Boosting Positivity and Performance

Abstract

Due to the trauma of the global recession, there is a need to move away from predominantly negative theories of organizational behavior to positively oriented ones that focus on developing psychological capital to achieve employees' full potential. Many organizations look to rebuild organizational life and “positivity” generally, “positive psychology interventions” specifically have much to offer that is needed. So, organizational coaching is discussed as a positive intervention, triggering improved workplace performance based on a case study in this chapter. The main data for the analysis comes from 10 in-depth interviews with coaches and coachees from a leading company in Turkey, in which an integrative coaching system is in place. The analysis revealed that coaching has positive individual and organizational level effects and channel people's psychological capacities toward achieving self-awareness, self-development, increase in positivity, and result in improved performance. The characteristics, enablers, and challenges of an ideal coaching system were also explored.