Here is a brief excerpt from an article by Marla Gottschalk for LinkedIn. She explains why the importance of “psychological capital” is incalculable when attempting to determine the value of an individual or team as well as the value of a product, service, or market. To read the complete article and check out others, please click here.
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Most of us are familiar with the terms “economic capital” or “human capital”, but have you considered the notion of “psychological capital” and how it relates to your work life? Researchers studying the application of Positive Psychology to the workplace have carefully considered this idea – as a growing body of evidence demonstrates that a positive mindset can not only affect our attitudes toward work, but the outcomes which follow. Indeed, the “psychological capital” that we bring to the table, can have a significant impact upon work and career.
Recently we discussed how the tenets of positive psychology might provide a guide to help us achieve greater levels of workplace happiness. Overall, the movement stresses the identification of what is “right” with our work lives — building on positive contributors (emphasizing our strengths, celebrating smaller successes, gratitude). Central to this theory is the mechanism by which we build our “psychological resources” and how we utilize this collected energy to digest and cope with our work lives.
Along this vein, researchers have identified a high-order construct, aptly named Psychological Capital (PsyCap). Psychological Capital is comprised of a number of key psychological resources that we bring to our work life experiences. In combination, we utilize these resources to meet the challenges of our daily work lives. (Referred to as “HERO.”)
[Gottschalk then briefly discusses each of the acronym’s components.]
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To read the complete article and check out others, please click here.
Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an industrial & organizational psychologistas well as a workplace strategist. To read all her articles, please click here.