Do you think you are focused more on what you have to gain or what you have to lose?
One approach is called in psychological literature “promotion focus” and the other is called “prevention focus”.
With a promotion focus goals are thought about in terms of achievement and accomplishment. They are about doing something you would ideally like to do. They are about maximizing gains and avoiding missed opportunities.
On the other hand, prevention focuses on goals are thought about in terms of safety and danger. They are about fulfilling responsibilities. These people are minimizing losses. One group may give up too soon and the other may not know when to quit.
If you are a parent (or a CEO) this also effects how you deal with your children or employees.
If you are promotion oriented when they do something right they are rewarded with praise and being ignored when they don’t do what they should
On the other hand, if you have a prevention attitude you will likely punish for doing something wrong. The reward for doing something right is NOT punishing them.
It seems like aa simple vignette regarding a child’s report card helps to concretize it. A promotion type parent will give a lot of praise and reward for an A, and will pay little attention to the C. A preventive parent will criticize and spend a lot of time dealing with the C and will ignore or give minimal attention to an A.
No one is completely one or the other – but think about your tendency. Are you more prone to promotion or prevention? Are you more focused on success or preventing failure?
What is the advantage and disadvantage for you and your employees or children?
Do you think you are focused more on what you have to gain or what you have to lose?
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