Be a Source of Positive Energy, and Only Positive Energy!

Positive energy leads to success; negative energy is a cancer that leads to excuses, rationalization, and poor results.

A foundation of positive energy can be the key ingredient to a company’s success, as well as for us as individuals.

And the opposite is just as true. When a company suffers from widespread negative energy, it is doomed.

I have previously recommended Mike Robbins’s quick read, Focus On The Good Stuff: The Power Of Appreciation. Robbins discusses how the environment we all live in, e.g., the news we hear on the radio, television, the written media, is almost all negative, e.g., crimes, devastating storms, sad economic reports, corporate greed, Hollywood divorces, and partisan political rhetoric.

Robbins also suggests that, in addition to the negative environment that surrounds us, we each have a negative voice that lives in our head – a voice that tells us we are not successful enough, thin enough, rich enough, attractive enough, etc.

But what help does all this negative news and thinking give us? Absolutely none!

What does help us is enthusiasm: our being encouraging, our helping and supporting others, our trust, our belief in ourselves and our colleagues, and our appreciation!

The ideal attitude for us as leaders and teammates means taking the high road, being a source of positive energy, inspiring and encouraging others, being optimistic.

Over my years as a leadership consultant and coach, I have worked with many individuals who have discussed their frustrations with the negative energy in their companies, especially complaining about bosses and/or colleagues. At times, I find myself giving them the following advice:

If we have a problem with a colleague, we do not talk about it with others. We want the good sense and courage to discuss it directly with that person. Remember, a problem discussed is a problem half solved. So let’s not air out our problems with others in public, even with one another at a party. It does not reflect well on us. Rather, such behavior makes us look petty and weak.

Instead of talking behind each other’s backs, I’d like to see us recognize that negative talk and attitudes have far-reaching effects that hamper progress and success way beyond the people involved. Negativity is an infection that dampens the spirit and culture of the whole team.

I’d like to see us step up and try to be the spark plugs for the change that is needed. To explain to the person talking about another person(s) and or complaining, that she or he is not helping the situation, just the opposite, and that she is hurting herself, and that she could step up and into a leadership role by addressing her feeling with the person(s) involved, even her boss. We are all teammates.

The people who are most successful and happiest are those who are givers, which means encouraging others, helping them succeed, teaching and encouraging them, giving constructive feedback, and genuinely caring about them. Givers do not complain about problems, they offer solutions.

We admire those who make things better, not complainers!

The fuel to our success in our career and leadership, and in our personal life, is our attitude. This principle is critically important for those of us who are leaders now, as well as those who hope to earn their way up and take on senior leadership responsibilities. Let’s be a role model, exhibiting a positive and courageous spirit, helping our teammates, our team and our company, oh and helping ourselves!