Contagion in the Workplace

Is there contagion in your workplace? If not, your workplace may not be up to date. In fact, it may be deprived of some critically positive information.

One of the most active buzzwords currently in the U.S. is “contagion.” Contagion is so pervasive that it has been labeled (by sociologists and psychologists) prestigiously as “Contagion Theory.” The most concise definition of contagion theory is “collective behavior.” That is, crowds cause people to act in unison in a certain way, or crowds converge on a single idea. (On the darker side, it is sometimes referred to as “mob mentality.”)

Contagion is also the buzzword of the moment in new and promising concepts for workplace development. A word that was once primarily used to describe the spread of disease has now taken on expanded dimensions.

Emotional contagion, as defined by Wikipedia, is the tendency to feel emotions that are similar to and influenced by those of others. It represents a tendency to automatically mimic and synchronize facial expressions, vocalizations, postures, and movements with those of another person and, consequently, to converge emotionally. A study referenced in the Washington Post has shown that emotion can ripple through clusters of people who may not even know each other. In particular, happiness was found to be particularly “contagious,” and one person’s happiness has the potential to affect another’s for as much as a year.

According to a recent article from Dennis Whittle, CEO of Global Giving, prosperity can also be contagious. He has observed the restaurant scene in Portland, Maine, evolve in a dynamic way after “one or two really great chefs moved to town, and others followed.” Indeed, this concept holds great promise when one considers the impact it could have on a struggling economy.

So, what are the contagions nurturing/festering in your workplace? If there are contagions abound in workplaces across America (for good or evil), we all need to know about them.

Stress, Work, and How to Relax

In today’s downsized economy, people are facing mounting tension on the job in addition to the stressors of daily living. According to a recent article from MainStreet.com, options that bring quick relaxation, such as alcohol, massage, or spa treatment, are no substitute for strategies that bring long-term relief. Erin Olivo, assistant clinical professor of medical psychology at Columbia University in New York, reports that pressure, if it mounts unchecked, can overwhelm the mind and compromise one’s health. While some try to integrate activities such as yoga or meditation into their lives, adding obligations to an already full schedule may only add to the aggravation. Olivo offers a simpler solution: “Everybody has their own way of calming themselves down….The key is to actually do them.” Dr. Joel Levey states that people should learn to be “mindful,” or constantly aware of their surroundings and challenges as well as their effects. Dr. Levey recommends that workers pause frequently throughout the day to check on their stress levels. When they notice signs of tension, they should take a moment to breathe deeply and focus on calming phrases. Olivo adds that it would be helpful for workers to challenge their triggers and question whether the problems they’re facing warrant their reactions. She states, “An individual can approach a stressful situation with a mindful response rather than automatically reacting in a way that may actually only increase his or her distress.” -What kinds of stress do you experience? -What strategies do you use to relax and cope with stress?

Are You Managing Your Boss?

Is your boss a pain in the ass? If so, perhaps you are not managing him or her appropriately. “Managing Your Boss” is a strategy developed by the Harvard MBA program. A brief definition is if I, as an individual employee, do everything I can to help my boss succeed, I will succeed correspondingly. The concept is widely used in well-managed companies. Frequently, nowadays, it is called “Managing Up.” For anyone interested in getting updated on the application, there are many references and definitions available online. In the meantime, we’re interested in your thoughts on the topic: - What have your experiences been with the “Managing Your Boss” concept? - What are the positives and negatives of this business technique? - Do you think that if your boss succeeds, you will too?