A supportive place to work: the impact of positive affirmations

Does your business strive to improve employee mentality? In this article, we explore the impact positive affirmations can have on your employees and the benefits they can bring to the working environment.

5 mins read
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10 May, 2025

​Maintaining a positive working environment is essential for both employee well-being and productivity.

A report released in 2020 by KPMG showed that 75% of senior women interviewed had personally experienced imposter syndrome at certain points in their careers. That's why it’s vital that leaders do what they can to help their team members feel more confident and empowered in their jobs.

In contrast to this, positive affirmations have the potential to improve self-esteem and resilience among employees, uplift spirits, and enhance motivation – counterbalancing imposter syndrome and helping to establish a positive work environment.

What are affirmations?

Affirmations, also referred to as positive affirmations, are phrases that, when repeated regularly, can change negative thoughts and behavior patterns. They are often used as a technique for self-improvement, but their benefits extend beyond individual growth to impact group dynamics and organizational culture. By repeating affirmations regularly, individuals can rewire their thought patterns, boost self-confidence, and cultivate a more optimistic outlook on life.

As a manager, implementing daily affirmations can go a long way to helping team members stay positive and achieve their goals – in both their professional and personal lives. They can be used in a number of ways, you might write one in a Teams chat to one of your team members, or maybe you want to praise them face to face in a meeting.

They may be displayed around the office as artwork, or even on a desktop when your team members log on to their computers. Wherever they are, they promote feelings of togetherness, give inspiration and encourage camaraderie.

What are some examples of positive affirmations for your workforce?

Try using affirmations similar to the ones below throughout your day. You may start to notice your team feeling more positive and motivated.

  • You are capable of handling any task that comes your way

  • You are a valuable asset to the team

  • You are deserving of all the success that comes your way

  • You’ve got this

  • Trust in your abilities and stay confident

  • I believe in you

  • You consistently achieve high standards of work

The power of positivity

In a professional setting, maintaining a positive atmosphere is crucial for employee morale, engagement, and ultimately, productivity. When employees feel valued and are optimistic about their work environment, they are more likely to perform at their best and contribute to the wider goals of the business.

Positive affirmations can make a difference in the workplace by:

Increasing motivation: they can serve as powerful motivators, inspiring employees to set and achieve goals, overcome obstacles, and strive for excellence in their work.

Enhancing resilience: in the face of challenges and setbacks, employees who regularly practice positive affirmations can better equip themselves to maintain a resilient mindset. This allows them to bounce back from adversity and approach challenges with a more constructive attitude.

Improving confidence: confidence is key to success at work. Affirmations help employees build self-confidence and self-belief, enabling them to take on new responsibilities, tackle difficult tasks, and assert themselves in professional settings.

Strengthening relationships: they promote a culture of appreciation and support, helping to create stronger relationships among team members and enhancing collaboration and communication across the business.

Integrating positive affirmations to support your employees

People are known to overanalyze themselves. Employers can take proactive steps to incorporate positive affirmations into their managerial routines to support their staff.  

Here are some strategies you could consider:

Provide training and resources

Offer workshops or training sessions to educate employees on the power of positive affirmations and how to incorporate them into their daily routines to help them counteract negative self-talk and build self-confidence.

Some individuals may benefit from more formal training, including leadership, communication, and coaching skills.

Lead by example

Managers and leaders should model positive behavior by considering the use of affirmations themselves before encouraging their teams to do the same. A supportive and optimistic leadership style sets the tone for the entire organization, giving some employees the inspiration they need to succeed.

Incorporate affirmations into meetings

Start meetings with a positive affirmation or encourage team members to share affirmations that resonate with them. It is also worth considering incorporating affirmations into company-wide communications, newsletters, or internal messaging platforms.

Affirmations should solely focus on celebrating achievements and strengths – and are a great way to show how much you value team members.

Create a positive work environment

An atmosphere of appreciation and recognition can make employees feel valued and respected. Be sure to celebrate achievements, acknowledge contributions, and provide constructive feedback to reinforce positive behavior and a spirit of togetherness.

Encourage employees to embrace their achievements and if need be, write them down. That way, when it comes to feeling a sense of doubt, all the proof is recorded.

Encourage self-care practices

Emphasize the importance of self-care and well-being by encouraging employees to take breaks, practice mindfulness, and engage in activities that promote mental and emotional health.

Where possible, task employees with practicing affirmations to boost their confidence. These affirmations should focus on their strengths, abilities, and potential. Positive affirmations have the power to transform the workplace by helping nurture employees and their optimism, resilience, and productivity.

Ultimately, investing in the well-being and positivity of employees is beneficial for both the individuals who need that extra layer of support and care and also for the overall success and sustainability of the organization.

In the workplace, if there’s a toxic work environment, affirmations alone will not address the root cause of the issue. This is why it’s important for managers to create an inclusive environment, with equality, diversity, inclusion, and belonging at the forefront of the culture.

Need help filling your vacancy, or finding a suitable role for you? Our specialist recruiters can help. Contact your nearest Reed office now.

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Pros and cons of universal basic income: solution to unemployment or too expensive?
5 mins read

Pros and cons of universal basic income: solution to unemployment or too expensive?

​​​What is universal basic income?

Universal basic income (UBI) is a system in which every adult receives a set amount of money on a regular basis. This payment is unconditional, meaning it does not depend on the recipient's income, employment status, or any other criterion.

Universal– to everyone

Basic– to cover everyday expenses

Income– regularly, for people to spend how they wish.

UBI has been an interesting and controversial topic of conversation over the past few years, with various trials and studies conducted to evaluate its potential impact. While we may be a long way off from this being considered in reality, let’s look at some of the pros and cons of introducing this concept.

Pros of universal basic income

Reduce poverty

One of the main arguments in favour of UBI is its potential to reduce poverty and economic inequality. A 2022 study by the University of York found that a UBI model could cut poverty by more than half. This would be achieved through tax adjustments and guaranteed weekly payments, providing a stable income for everyone. This stability could lead to a more robust economy, increased consumer spending, more job opportunities, and a healthier market overall.

Increased consumer spending

With more disposable income, people would likely spend more, stimulating demand for goods and services and benefiting businesses across various sectors. This increased spending could also lead to higher tax revenues, which could be reinvested into public services and infrastructure.

Empowering workers

UBI would offer a safety net, reducing the pressure on individuals to accept low-paying or precarious jobs. This could lead to higher job satisfaction and productivity, as people would be more likely to pursue jobs that align with their interests.

Improve workplace conditions

It would also encourage businesses to enhance their working conditions by shifting the power dynamic to the employees. With a guaranteed income, workers would no longer be compelled to stay in jobs solely for financial reasons, allowing them the freedom to leave roles with poor working conditions.

This shift in bargaining power would encourage employers to enhance job quality, offer higher wages, and create more supportive work environments to attract and retain employees. Consequently, businesses might need to implement more employee-focused policies, such as flexible working, improved benefits, and a stronger emphasis on work-life balance, to stay competitive in the labour market.

Innovation and entrepreneurship

Many people hesitate to start their own businesses due to fear of failure and financial risks. However, UBI could provide the financial stability needed to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, potentially resulting in economic growth for the country. This could lead to the creation of new industries and job opportunities, further boosting the economy.

Foster education and societal benefits

Having a steady income would encourage more individuals to pursue further education and training, culminating in a more educated and skilled population. This increase in educational attainment can have numerous positive effects on society, including:

Higher civic engagement: an educated population is more likely to participate in civic activities such as voting, volunteering, and community involvement, fostering a stronger democratic process and community cohesion.

Enhanced critical thinking and creativity: education cultivates critical thinking and creativity, which are essential for technological innovation and economic growth.

Reduction in poverty and inequality: education is a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty. By providing individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to secure better-paying jobs, UBI can help reduce income inequality and improve overall economic stability.

Improved public health: educated individuals are more likely to make informed health choices, meaning lower rates of chronic diseases and improved overall public health.

Cons of universal basic income

High cost

Implementing UBI would be extremely expensive, requiring significant tax increases and reallocation of public spending. While it's challenging to estimate the exact cost, one analysis projected a gross cost of 555 billion – which includes the UBI payments themselves as well as the cost of integrating it into the existing tax and benefits system. Therefore, many critics argue that for this reason, UBI is not sustainable or even feasible.

Decreased motivation to work

Critics argue that UBI could reduce people's incentives to work, prompting higher unemployment rates. They fear that with a guaranteed income, people might choose to work fewer hours or not at all. If this were the case, higher unemployment rates could negatively impact economic growth due to less taxable income.

Those who do continue working while receiving UBI might be less motivated to perform at their best. With their basic financial needs met by UBI, the urgency to excel and advance in their careers could diminish and we could see reduced effort and productivity.

Challenges for low-wage industries

Industries relying on low-wage labour might face increased wage demands, as workers with a financial safety net might be less willing to accept low-paying jobs. This could cause higher operational costs and potentially drive businesses to automate more processes.

Inflation

Increased disposable income could generate higher spending, driving up demand and prices, resulting in inflation. This could erode the purchasing power of the UBI payments, potentially negating some of the benefits.

Potential inequality

While UBI aims to reduce poverty and inequality, some argue that providing the same payment to everyone wouldn't solve inequality but merely shift the goalposts. Critics suggest that a more targeted approach might be necessary to address the specific needs of different groups within society.

The debate around UBI is far from settled, and its implementation would require careful consideration and robust policy design. As we move forward, it's important to engage in thoughtful discussions, consider diverse perspectives, and explore pilot programmes to better understand UBI's real-world impacts.

Ultimately, the question remains: can UBI be the transformative solution we need to fix the unstable labour market, or will it prove too costly and complex?

If you are looking for a talented professional to join your team, or seeking a new employment opportunity yourself, get in touch with a specialist consultant today.

How to fight economic inactivity
1 mins read

How to fight economic inactivity

​It was recently my turn to pick up the pen and contribute to City AM’s ‘The Note Book’.

I chose to write about the issue of economic inactivity and to focus on ways to encourage younger people into the workforce and ways to incentivise older workers to work for longer.

My thinking is that this will encourage the highly paid and highly skilled to work up until retirement age rather than choosing, as many do, to retire early.

And my estimation is that this would result in more, not less, tax being collected and collected sooner because these individuals are frequently higher rate taxpayers who will typically find ways to avoid inheritance tax in the extra spare time they have after they’ve taken early retirement.

Instead, these highly capable higher rate tax payers will be incentivised to continue to contribute to the growth of their organisations and the wider economy and consequently to the exchequer as well.

One for the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) to grapple with perhaps… but I’ve no idea how you’d model such an idea. Sometimes it’s just better to give things a go!

And if you do get a chance to see the play ‘A View from The Bridge’, you should go. It’s a precious thing - a brilliant play, brilliantly acted!

Click here to read the article.

Sales CV template: for Sales Executives and other sales professionals
2 mins read

Sales CV template: for Sales Executives and other sales professionals

​​Whether you are a sales executive, supplier relationship manager or field sales consultant, use our free template to build your perfect sales CV today.

[Full Name]
[Home address]
[Contact Number] • [Email Address]

Personal Statement

Use this section of your CV to highlight the skills that would be transferable in a sales environment e.g. questioning and listening, tenacity, resilience and the ability to think on your feet. It’s also a good idea to include a link to your LinkedIn profile.

Sales professionals are target driven and financially motivated, so don't forget to highlight and "sell" yourself.

Try to avoid statements such as "I work well as part of a team and on my own initiative" or "I can communicate at all levels" - the majority of CVs contain these statements. CVs that show creativity stand out in sales.

Education

A relevant degree, for example Business Studies will give you a great start, but many degrees have a sales element, e.g. Psychology - understanding people, Engineering - problem solving, Law - negotiation skills etc.

It is important to present your education in a way that identifies you as a sales person.

In some sales positions experience trumps education, so if you don’t have a glittering academic record, make sure you elaborate on your experience.

[College/School Name]
[Date M/Y– Date M/Y]

A-levels:

  • [Subject] – [Grade]

  • [Subject] – [Grade]

  • [Subject] – [Grade]

GCSEs:

  • [Number] GCSEs, grades [range], including Maths and English

Work Experience

This should be brief and, as a general rule of thumb, focus on the last five years of your career, or last three roles, in chronological order with the most recent at the top. Highlight your key achievements, and aim to use bullet points rather than lengthy descriptions.

[Job Title], [Company Name] [Location]
[Date M/Y- Date M/Y]

Achievements and responsibilities:

  • Brief role overview

  • Worked alongside [team] to produce [project]

  • Implemented [change] which resulted in [benefit]

  • Received an [award name] for [reason]

Hobbies and Interests

This section is not essential, but can be a good opportunity to reinforce your application, and show a future employer what motivates you outside of work.

Don’t just say that you ‘like to socialise’ be specific, and don’t be afraid to share your successes. If you can put a sales slant on this part of your CV too, even better.

I’ve completed a marathon for [charity]

I negotiated my away across [country] on a budget, working as I went

References

References are available upon request.

Download our full sales CV template.