Positive Psychology at Work:

Dynamic Patterns of Communication

As mentioned earlier, this measurement of positive to negative comments is, in effect, a measure of connectivity. It is interesting to explore why the correspondence between positive comment ratios and connectivity is so close. The heart of the relationship seems to lie in the differing effects of positive and negative comments on conversational dynamics. A negative comment tends to have a shutting down effect. It discourages further connection among the group around any particular theme. While a positive response encourages an expansion of ideas, it seems to encourage people to stay connected and to explore a particular theme further. The atmosphere of a positive comment-oriented meeting also tends to be very different. In this research, it was found that the high-performing teams created and occupied an emotional space characterized by a sense of buoyancy and expansiveness. This expansive space opened up possibilities for action and creativity. Conversely, interactions in the low-performing team were characterized by a lack of mutual trust and support or enthusiasm. The emotional space was different and the interaction less generative. These different patterns of interaction, and the general atmosphere they create, can be classified as different dynamic patterns. Different patterns of dynamics are associated with different outcomes in terms of creativity and the coordination of action.

In the low-performing teams the pattern of interaction generated ...