Log onto social media and it won’t be too long until you come across a video or post from someone talking about affirmations. These short and sweet sayings set an intention you wish to bring into the world.
“Am I good enough? Yes I am.” – Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States.
Many people say affirmations to find love, or to attract wealth and happiness into their lives. They are a great way to frame your mindset and convince yourself that things will go well. Have you ever taken a deep breath and thought, “I can do this,” before tackling an important task or undertaking something a little risky? That is affirmation in a nutshell!
Affirmations for work are great to practice if you feel like you need a little boost and a spring in your step. Sometimes, we just need to hear that we are doing a good job, even if we are the ones saying it to ourselves.
Why should you say affirmations?
If you haven’t tried out self-work or self-improvement, affirmations can seem odd. However, with the correct intentions, they can be life-changing.
When saying affirmations, you are putting your thoughts and feelings out into the world, and this means that there is every chance they might come true. Of course, you need to take this with a grain of salt. Saying “I will be rich,” every day does not mean that you’ll win the Powerball tomorrow. However, telling yourself repeatedly, “I am confident when talking to others,” can help you to feel more secure and prepared before a public speaking event.
This isn’t magic or a spell, but simple psychology.
The power of neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity, also called neural plasticity or brain plasticity, is a useful phenomenon that allows us to essentially rewrite our brains. When we use positive statements to override negative thoughts, there is a chance that we can trick ourselves into believing that these statements are true. Positive thinking really does work!
The brain’s ability to rewrite reality for us does sound a little too good to be true. However, our understanding of confidence and self plays a role in how we move through our professional and personal lives. Positive work affirmations may seem like silly little phrases that don’t have much meaning, but they can actually help us to transform the way we think and the way we approach crucial decisions like our work/life balance.
Every mindset has to start with a decision. Try speaking some positive affirmations into existence and watch how they begin to transform your self-esteem and well-being.
Affirmations for success
Let’s kick things off with some affirmations for success. These can be great for adopting in both our professional and personal lives, for when we want to banish those negative feelings and uplift our sense of self-confidence instead.
1. Winning is my trademark.
2. Success is my natural state of being.
3. My work is a reflection of my unlimited potential.
4. I am a magnet for positive outcomes.
5. Success flows into my life.
6. Every opportunity I attract leads me to greater success.
7. I have everything I need to succeed in my role.
8. I am focused on my job and my future.
9. I am capable and confident.
10. I am deserving of the success and recognition that comes my way.
Affirmations for overcoming failure
Failure is frustrating, but it is also a normal part of life that we need to be able to embrace and learn from. Saying affirmations for failure can help us to develop a positive mindset around setbacks so we can move forward with grace and optimism for success in the future.
1. My project failed, but I am not a failure.
2. Everything I lose is a step I take.
3. Failure doesn’t define me.
4. This is not an end but a chance to pivot.
5. Failure allows me to consider who I am and which choices ultimately fulfill me.
6. I refuse to amplify the pain of failure of this task by blaming or criticizing myself.
7. Resilience is my ally and I bounce back from any setback in my way.
8. My obstacles become my opportunities.
9. My strength is greater than any struggle I could face.
10. I am allowed the grace of imperfection.
Affirmations for interviews
Interviews afford you just a short window to make a good impression and convince the recruitment panel that you are right for the job. Repeating positive affirmations for interviewing can get you into that confident mindset needed to dazzle.
1. I am the right candidate for this role.
2. I acknowledge that I do not have all of the listed skills for this role, but I have the necessary experiences and willingness to learn needed to bridge the gap.
3. Job interviews are easy for me.
4. My energy is contagious; interviewers are going to love me.
5. My body language and words exude confidence and capability.
6. My goals are ambitious but attainable. I am driven enough to chase them.
7. My answers will be thought-provoking, intelligent, and interesting, because I am a well-spoken, intelligent, and interesting individual.
8. The interview panel will enjoy talking to me. They will find value in my perspective and ideas.
9. This interview is a great opportunity, but it will not be my only opportunity. If I am not the chosen candidate, I will still learn something new I can apply to my professional success.
10. This interview is just one step on my path towards success.
Affirmations for teamwork
A team needs to work well together. Affirmations may seem like a strange way of bringing people together, but they can have a real positive influence on a team that wants to build strong bonds with one another.
1. Strong, authentic relationships are woven between me and my team.
2. I attract colleagues who motivate me, and they in turn are motivated by my actions.
3. I am open to forging new and interesting positive connections in the workplace.
4. When I speak, I am listened to.
5. My colleagues respect my contributions and suggestions.
6. Every interaction is a chance to learn something new and demonstrate kindness.
7. My colleagues seek me out as a trusted and experienced voice in the room.
8. I am a valuable asset to both my team and the wider organization.
9. My team and I are all essential pieces of a much larger puzzle.
10. Honesty, trust, and transparency are all a given in my work relationships.
Affirmations for leadership
Leaders have to shoulder a lot. Affirmations and other practices can help banish negative thought patterns so the focus can be put on more important issues.
1. I empower my team to grow and reach their full potential.
2. I am a visionary who can see the path ahead of us.
3. I always lead with empathy and emotional intelligence.
4. I give space to my team’s ideas, just as I expect them to respect my decisions.
5. I take ownership and responsibility for the outcome of my team’s decisions. As their leader, they deserve to have my support.
6. I trust my intuition as a leader.
7. I bring energy and inspiration to my team.
8. I manage my time as effectively as possible so I can both support my team and adequately manage leadership responsibilities as issues arise.
9. I am flexible, open-minded, and always ready to adopt new potential ideas.
10. I am a capable leader who inspires and supports my team.
Affirmations for growth and learning
Growth and learning are important to many workers, but some struggle to know where to begin and how to continue. Affirmations can help provide focus and clarity on how we wish to achieve a growth mindset.
1. Constructive feedback is nothing more than a tool to help me grow.
2. Every setback is a chance to learn.
3. Growth is just one more stepping stone on my journey.
4. Learning is a lifelong journey, and I am a worthy pilgrim.
5. I am always evolving, and every evolution is a better version of myself than those before.
6. I willingly share my knowledge and experiences with everyone who seeks me out.
7. Challenges fall at my feet to help me enhance my skills.
8. Doing my best is enough.
9. I can meet challenges head-on.
10. I am proud of all I have learned.
Affirmations for fun
Let’s round things off with some funny work affirmations. You need to know how to bring positive energy to your work even on the most difficult of days.
1. I am never late, everyone else is just early.
2. I am committed to answering my emails during work hours and ignoring them at other times.
3. I never procrastinate, I am just waiting for the best moment to strike.
4. My desk may be messy but my mind is at peace.
5. May my work ethic be as strong as my coffee.
6. I am always a team player, until there is one donut left in the box.
7. I am motivated by three things; lunch, coffee, and the promise of Friday.
8. I spread positivity like glitter; you’ll never be rid of me.
9. Laughter is the best medicine and I’m this team’s first-aider.
10. I bring light to this office, one joke and sarcastic comment at a time.
How do you use affirmations?
Practicing positive affirmations are easier than you might think.
Firstly, you need to set the intention of the affirmation. Is it a general affirmation meant to inspire you, or is it something you need to inspire you towards a goal? Once you figure out your purpose, you can begin to incorporate affirmations into your thinking patterns.
Write them out on Post-it notes and stick them around your desk. Set your favorite a wallpaper on your phone or laptop. Share positive affirmations every Monday morning on the company intranet and get the whole team involved. Throw a few onto the end of an internal newsletter.
The more you use your affirmations and the more you speak them into existence, the more you will begin to believe them. Make them visible, revisit them often, and always speak them with conviction.
Let the good vibes roll!
Affirmations can be very private and personal, or they can be goals for a whole team to embrace together. This is an activity that can bring everyone together to create a harmonious and balanced working environment for all.
Is there something you would like to achieve in your professional life soon? Think about some affirmations that could help you to better align with these goals, and build yourself a routine that resonates with your own needs and your wider team and organization.
