Some of us might have to rack our brains to think of the last time our bosses praised our contribution to the workplace. Often, the only communication we have with those who manage us is based on criticism or suggestions for improvement. But think about how much better you might work if you knew your good work was being not only recognised, but appreciated.

Enter positive psychology, a concept that suggests we can learn to be happier (and teach others to be). The concept uses psychology to build resilience, wellbeing and happiness, seeking to cultivate positive characteristics and emotions. It's based on the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive.

Positive psychology doesn't suggest that bosses should distribute false praise to employees, nor ignore mistakes or disregard the areas of an employee's performance that need improvement. Rather, it teaches not to communicate only these things to an employee; to focus on positive feedback and where possible, combine a healthy dose of this feedback with any required criticism.

An employee who is away from work due to an illness or injury, and who is accustomed to negative management feedback, will be less motivated to return to the workplace. An employee who receives no positive employer input during their recovery process, may equate a speedy recovery with a speedy return to an unsupportive environment, and not want to return there.

According to the Penn University of Pennsylvania website, understanding the value of the positive “entails the study of the strengths that foster better communities, such as justice, responsibilities, civility, parenting, nurturance, work ethic, leadership, teamwork, purpose and tolerance”.

Studies have shown that positive psychology can assist victims to make better sense of their injury or grief and to find benefits in their own characteristics, from which to draw strength. It offers a framework through which a victim can find empowerment.

Positive education is the extension of positive psychology to schools. Social and emotional aspects of learning are being embraced in several countries throughout the world; some schools today are already teaching emotional literacy as part of school curriculum. The importance of instilling in young people a level of emotional intelligence is becoming more widely acknowledged.

Emotional intelligence is the human mental ability to reason about emotions and to use emotions to enhance thought; the intelligent intersection of the emotions and thoughts. Implicit in the concept is an ability to recognise the meanings of emotions and their relationships, assimilate emotion-related feelings, understand them and manage them.

Emotionally intelligent workplaces work towards fighting common workplace illnesses such as depression and promote open discussion between employers and employees.

US positive psychology pioneer Dr Martin Seligman believes that depression could be curtailed using the principles of positive psychology. Speaking at the recent Happiness and its Causes conference in Sydney, Dr Seligman raised the issue of Australia's epidemic of depression, drawing his audience's attention to the fact that increased wealth does not equate with increased happiness. He asked his audience to imagine the possible benefits of education's traditional focus on training towards skills for the workplace not being sacrificed, but being expanded to include the teaching of wellbeing, positive emotion and more engagement.

Dr Seligman believes that the evidence is hard to ignore: positive psychology leads to decreased depression and increased obedience.

The Australian Business Training website lists some of the benefits of positive psychology in the workplace:

• empowering people to exceed previous levels of achievement  
• engaging employees increasing employee retention  
• enhancing trust and loyalty; improving staff health and wellbeing  
• improving people's ability to adapt to change  
• generating constructive collaboration  
• reducing conflict in the workplace and increasing the profit generated by each employee  

Many employers are not trained or educated about these or other effects that positive psychology and positive reinforcement could be having on their staff and workplace.

Scientific evidence suggests that if leaders look for the positives in those they are leading, their levels of happiness increase. Evidence also shows that happier people are more altruistic, productive and volunteering.

It's reinforcing for an employer to know that the attitude they employ with their workers can make a positive difference. When dealing with sick or injured workers, attitudes have a huge effect. Being dismissive of an employee's work concerns or home issues, is a good way to get them off-side. Ask questions – while respecting non-work domains, take an interest, be supportive. Employers can extend on this caring attitude by controlling long working hours and allowing workers the right to request changes in working time, or providing for self-rostering, job security and flexibility of time and place of work.

The language of positive psychology is not one that requires a psychology degree to teach or learn. It can require training, but the skills to use it effectively are innate. It's about tapping into and nurturing what's positive. Once that's done, there's something in it for the whole community.

Positive psychology means:

• providing different perspectives to help people feel more positive and in control  
• teaching positive coping strategies  
• challenging negative thinking and fostering the belief that change is possible  
• assisting people to discover what provides engagement and meaning in their lives  
• happiness, hope, humour, optimism, resilience, self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, effective questions and empathy  
• permission to be human. Positive psychology doesn't mean you'll enjoy constant happiness; it's ok to feel painful emotions – they're a part of human nature  
• knowing that you can bring all of these things to your own work and they will make a difference  

Links to more information on positive psychology:

ABC Radio National, Forum: Can you teach happiness?  
Penn University of Pennsylvania, Positive Psychology Center  
Positive Psychology.Net, Positivity Central  
Australian Business Training