Tom Rath Business & Career Coach

by Deborah Kotz, Special to AOL Coaches

Dr. Donald Clifton revolutionized the study of psychology, which he thought focused too much on what is wrong with people, by studying instead what is right with people. He wrote the bestselling book, 'Now, Discover Your Strengths.' For some 40 years he lectured to and educated thousands of organizations and people about a simple theory he developed involving, a bucket and a dipper. Shortly before his death in 2003, Clifton and his grandson Tom Rath, turned the theory into a book – 'How Full Is Your Bucket?'

According to Clifron and Rath, each of us has an invisible bucket which is constantly emptying or filling, based on our interactions with others. Each of us also has an invisible dipper, which allows us to fill others’ buckets -- by doing things to increase their positive emotions -- and as a result fill our own buckets. When we do something to promote negative feelings, we dip from those other buckets and our own.

"So we face a choice every moment of every day: We can fill one another’s buckets, or we can dip from them. It’s an important choice -- one that profoundly influences our relationships, productivity, health, and happiness," Clifton and Rath write.

While this theory may sound profoundly simple, Clifton and Rath, prevent a strong argument for its importance, especially in the workplace, noting that the number one reason people leave their jobs is because they feel unappreciated, employee disengagement costs business up to $300 billion dollars a year and a study found that the negative employees can scare off every customer they come in contact with -- for good.

The authors note the research of John Gottman whose research indicated a "magic ratio" of positive to negative encounters in successful marriages. The nearer this ratio is to 5 to 1, the more likely a marriage will succeed. Clifton and Rath say this ratio is critical in the workplace as well, although there is a point where things can go overboard. More than 13 positive interactions for every negative interaction could signal a decrease in productivity.

The authors use the last section of the book detailing strategies for increasing positive emotions. These include: prevent bucket dipping, shine a light on what is right, make best friends, give unexpectedly and reverse the golden rule. Throughout the book, the authors enhance their conclusions with interesting vignettes and solid scientific proof.

1. Buy 'How Full Is Your Bucket?'