In a post from the archive, Dave Mashburn reminds us of the importance of being a positive leader.
The teachers I remember, the bosses who had the most influence, and the leaders I respected and wanted to follow, were never perfect people. But they were positive people.
His belief is not just anecdotal, but backed up by research.
Dr. Barbara Fredrickson explored the idea of positivity in leadership, and its direct and powerful impact upon creativity and performance.
Called the Lasado Ratio, she discovered high functioning teams demonstrate a 3:1 ratio of positive to negative interactions.
How do you become more positive in your office?
Dr. Fredrickson suggests focusing on these leadership characteristics:
Be Open
Be Appreciative
Be Curious
Be Kind
Be Real – no false pretenses of positivity
Use this as a quick mental checklist to assess your interactions with your agents and staff.
If you’re a Negative Nellie, your agents may find somewhere else to hangout.