Why Positive Instructions Get Better Results

Your brain is lazy.
That’s not an insult. It’s just how the human brain works.

Our subconscious is built for efficiency. It sticks to habits, routines and the easiest possible path. It will avoid extra effort wherever it can. Think of it like a teenager who doesn’t want to get out of bed on a Sunday morning.

This matters more than you might realise when it comes to leadership, management and day-to-day communication.

If you want to get the best out of people, you need to understand how their brains process instructions. And the key is simple. Positive framing.

Why Your Brain Only Processes the Positive Bit
Let me show you what I mean.

If I say:
“Don’t think about the elephant.”
What happens?

You think about the elephant.

That is because the human brain ignores the “don’t” and latches onto the instruction part. It pictures the thing you are telling it to avoid.

This plays out at work all the time.
You tell a colleague, “Don’t put that file there,” and guess where the file ends up.
You say, “Don’t forget the deadline,” and suddenly the deadline is missed.

The Toddler Test
One of my favourite examples comes from parenting.

Picture a toddler holding a cup full of water. What do most parents say?
“Don’t spill it.”

And almost every time, what happens?
The toddler tips it over. Water everywhere.

Why? Because their little brain hears “spill it.”

This same principle applies to your team at work, your colleagues, and even yourself.

Positive Instructions Get Better Results
When you want something to happen, frame it in terms of the action you want.

Instead of:

“Don’t forget the deadline”
Try:
“Please make sure this is done by Friday”
Instead of:

“Don’t put that file there”
Try:
“Please file this in the blue folder”
It seems small, but it changes everything. Clear, action-based instructions make it easier for people to succeed.

The Bonus: Praise Becomes Easier Too
The great thing about positive instructions is that they also make it easier for you to give praise.

Most people repeat the behaviours they get attention for.
If you frame your instruction positively, you can easily follow it with:
“Well done for getting that submitted on time.”
Or
“Thank you for filing that correctly.”

This creates a positive feedback loop. People feel recognised. Morale improves. Motivation goes up.

The opposite can happen if you only give feedback when things go wrong. Over time, that chips away at team confidence and energy.

The Self-Checkout Example
I see this all the time out in the world too.
There’s a supermarket I visit where the self-checkout tills say:
“Don’t forget to scan your rewards card.”

Every time I hear it, I think…
Surely it would be better to say:
“Remember to scan your reward card.”

It sounds like such a small thing. But these little language shifts have a big impact on behaviour.

So here is my challenge to you.

Notice how you are giving instructions this week.
Are you framing them positively?
Are you telling people what you want them to do, rather than what you want them to avoid?

This simple switch can help you get better results at work, at home, and even in how you talk to yourself.