Research carried out by London and Harvard Business Schools has been looking at how you can activate the 'very best version of you' and what happens when you do. 

The research highlights how positive feedback creates a positive spiral, activating an individual's best 'self-concept'. 

So, how does this translate into the world of work and people management? 

For a long time, performance management systems haven’t concentrated on what employees do when they’re at their best. The emphasis has usually been more negative: what are your weaknesses? What are your development needs? The exact words may vary but all too often it’s been about the need to do better.

But this research reflects the fact that people naturally improve when feedback is focusing on their strengths rather than their limitations – positive feedback, not negative.

Does your company promote positive feedback? Or is there more of a focus on where employee improvements can be made?

Read more about the research here.