What Great Leaders Know About The Transformational Power of Positivity

A Superpower of Great Leaders

People want to be around uplifting individuals, including leaders who make them feel better about the world and help them see the opportunity in nearly any situation. Such positive leadership helps employees feel better about themselves, today and in the future. Strong leaders, through their actions, teach employees how to have a more positive mindset. It is a superpower of great leaders.

A Simple Positivity Test                    

The concept of the “power of positivity” revolves around the idea that maintaining a positive mindset and attitude can lead to better outcomes in various aspects of life.

One of my biggest pet peeves is how most people respond to the question, “How are you?” Nearly everyone responds with, “Fine” or “So far, so good”. What are they waiting for – something bad to happen? They woke up today. Most people need to be more grateful for the things they have or where they are, versus focusing on the things they don’t have or where they are not.

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I tell (some may say lecture) my employees that their answers to the question “How are you?” should be “Fantastic!” “Amazing!” “Great!” We all have a few close friends, family, and a therapist with whom we share weightier things when we need to. The rest of the world doesn’t need to know. And it is a fact that the more we say we are fantastic, the more we will feel it and believe it. What you talk about, you bring about.

I also ask my employees, guess who retains more clients, the person who is fine or the person who is fantastic? Who do you think charges more, the person who responds, “So far, so good” or the person who responds, “Amazing!”? There is nothing more magnetic than people who constantly have a positive attitude. And it is something that naturally enhances every customer’s experience.

Positive emotions and a positive outlook can contribute to a stronger immune system, better cardiovascular health, and overall longevity. We’ve known for years that stress, often linked to negativity, can lead to numerous health complications. Positive individuals tend to experience lower rates of depression and anxiety. They also generally demonstrate higher levels of resilience and are better equipped to handle challenges and setbacks.

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Positivity can lead to better interpersonal relationships. Positive individuals are often more liked and trusted and are seen as more reliable. Positive thinking can foster a broader and more flexible cognitive perspective, enhancing problem-solving capabilities and creativity which can lead to more productive teams both in and outside the workplace. In addition, a positive attitude often leads to increased motivation and a drive to achieve one’s goals. These aren’t merely “happy little ideas”. They are backed by science.

Better Behaviors: The Science Behind Positivity

Proposed by psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, this theory suggests that positive emotions expand our awareness and encourage novel, varied, and exploratory thoughts and actions. Over time, this broadened behavioral repertoire builds skills and resources via the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. Positive experiences and an optimistic outlook can help create and strengthen positive neural pathways, while negative experiences might reinforce negative pathways.

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Implementing Positivity in Daily Life: Where to Start?

Small, consistent efforts can add up to big results. Consider trying one or more of the following:

• Gratitude Journaling: Taking time each day to write down things you’re grateful for can shift focus from what’s lacking or negative to what’s already abundant in your life.
• Positive Affirmations: Using affirmations can rewire our brains to believe and act upon these positive statements.
• Mindfulness and Meditation: These practices can help keep you anchored in the present moment and help cultivate a more positive and balanced mindset.
• Limit Negative Inputs: Reduce exposure to consistently negative influences, whether they’re certain types of media, negative individuals, or environments.
• Surround Yourself with Positive People: The company we keep can greatly influence our mindset.

It’s crucial to differentiate between genuine positivity and “toxic positivity”, which is the overgeneralization of a happy, optimistic state, leading to the denial, minimization, and invalidation of genuine human emotional experience. It’s essential for mental health to acknowledge, understand, and process negative emotions rather than suppressing or ignoring them.

Becoming Magnetic: It’s All About Energy

Energy attracts people like nothing else. People love energy. Energy is about a vibe, a person’s spirit, and the fire they have inside of them. Motivational speaker Mel Robbins says it best: “Your energy introduces you before you even speak.”

Think about the favorite places you like to hang out. Do you want to walk into a restaurant, bar, or salon with barely anyone inside and employees standing around, bored? No way! When that happens, people sometimes say there is a “lack of atmosphere”. What’s really missing is the right kind of energy. We love energy — the hustle and bustle of positive movement. When you walk into an Apple Store, you can feel the energy. Energy is everywhere, people are interacting, playing with products, learning, being educated. There is a continual flow of communication. This also applies to individuals. To really reap the benefits of positivity, we need to focus on the energy we are bringing into a room and into every interaction.

“It is about how you show up every day, what kind of energy do you bring to others?”

Energy Givers vs. Energy Suckers

Science has proven that energy is exchanged between people every time we come into contact with each other. We literally give and receive energy. But that can happen in two ways. You can be an “Energy Giver,” bringing positivity and leaving people feeling better for having interacted with you, or your negativity drains them, and you are known as an “Energy Sucker,” aka an energy vampire. We all seem to know one of those.

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The greatest leaders are the best energy givers. Consistently. Their presence can change a room. After conversations with these types of leaders, employees get excited about themselves and the critical part they play in the company’s success. Leaders with this kind of energy make those around them better, promoting a culture of optimism.

Ask yourself if you are an energy giver or an energy sucker. Just because you high-fived someone this week doesn’t make you a full-time energy giver. You have to do it consistently. It needs to be a conscious decision, an intentional choice.

Energy Givers:

• Raise the confidence of everyone they come in contact with.
• Improve morale, chemistry, and performance.
• Constantly show gratitude and thanks.
• Give everyone else the credit, encouraging an above-and-beyond culture.
• Believe in others.
• Are there for others when they struggle, fail, or are going through hard times.
• Are their employees’ biggest cheerleaders.
• Constantly find out what their employees’ goals are and help them achieve those goals.
• Are great listeners, creating supportive cultures.
• Demonstrate emotional intelligence, always building strong relationships and emotional capital with those around them.
• Will walk through fire for those on their team.
• Always finds a way to give more than their employee was expecting.

It is just as important to reflect on the type of people around you. This is also a leadership skill that can be learned. Are you surrounding yourself with energy givers or energy vampires? How do they compare to the list above? Are you hiring and promoting energy givers? Remember, we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. And it’s not just about hiring talented people. Leaders who include “energy analysis” in their business strategy tend to have the best business outcomes.

“Don’t adapt to the energy in the room, influence the energy in the room”

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November 16, 2023, 1:00pm EST

Register for this webinar as Cal shares a first-hand account of this burgeoning generation that’s set to dominate the labor market. Composing over a third of the global population and more than a quarter of the U.S. populace, Gen Z is on track to soon surpass Millennials as the most populous and diverse generation ever. But it’s not just their numbers that matter; it’s the paradigm-shifting influence they’re set to have on technology, careers, politics, and organizational culture. In this illuminating breakout session, Cal will help you understand the unique behaviors, attitudes, and preferences of his generation. He will debunk common myths and stereotypes, replacing them with data-driven insights and actionable strategies.

November 30, 2023, 1:00pm EST

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December 7, 2023, 11:00am EST

Register for this webinar with John DiJulius and you’ll gain insights into the significance of Ubuntu in today’s business landscape and why it’s crucial. You’ll also discover the top misconception CEOs have about Customer Experience (CX), explore the four powerful soft skills, and learn strategies to minimize employee turnover. Additionally, you’ll delve into the importance of avoiding client surprises, the transformative potential of purpose, and how a robust service recovery process can serve as your ultimate customer loyalty strategy. Finally, you’ll uncover the interconnected relationship between employee experiences and customer perceptions

December 14, 2023, 1:00pm EST

Register to hear Dave Murray share how to become the best professional decision of your employees’ lives. This content comes from the new book John and Dave co-authored titled The Employee Experience Revolution, coming out in 2024. The “Great Resignation”, “Quiet Quitting”, and “Cancel Culture” are not indictments on employees, but rather, business leaders’ lack of focus on truly caring for the people who are under their command. Today’s employees are more selective than ever regarding who they will work for; they are insisting that companies and their leaders help them live the right life. That is how you build a world-class culture.

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The CXO (Chief eXperience Officer) has been one of the fastest growing positions in corporate America over the last decade. The Customer Xperience Executive Academy (CXEA) is like a master’s degree in Customer Experience! The Customer Experience Executive Academy course is a 12-month part-time rigorous program. Training will occur in the classroom, in businesses, and virtually through scheduled calls and webinars. The CXE student is required to attend quarterly intensive training sessions and participate in virtual meetings. Contact claudia@thedijuliusgroup.com to learn more.