General speaks about the power of positive thinking Published May 22, 2013 By Senior Airman Jake Eckhardt 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Happiness and healthy relationships are tenets of a "Power of Positive" briefing given to Team Scott members May 14 in the Global Reach Planning Center. Brig. Gen. John Michel, U.S. Transportation Command Chief Change and Learning Strategist and Deputy Director, taught participants the effects of positive thinking May 14. "Every single person has some form of issue," he said. "People work far below their potential when the issues of life start to get the better of us." The general started the briefing by saying negative thinking is potentially more harmful than smoking. He said there are five major stressors: life and work balance, relationships, health, finance and meaning in life. The top two common stressors are relationships and finance. More than 80 percent of suicides and destructive behavior are driven by the inability to sustain healthy relationships, according to Michel. "These two primary issues are what are weighing on the hearts and minds of our Airmen every day," Michel said. He pointed out that the top 10 happiest companies in the world all share five common traits. -Communicate: leaders must regularly communicate with people about the organizations direction and plans - and solicit their ideas. This involves efficiently and effectively aligning people with the resources they need to achieve shared goals. When communication is a priority, everyone is equipped to practice what they preach. -Connect: leaders connect people to the organization's mission by making everyone feel like partners in the organizations activities, fostering a spirit of collaboration across departments and creating a work environment that's safe, healthy and ultimately happy. When connection is a priority, work/life balance is transformed from a catchy slogan to an organizational reality. -Celebrate: in an organization committed to excellence, celebrating success is a priority and everybody receives equitable opportunity for recognition. Decisions on hiring and promotions are made impartially, and the workplace strives to remain free of anything that creates an opportunity to divide, disrupt or derail people in carrying out their shared mission. Regularly celebrating people's contribution help's feel part of the greater whole. -Care: above all, organizations are characterized by great relationships. When people consistently demonstrate they care for one another in word and deed, nothing becomes too hard to accomplish. When caring is a priority, people believe with all their heart that they are important members of the team. -Commit: as organizations become great, shared commitment soars and divisions between leaders and led plummet. The workplace becomes a community. People take pride in their job, their team and their organization. They feel secure enough that they can be themselves at work. When commitment is a priority, nothing becomes too hard to accomplish. He said that when these five traits are incorporated into an organization, productivity and overall wellness of the team increases. "This is what makes the most successful companies and the most effective leaders," he said. The briefing and the Comprehensive Airman Fitness program is molded around the Army's Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, which was created after Pennsylvania State University's Positive Psychology classes.