The Positive Difference: Why I Joined the Center for Positive Organizations

On the day of the workshop, I walked into the Corner Commons, a brightly and naturally lit room full of energy and an inviting atmosphere. As with any space occupied by CPO, it was a space of authenticity and psychological safety, making it easy to build high-quality connections with those in attendance. I met and learned from so many new people, including fellow BBAs and other undergrads, as well as MBAs and faculty. It was exciting and refreshing to be in a learning space made up of a variety of experiences and diversity in thought. We were truly engaged in learning together and through each other, which I learned is called co-learning and is embedded in the CPO culture.

Another foundational concept that I learned —and one that would show up many times later—is the concept of positive deviance. In short, organizations fit on a bell curve, with the left tail being organizations that languish and the right tail being organizations that thrive—and thriving isn't just a measure of financials. Through CPO, I’ve been able to delve into what it means for a company to thrive and what it takes to get there. The learning continues, however, as organizations are complex, and it takes a lot more intentionality, thought, and leveraging of research-backed principles and practices than I previously thought.

I believe that with the Center's research and more people gaining knowledge on Positive Organizational Scholarship, we can shift this curve and bring about more thriving organizations. Ultimately, this is the kind of impact I want to have in the world of business, and through opportunities with CPO, I engage with business leaders and POS advocates that allow me to apply my learning and have that real impact.

My interest in the field is only growing, especially as organizations are experiencing an increasing need to employ POS for attracting, retaining, and building better workforces. That, and the amazing CPO community, is why I continuously get involved with the Center. I learn something new from every interaction and am now an alum of the Magnify Immersion Program and a member of the Thriving Catalyst Endorsement Program, which allows students to showcase their POS knowledge to employers. I especially like how being a Thriving Catalyst allows me to continue my learning journey at the pace I want and explore the topics I’m interested in through a wide variety of formats (live speaker events, accelerator workshops, classes, podcast recordings, etc.) while giving me recognition for my commitment to learning. I appreciate the recognition, as it is a great way for me to open up the topic of POS and share my knowledge with others.

No matter the field you are in, we can all benefit from learning how to be better leaders and how to build better teams. Personally, I want to be in the business of building better work for people, and as with all these important aspects of thriving, learning through the lens of POS is a great way to build those skills. All in all, my involvement with CPO and the impactful work we do has shaped the Ross School of Business experience that I'm proud of.