Spot a pattern
Recognize when a familiar inner critic or stress response is steering your attention and behavior.
01 / Mental fitness (PQ)
Clearer thinking under pressure.
When pressure rises, familiar reactions can narrow your choices. Mental fitness helps you notice those patterns and respond with more intention.
What is PQ?Watch: An introduction to the PQ program (1 min 47 sec)
Mental fitness (PQ)
What is PQ?
PQ means Positive Intelligence Quotient. The Positive Intelligence® approach is a mental fitness framework for recognizing unhelpful reactions and practicing a more constructive response to everyday challenges.
The framework calls recurring patterns of self-criticism, worry, or overcontrol Saboteurs. It calls the capacity to pause, understand the situation, and choose a useful next step the Sage response. The aim is to practice that shift in real moments, at work and beyond.
Based on the Positive Intelligence® program overview ↗.
The practice
Notice. Pause. Choose.
Take a PQ Rep
Use a brief sensory attention exercise to interrupt autopilot and bring your focus back to the present.
Respond with clarity
Explore your options, consider other people, and take the next useful step.
A practical program
Practice between the moments that matter.
The PQ Foundation is organized around seven weekly themes, with short app-guided exercises and regular reflection. It begins with Self-Command and the Judge, then introduces other Saboteurs and the Sage powers.
Malcolm brings coach support to help you connect the practice to the pressures you face in performance, wellness, and relationships. The focus is on building a repeatable habit, one response at a time.
Further exploration
Mental fitness (PQ) resources
Clearer Thinking is a Teams Superpower
Scalable Solutions for Teams
See how the Positive Intelligence® team approach addresses obstacles to collaboration and creates room for clearer thinking together.
Watch: Scalable Solutions for Teams (1 min 31 sec)
Workplace mental health report · Positive Intelligence®
Your Employees Are Not Okay
A look at the impact of poor mental health in the workplace and practices for strengthening mental fitness across teams. Published by Positive Intelligence® in 2025.
Read the 28-page report (PDF) ↗
Explore your next step with Malcolm.
Ask how a coached PQ program could support you or your team under pressure.
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