WOW Word-Of-the-Week #459: Subliminal
May 23, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #459: Subliminal
Subliminal – below the threshold of conscious perception.
Do you believe your words and moods can have a subliminal effect on the people around you? Would you rather deal with an optimistic person or a pessimistic one? Do you find it hard to be cheerful in the face of challenges?
This week’s WOW is the follow up to last week’s featuring Vicky Oliver’s four tips on how to put on a happy face at work and smile all the way to the bank from the San Diego UT article titled, “Four ways to profit from being happy at work,” written by Henry DeVries, assistant dean for external affairs at UCSD.
2. Pepper your language with upbeat words and phrases. Words have a powerful, subliminal effect on others’ moods and impressions. Bosses and coworkers love dealing 
with pleasant, positive people. It’s easy to jazz up routing exchanges by adding words that convey a happy mood and upbeat energy. So, “I’d be delighted to” is much better than “Sure.”
3. Give yourself a daily pep talk. Write down 10 statements you’d tell your best friend if she suffered a career setback. For example, “You did the best you could,” or “Mistakes are great ways to learn.” When you don’t get the praise you deserve from an irascible boss, tell yourself, “That’s his problem, not mine.”
4. If you feel a complaint coming on, zip it. Complaining makes you feel worse, and it makes others around you feel worse too. Just as happiness is contagious, so is negativity. It you can’t figure out a way to say something constructive about a problem or challenge, then keep quiet. People who act positive are perceived as being positive.
Bottom Line: Even pessimists prefer optimists. Acting cheerful in the face of challenges will do great things for your career and professional reputation.
This week’s focus is on your subliminal message. Do you use upbeat words and phrases? When was the last time you gave yourself a positive pep talk? Are you able to keep complaints to yourself?