a [degree class] degree in [subject], and am now an [industry] professional.

My important achievements include working alongside the [team name] team at [organisation], and contributing to projects such as [project name]. I was responsible for/organised [task] and increased/decreased [profit/other metric] by [£X/X%].

I am looking for my next opportunity within an [business type/industry] organisation, where I can bring real value and develop my [scientific/research] skills further.


Education

This is your chance to talk about your qualifications, academic and vocational. This is a particularly important section for those with no relevant work experience. You should give detail about what you studied, where and when, and list them in chronological order. If you have many of one qualification, such as GCSEs you might find it useful to group them together.

  • [University Name]

  • [Date M/Y– Date M/Y]

Degree subject and class achieved (list Masters/PhD first)

  • Modules studied

  • Skills used

  • Dissertation brief

[College/School Name]
[Date M/Y– Date M/Y]

A-levels:

  • [Subject] – [Grade]

  • [Subject] – [Grade]

  • [Subject] – [Grade]

[College/School Name]
[Date M/Y– Date M/Y]

GCSEs:

  • [Number] GCSEs, grades [range], including Maths and English

Skills

This section is useful to clearly outline the laboratory/scientific skills you’ve gained at university or in industry. Include even minor relevant skills to increase your chances of being discovered in a CV database search.

Work experience
This should be brief and, as a general rule of thumb, focus on the last five years of your career, or last three roles, in chronological order with most recent at the top.

If you are a recent graduate then work experience should be listed before your degree details - if the work undertaken was relevant. If it was not relevant to your industry then list detailed degree/dissertation information first.

You should highlight your key achievements and use bullet points rather than lengthy descriptions.

[Job Title], [Company Name] [Location]
[Date M/Y- Date M/Y]

Achievements and responsibilities:

  • Brief role overview

  • Worked alongside [team] to produce [project]

  • Implemented [change] which resulted in [benefit]

  • Received an [award name] for [reason]


Hobbies and Interests

This section is not essential to include, but you may wish to depending on the role you are applying for. It can be a useful chance to show a little more of your personality. However, be warned this can be very subjective, ensure anything listed here reinforces your application and the idea that you’ll be the right fit for the role. If you don’t have any real relatable hobbies, it is probably best to omit this section.

I organise a weekly [sport] game, manage bookings, transport and help to coach the team.

Undertook a [course] in order to improve my [skill].


References

References are available upon request.

Download our full scientific CV template.

Coaching for intersectional inclusion
9 mins read
  1. Article

Coaching for intersectional inclusion

​​Everyone has multiple layers to their identity, and no one is one label. There are other aspects of their identities to consider, and no one should be put in a box. Many businesses, which celebrate Pride Month, for example, are perceived as not doing enough for people who are underrepresented in more than one way.

Recent research by Culture Amp in ‘The Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Report 2024’ found disabled women and black women are more doubtful of their employers’ equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDI&B) efforts than any other group.

This is likely because women might feel their entire identity and additional barriers aren’t being considered, if they are part of more than one underrepresented group. Some employers’ initiatives provide a base-level overview of inclusion for women, but they might only explore the perspectives of white women, for example, or women in general, with no specific solutions explored for LGBTQ+, disabled or black women, for instance. Each may have very different experiences of what it means to be a woman.

Coaching people within your organisation can help leaders and employees gain a deeper understanding of intersectionality and why it’s important. We interviewed Mary-Clare Race, CEO of Talking Talent, for her insight and best-practice tips on all things coaching and inclusion.

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Q: What's the difference between coaching, mentoring, and other types of training, especially when it comes to equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging?

A: These terms are often used interchangeably in the world of talent development, but we see a clear distinction between them that is especially important when it comes to EDI&B.

In a training situation, the primary goal is typically to transfer knowledge from the facilitator to the participant, to raise their awareness and understanding of a particular topic or skill and provide them with practical tips on how to put that skill into action for themselves.

In a mentoring situation, there is also an element of knowledge transfer, but in a more personalised, relationship based, one-to-one situation where the mentee is paired up with a more experienced mentor who is there to provide them with support, advice and guidance.

Coaching takes the relationship-based approach one step further and focuses on supporting and facilitating the coachee to actively step in and facilitate their own outcomes. It is not about giving them the answer but rather supporting them to find their own answer, their own way forward.

At Talking Talent, we favour a coaching-led approach because it enables a deeper level of behavioural change. The coachee must be actively engaged and motivated to do the inner work on themselves and the coach is there to hold them to account. However, there is a role for all three approaches when it comes to solving EDI&B challenges and real power in combining all three.

Q: How can coaching help businesses become more inclusive and diverse?

A: If you look at what it takes to really move an organisation forward with their EDI&B strategy, we believe you've got to take a systemic approach and build inclusion into your culture and in how people behave every day.

There are several ways coaching can help with this:

Leadership behaviours: by working with a coach, leaders become more aware of their own biases, preferences and how their own identity shapes how they show up as a leader. The coach can help them develop the skills needed to foster a culture of inclusion and hold themselves and others accountable.

Developing talent: in many organisations there are pockets of talent who have been overlooked because of some aspect of their identity. Coaching-led programmes can support under-represented talent to thrive and overcome what may be holding them back so they can fulfil their true potential. And by offering coaching-led programmes that address the unique needs of underrepresented individuals, organisations demonstrate their commitment to supporting the needs of all their employees - thus driving retention and engagement levels up.

Improving culture: at the heart of culture change is the need to move behaviours forward at an organisational level. We believe coaching is the most powerful way to do this for an organisation - by helping individuals and groups develop the self-awareness, emotional intelligence and relational competency to work effectively in diverse teams and build inclusion into the culture.

Q: In your experience, why are diversity and inclusion initiatives so important to organisations and their talent attraction and retention?

A: In our industry, there's been significant backlash against EDI&B efforts, particularly in North America, and this sentiment seems to be growing globally. The issue often lies in viewing EDI&B initiatives as separate from core organisational culture. For me, EDI&B is about creating an environment where every individual, regardless of identity, can thrive and contribute fully. This isn't just about ticking boxes – it's critical for attracting and retaining talent, and crucial for overall business performance.

Ultimately, EDI&B isn't merely an add-on; it's integral to effective leadership and to building success at all levels of your organisation. It's about fostering authenticity, encouraging diverse perspectives, and empowering individuals to contribute their best work. These principles are essential for any business striving to maximise performance and leverage a diverse talent pool, regardless of their specific commitments or strategies. It's about creating a workplace culture where everyone can succeed and where the organisation benefits from the full potential of its people.

Q: Who should be coached in inclusion and diversity within an organisation? And why?

A: When considering who should be coached in inclusion and diversity within an organisation, it's crucial to view these efforts as integral to successful business practice. While not everyone needs individual coaching, it's essential to ensure all members of the organisation are engaged in the journey towards inclusivity.

For leadership teams, coaching can be particularly impactful in fostering a culture where inclusion is actively cultivated and practiced. Leaders can learn to demonstrate inclusive behaviours and set the tone for the entire organisation.

Additionally, focusing coaching efforts on groups that have historically faced barriers – such as women, marginalised ethnicities, or neurodivergent individuals – can be highly beneficial. By addressing systemic challenges these groups face, organisations can promote fairness and unlock their full potential.

Ultimately, the decision on who to coach should be informed by the organisation's current state and readiness for change. A tailored approach ensures that coaching initiatives align with strategic goals and create meaningful impact across the entire workforce.

Q: To what extent is intersectionality considered in your coaching and why is it important?

A: This is one of the reasons why coaching is so effective, because intersectionality is really about the need to recognise we are all more than a set of labels. We have a lot of different aspects of our identity that intersect. Our gender, race, age, sexuality, social background, neurodiversity etc. are all important elements to consider. And it's important to consider the unique experiences individuals have, particularly when they have one or more identities intersecting, and where there might have been barriers against people with those identities.

That's key in our coaching approach, because coaching allows you to meet the individual where they are. It's not so much that we are coaching people about intersectionality, but we're really considering the unique person that comes into the coaching experience.

And the risk of not doing that is you put people in a box, and it can be further disenfranchising for them because they're thinking, "Well, actually, I'm being given this opportunity as a woman, but it's not taking into account all of these other aspects of my identity that are intersecting with it and I am being required to leave that part behind."